Piano Finders

Piano Finders

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions by Piano Buyers

  1. How do I get a good price on a new piano?
  2. What are gray market pianos?
  3. Do pianos need to be seasoned for different climates by the manufacturer?
  4. Why do they make bigger and smaller pianos?
  5. What is a "spinet"?
  6. What is a "console"?
  7. What is a "studio" ?
  8. What is a "professional"?
  9. What is an "upright"?
  10. What is a player piano?
  11. Why are there three different kinds of pianos: grands, square grands, and verticals?
  12. What's the real difference between a vertical/upright piano and a grand?
  13. People often use the words upright and a vertical piano interchangeably. Is there a difference?
  14. What is a baby grand? How small does it have to be to qualify for the term?
  15. 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?
  16. How long should a piano last?
  17. Should I buy an electronic (digital) piano or a real one?
  18. Is a rebuilt Steinway still a Steinway?

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Frequently Asked Questions by Piano Owners

  1. What's the best place to put the piano?
  2. Is sunlight bad for a piano?
  3. How can I tell if the climate in my house is right for the piano?
  4. Should I keep the lid closed on my grand?
  5. What do I dust my piano with?
  6. What do I clean my piano keys with?
  7. What do I clean my piano's cabinet with?
  8. What do I polish my piano with?
  9. How do I clean the inside of my piano?
  10. How do I move my piano (within the room or the house)?
  11. What are caster cups and how and when do you use them?
  12. What can you tell me about piano climate control systems?
  13. Should I let my children play underneath the grand?
  14. Where can I view a table or other information that tells me which note on the staff or keyboard those letters refer to?

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Frequently Asked Questions by Piano Sellers

  1. How much is my piano worth?
  2. How do I determine the value of a piano without paying a professional?
  3. Should I sell my piano out of my house?
  4. Who else can help me sell my piano?
  5. When can donating a piano be more beneficial to me than selling it for cash?
  6. When does accepting barter dollars for a piano benefit me?

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Frequently Asked Questions about Service and Repairs

Service & Repairs FAQs has answers to the following questions:

  1. How often should I have my piano tuned?
  2. How much does a tuning cost? And how and where do I find a tuner?
  3. What happens if my piano hasn't been tuned for a few years?
  4. My tuner says my piano needs 2 or 3 tunings to bring it up to pitch. Why is this?
  5. 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?
  6. My piano tuner said that my piano can't be tuned. How can that be?
  7. My piano went out of tune shortly after being tuned. What should I do?
  8. Can I tune my piano myself?
  9. I'm thinking of selling my piano. Should I have it tuned?
  10. But won't someone buying my piano just have to have it tuned again when they get it home?
  11. My tuner says my piano needs regulation. What is that, and why is it necessary?
  12. My tuner says my piano needs voicing. What is that, and why is it necessary?
  13. What is hammer reshaping? Why and when is it necessary?
  14. What is rehammering? Why and when is it necessary?
  15. What is restringing? Why and when is it necessary?
  16. My piano teacher says that my piano action is too heavy or light, what does this mean and can it be changed?
  17. How should I prepare for a technician to visit my home and what should I expect from the technician when he/she is there?

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Frequently Asked Questions by Technicians

  1. Have you ever tapped on bridge pins to get the string to take a sharper S turn, and stop the buzz?
  2. How do you locate buzzes, squeaks and rattles?

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