buying used piano off Craigslist?

[griffin2004]

I do not and never have played the piano. But I've always wanted to. I've been cruising the Craigslist ads but really don't know what I'm looking for.

Sizewise, a spinet or possibly an upright is all I have room for. Other than that, I'm a blank slate.

Thoughts? Tips? Advice? BTDT's?

Thanks.

[karne]

We got a free piano off of Craig's List. It is an older model, full sized upright, with a nice sound. It was very beat up, dirty, and hadn't been tuned in years. We have had a professional tuner come regularly-once for the big piano check up and tuning, and then to adjust the tuning, slowly bringing it up to speed. So "free" only describes the aquisition, not the upkeep! The tuner said that many times the free or low-priced pianos are not woth it, but sometimes you get a gem like ours. If you can, I would bring someone who knows pianos with you when you go to see one, and evaluate whether it's a good buy. It's a bit of work to move a piano, so it should be worth it.
Oh, and FWIW, our piano has brought such joy to our family. There's nothing like music in your house.

[cristina47454]

I'm always seeing pianos for next to nothing in the local paper. We were "gifted" an upright last year. It's not in great shape, as the owner had painted it. (we haven't even gotten it tuned - just can't afford it right now). My girls are playing now and so are dh and I, so I'm happy to have it. HOWEVER. We've had to have it moved twice...once to get it to our house and then again when we moved over the summer. What a monumental PIA. Cost us more to move it than it was worth.

Anyway, not sure what to look for, as we were given the piano, so we didn't do any research, but think twice about the cost to move it if you have any relocation plans.

[rainbowmoon]

just : as I plan to get a piano off Craigslist in the next few months (after we move again).I have been looking but don't know WHAT I should be looking for. I will pay to move and tune it and have had several prospects but just not sure..is it possible to find a good upright for around $200-300? How much do they generally cost to move and tune?

[cristina47454]

The moving quotes I got were upward of $300

[rainbowmoon]

cool. that is what I had figured. maybe even a bit more in my area.

[Chicky2]

I got a piano for $200. It is an upright and it's from the 1930's, I believe. We moved it ourselves (my dh and ONE other man) on a rented trailer (what we had access to was too high off the ground so we rented from Uhaul). An upright is NOT hard to move, as all the articles and professionals would tell you. Then we had a piano lady come out and give it a once over. It was $80 for her to come out. She said it was in perfect tune (been tuned ONCE about 20 yrs ago). It does now need one key put back on, and she did say we'd eventually need new wool under the keys, which I'm planning to do very soon.

Anyway, I'm currently teaching my kids to read music and play.

We've had this piano for awhile now, and I just now really have time in my day for teaching them. We are all really enjoying it. My house is so peaceful and lovely w/the piano music in the background (because even if you can't play it like a professional, it still sounds nice to me, lol).

[rainbowmoon]

that's awesome Chicky! I can't wait until we get our piano! glad to know it is doable to move it yourself! thanks for mentioning it. Uhauls for an in town move are pretty reasonable per day..

[mich]

I have seen a few free pianos on Craigslist in my area in the few short weeks I have been watching. In all 3 adds they state it is a working piano, but you must move it yourself. I have been so tempted as well! I grew up with my mom playing at home, and I would love for my family and myself to learn. But I fear a free piano is kind of like a free puppy...

[Eman'smom]

We got ours on Craigslist and I it. I barely play (I played flute so I know the basics of music but very little about piano). Anyway it's an "upright grand". We paid 200 and I think about 100 to move it. We have never had it tuned, it's not perfect but it's in tune enough for us for now. I took a friend who knew a little bit about pianos with me and said I should go for it.

[Chicky2]

'upright grand'-- yeah, that's what ours is. Someone had painted it black and removed the key cover and replaced it w/a mirror. We love it!

[rainbowmoon]

chicky- is that what a "mirrored" upright would be? I found a free one on craigslist so just wondering!

I found another for $150..they said 2 keys stick but that would be fixed with a cleaning/tuning. is that true?

we may get the piano sooner than I thought if I can find a good deal! (especially free! I mean minus moving and tuning..lol.)

[Chicky2]

rainbowmoon...I'm not sure if that's the 'official definition' or not, but ours has a strip of mirror, about 4 inches tall, running the length of, and just above the keys.

As for the keys sticking, yes, that can be fixed. Just look up 'piano tuning' in your phone book, and whomever you find should be able to handle that.

btw, I grew up playing a BRIGHT red player piano, without the player. It had the window where you could see the guts moving while you played, but it would not play by itself. It was sooooo cool!

[jocelyndale]

sometimes sticky keys can be fixed, sometimes not.

Lack of use often leads to sticky keys. In that case, only frequent use can un-stick them. And that's not a guarantee.

We have an older piano. It's quite nice and holds tune decently. We have it tuned twice a year and keep it in the least drafty part of the house. We did pay to have it unloaded from a moving truck. $100 just to put it on a piano dolly and hoist it up a few steps. Oh, well, better them than my heart patient father, right?

[1babysmom]

this past summer I found a small spinet for $150. We moved it ourselves and it needs tuned (will cost about $75) but it's not bad enough to have me fork out the money right now. I've played the piano for about 18 years but haven't had one to play regularly for the last 6-7 years, so I'm just happy to have one now!!!

[Carson]

We got a free upright grand - bought mainly for aesthetic value but it plays pretty well and is decently in tune. We were able to get it to our house, but had to hire movers to get it in our house. That was a debacle and about $300. Someday, I'm going to have a piano guy start working on it - when I can commit to practicing.