I am sixty years old and have been tuning pianos for 28 years. I operate in the Lincolnshire area.
I tuned an Ibach grand for a customer for 20 years. It was in a bungalow with central heating, but never allowed to get too warm. The piano was built about 1915 and was very clean. The action was not badly worn and the tone was lovely. A nice piano to tune and play, and it would go 12 months between tuning with no problem.
Then suddenly during the last month or so people have been ringing me up because this piano is now in an antique centre for sale at a cost of 2500 pounds. Is it a nice piano, should I buy it, these people keep asking me.
All I can tell them is that it is a good make, and was a nice piano in good order when I tuned it, but a piano that has been in a settled environment for a long time and then moved to a completely different environment can be drastically effected, so I can't say whether the piano is ok now, or will be when installed in a new home. Also I think 2500 pounds is a lot of money in this area of the country.
I am not a dealer, I just tune, repair and regulate pianos. Am I being too cautious, or would you who seem to be wiser than I say otherwise.
I would be grateful for your response.
Sincerely
Bigears
