Looking for a piano can be like going on a voyage of discovery, an adventure that may result in a lifelong friend. Pianos may not take on the character of their owners, but often their owners become very sentimental about their pianos.
The first steps on this journey require just a few simple questions.
Hiring a piano is an ideal short to medium term option – for someone (young or more seasoned) just starting out, a music student needing a practice instrument during term time, the temporarily domiciled, or simply making a good quality piano financially accessible.
On the other hand, a piano is so meticulously crafted that it really is for life, and contributes to making a house into a home, and unlike many products in our throw-away society, it has an enduring value.
We don’t have an old fashioned approach to this question. There is a place for digitals where space is limited, budgets are constrained, and multi-functional technology rules, and no worries about disturbing the neighbours.
However, it is impossible for a digital piano to replicate the touch and sound of a real piano.
Hybrid pianos offer the best of both worlds in terms of tone, touch, digital interface, and silent facility. Acoustic pianos hold their value better than digitals and last much longer.
The criteria for this is often based on space available, access, budget, performance criteria and aesthetics.
String length is integral to better tonal quality, and often a good quality upright piano will have a better sound than a baby grand. An upright piano represents a compromise, as it relies on an escapement action rather than the natural gravity of the hammers and dampers in a grand.
Boudoir grand pianos far better serve the accomplished and discerning pianist.
A secondhand piano might be pre-loved, but was it looked after? The cost of a secondhand piano will depend not just on its quality, age, and design, but its condition.
Full restoration is expensive and a proper evaluation is essential. Almost new pianos at different price bands are readily available and can be directly compared with similar new pianos on our floor.
Space constraints, design preference, casework finish, price, and tonal quality all influence the decision making.