Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions by Piano Buyers
- How do I get a good price on a new piano?
- What are gray market pianos?
- Do pianos need to be seasoned for different climates by the manufacturer?
- Why do they make bigger and smaller pianos?
- What is a "spinet"?
- What is a "console"?
- What is a "studio" ?
- What is a "professional"?
- What is an "upright"?
- What is a player piano?
- Why are there three different kinds of pianos: grands, square grands, and verticals?
- What's the real difference between a vertical/upright piano and a grand?
- People often use the words upright and a vertical piano interchangeably. Is there a difference?
- What is a baby grand? How small does it have to be to qualify for the term?
- As I have talked to various people I have heard all sorts of names used for the various sizes of grands. Now I'm totally confused. Can you help sort them out?
- How long should a piano last?
- Should I buy an electronic (digital) piano or a real one?
- Is a rebuilt Steinway still a Steinway?
Frequently Asked Questions by Piano Owners
- What's the best place to put the piano?
- Is sunlight bad for a piano?
- How can I tell if the climate in my house is right for the piano?
- Should I keep the lid closed on my grand?
- What do I dust my piano with?
- What do I clean my piano keys with?
- What do I clean my piano's cabinet with?
- What do I polish my piano with?
- How do I clean the inside of my piano?
- How do I move my piano (within the room or the house)?
- What are caster cups and how and when do you use them?
- What can you tell me about piano climate control systems?
- Should I let my children play underneath the grand?
- Where can I view a table or other information that tells me which note on the staff or keyboard those letters refer to?
Frequently Asked Questions by Piano Sellers
- How much is my piano worth?
- How do I determine the value of a piano without paying a professional?
- Should I sell my piano out of my house?
- Who else can help me sell my piano?
- When can donating a piano be more beneficial to me than selling it for cash?
- When does accepting barter dollars for a piano benefit me?
Frequently Asked Questions about Service and Repairs
Service & Repairs FAQs has answers to the following questions:
- How often should I have my piano tuned?
- How much does a tuning cost? And how and where do I find a tuner?
- What happens if my piano hasn't been tuned for a few years?
- My tuner says my piano needs 2 or 3 tunings to bring it up to pitch. Why is this?
- If the piano needs 2 or 3 tunings to bring it up to pitch, can I just have the tuner leave the piano below pitch for now, and do just one tuning?
- My piano tuner said that my piano can't be tuned. How can that be?
- My piano went out of tune shortly after being tuned. What should I do?
- Can I tune my piano myself?
- I'm thinking of selling my piano. Should I have it tuned?
- But won't someone buying my piano just have to have it tuned again when they get it home?
- My tuner says my piano needs regulation. What is that, and why is it necessary?
- My tuner says my piano needs voicing. What is that, and why is it necessary?
- What is hammer reshaping? Why and when is it necessary?
- What is rehammering? Why and when is it necessary?
- What is restringing? Why and when is it necessary?
- My piano teacher says that my piano action is too heavy or light, what does this mean and can it be changed?
- How should I prepare for a technician to visit my home and what should I expect from the technician when he/she is there?
Frequently Asked Questions by Technicians
- Have you ever tapped on bridge pins to get the string to take a sharper S turn, and stop the buzz?
- How do you locate buzzes, squeaks and rattles?
