Is a 40 year old piano still good?

If the piano is older than 40 years old, generally, take a pass on that piano. The exception to this is owner care. If the owner had the piano service annually, then a 40 year old piano is much better than a 25 year old piano that hasn't been serviced even once. There are multiple factors when considering a piano.

thepianogalshop.com - Why age matters... | Music Apparel, Piano Art, Music Lover Gifts

What causes hearing voices in your head?

There are many significant factors that can cause hearing voices. The major factors that contribute to this condition are stress, anxiety,...

Last updated Jan 3, 2019

How long should I Practise piano?

Practising needs to fit in around your routine as much as possible. We usually recommend 15 minutes every couple of days when you start out. It...

Last updated Oct 11, 2022

Promotion

“It’s an antique”, is a phrase I hear often.

The term antique should not be applied to a piano. Think of a piano less in terms of a piece of furniture, and more in terms of a car. A piano may LOOK like a piece of furniture, and in some ways it is i.e. picture frames on top, but it is a complicated musical instrument with a lot of working parts inside. Once a car gets to a certain age, it needs a new engine, a new transmission and stuff like that. As a piano ages, the hammers get hard and wear down to the wood. Also, the wood parts become brittle and break causing the piano not to play correctly, or at all. And the strings become rusty and dusty and no longer create a good sound. There are a multitude of more issues I could discuss, but those factors are pretty huge.

Left alone, pianos do not last forever.

A piano can be reconditioned. A piano can be restored. Both of these involve a great deal of expense and new parts. Unfortunately, the common scenario with a piano that I see most often is that it was purchased, then tuned maybe once or twice over the course of several decades and that’s about it. So, now there is a 60 (or 100!!) year old piano that has all original parts that are worn and dusty and not working well, and the poor piano hasn’t been tuned in ages. Why does this matter to someone else? The biggest issue is that this scenario seems to be the most common one for pianos that are listed on Craigslist and other marketplaces. The owner wants to get rid of it. They think it’s in “great” condition because the furniture part of it (the outside) has been cared for and dusted. However, the piano has rarely been opened in its tenure in that home. I’m going to share some pictures of older pianos in order to illustrate what happens as pianos age. These photos show dust, rust, and wear, which are all things that make a piano sound and feel bad. It isn’t just about it needing to be tuned with a piano. And grabbing a free piano off Craigslist and then having a tuner come and tune is not going to fix these issues (provided the piano can be tuned at all).

When looking to acquire a used piano, age matters.

It matters a lot. Find out how old it is. Pianos always have a serial number and the age can be pulled from that, if the owner doesn’t know how old it is. If the piano is older than 40 years old, generally, take a pass on that piano. The exception to this is owner care. If the owner had the piano service annually, then a 40 year old piano is much better than a 25 year old piano that hasn’t been serviced even once. There are multiple factors when considering a piano. One of the top considerations should be age. Once you know how old it is, then start digging into the condition and other factors.

Got questions? Email us!

Also, feel free to explore the rest of the website, our webstore has lots of goodies for music lovers.

Musically,

Marta

The Piano Gal

What is a good key lubricant?

What Lubricants are Best for Locks. The best type of lubrication for a lock is a dry lube—such as Teflon (PTFE) or graphite. These types of...

Last updated Feb 24, 2020

Is a 2 2 3 work schedule good?

The benefits of a 2-2-3 work schedule are: Employees only need to work 180 days a year. They do not have to work more than three days in a row....

Last updated Sep 22, 2019

Promotion

When did ivory piano keys stop?

In 1990, a global treaty was signed, banning trade in all kinds of rhino or elephant ivory. Pianos with ivory keys are no longer manufactured, but...

Last updated Aug 30, 2018

Why is Suzuki method better?

The most striking difference between the two approaches is the fact that the Suzuki method involves the parent 100% of the time, which enables...

Last updated Feb 25, 2022

Promotion

What is a middle 8?

A middle 8 is so called because it is a section in a song that tends to happen towards the middle of the song, and tends to be eight bars in...

Last updated Dec 22, 2019

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

What can baby teeth be used for medically?

Research shows that stem cells harvested from baby teeth may have the potential to be manipulated into a variety of cells to repair damaged teeth,...

Last updated May 18, 2019