Hi I have joined the forum for guidance really. I have just decided that I would like to learn to play and obviously would like to buy a piano. It needs to be an old one to fit in with our very old house! I am aware buying an old piano may bring problems but what makes should I be looking at. I have approximately £2000 to spend. I live in Yorkshire and have just started doing my homework and you knowledgeable lot are my first port of call.
Thank you for your time
Jo
Help - beginner
Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Melodytune
Re: Help - beginner
You said it!beginner wrote: It needs to be an old one to fit in with our very old house! I am aware buying an old piano may bring problems but what makes should I be looking at.
IMO it's very difficult to buy a newly restored sound old piano for 2K because restoration costs are expensive these days.
A total rebuild on any old piano will be in the region of 3.5 to 4K. You may be lucky and find a piano that was restored say, 10-20 years ago when things were cheaper, that still has a good deal of life in it.
A Yamaha U1 in black polyester fits in well with all decors because it's a traditional shape. I would suggest that 3K spent on one of these will be safer and better value.
I'm not endorsing him because I've never met him or his pianos, but Mark Goodwin claims to be offering decent value on s/h U1s, and if he does what he says he does in his adverts, you won't go far wrong. He's up North in the Manc direction I think. If he's as good as he claims, he won't mind an independent tuner checking out his pianos on your behalf.
Good luck!
PG