Advice on buying a piano

With all due respect, it seems to me that as a starting point we are in a bad position, as is the case for almost everyone who first finds themselves having to purchase pianos. The most useful and quickest advice I can give is simple. Start with stores and try out the latest top-of-the-line electric piano models. This way, there will be an initial approach to the sound and the mechanics of the piano. Just so we understand each other, we have reached these excessive but understandable levels:

http://www.gear4music.it/it/Tastiere-e-pianoforti/Yamaha-Clavinova-CVP709-pianoforte-digitale-ebano-lucidata/1AZR?origin=product-ads%26utm_campaign=PLA%20Shop%20-%20Yamaha%26utm_medium=vertical_search%26network=google%26adgroup=13679646682%26merchant_id=9717123%26product_id=60903d13%26product_country=IT%26product_partition_id=152796220162%26gclid=CPOxnNXW9coCFQ-3GwodkgACsg.

After this first phase of testing instruments in the shop, I would move on to new pianos for sale (a choice that is, to say the least, improbable for most future pianists) and finally, with the impressions and ideas gathered, we can talk again on the forum for feedback and possible advice, also via private message, internet, or stores.

Hi André and thanks for the advice. To tell you the truth, I had the idea of starting with perhaps a used piano like the Petrof 125, but I don't know who to trust. For example, do you know of a safe site online where one can purchase securely? The approach to such an instrument will be educational. It must be an instrument that is easy to maintain and can be long-lasting

I would be grateful if you could also suggest some good used pianos. Especially from the web

Hi, pianos must be tested and verified. It is impossible for someone to take the responsibility of recommending a piano bought online. My advice is to visit some shops that also sell used pianos, bringing a good technician you trust to inspect the instruments. There are deals online too, but they must always be vetted by an expert technician to avoid being scammed.

The best advice I can give to someone about to purchase their first piano is not to trust first impressions or sympathies,

but to rely on a technician-tuner: in my opinion, there is no better solution.

A good tuner, if you don't already know one, could be contacted after gathering information from some professional pianist

or from the piano schools at the Conservatories in your area.

Everything else is just chatter that wastes time and money, and causes endless regrets and nervous breakdowns.

I wish you the best possible choice.

Pardon, I replied almost simultaneously to Simon: as you can see, we are perfectly in agreement.

Thank you so much Simon and Busendorfer! !!!

You are undoubtedly right. Ever since I was little, I wished to learn how to play the piano and I also wanted to attend the conservatory, but unfortunately I wasn't allowed to

(I wasn't allowed) From mine, obviously!

I await your precious advice

One needs to see how humid/dry this "tavern" is. The piano is an instrument that must not be placed in an environment that is either too dry or too humid. The ideal relative humidity for the piano is between values ranging from 40% to 60%, just like the ideal values for a human being.

You must put a hygrometer in this cellar and observe the humidity values. Keep in mind that humidity varies depending on atmospheric conditions. However, understand well that if on rainy days it rises to 80%, it is certainly not an environment suitable for preserving the piano. Alternatively, if the place is quite humid, you could use machines that regulate the humidity inside the piano. If it was discussed here on the forum as well... HERE

Thanks Simon for the insight. This way there shouldn't be any problems regarding him not having other space. Could you also recommend a brand and model for both an upright piano and a digital piano? Is Yamaha better? Thanks

It depends on the budget you have for one and for the other. For acoustic pianos, I would suggest getting advice from the technicians on the site; for digitals, let me know a budget and I'll tell you what you could aim for.

To tell the truth, I have a limited budget. But something that is worth it, that can also hold up over the years and for practicing. A piano that sounds as much as possible like an acoustic one. Could you point me towards some mid-range and high-end options? Thank you for your availability and kindness

Ok but "limited budget" can mean anything or nothing, you have to give me a figure, the quality changes in steps of 500 euros... If I don't know how much you can spend, I can't play the guessing game.

From 0 to 1000

New or used?

Boesendorfer (or others who want to help me), could you recommend a new acoustic piano that lasts and is suitable for practice. And that won't be obsolete in 6 years

The Simon used, how do I understand if it is valid? Do you have any advice?

Opt for a used Roland FP7 in that price range. Or a Kawai MP6 if you find a used one.

To see if it has any problems, it must be tested. Generally speaking, electronics are easier to evaluate compared to an acoustic instrument. Normally, an electronic object either works or it doesn't. So you need to try all the keys to see if there are contact issues with any key, turn up the volume significantly to see if the speakers are in good condition or if they are blown, and then also evaluate the functioning of the pedal, the input and output jacks (like the headphone jack), the line out, the MIDI connections, especially (if it has one) the USB connection - many keyboards already have the MIDI to USB interface integrated.

In short, the classic routine checks to see that everything works.

For acoustics, the practice is more difficult because someone who doesn't know them and doesn't know how to inspect them could be swindled. An acoustic instrument always sounds even if it is damaged; it's not like an electronic one where if you press a broken key, it won't sound. On an acoustic, you might have the impression that everything works well, but the instrument could hide problems in the mechanics or even worse in the soundboard. That is why we always recommend the evaluation of a trusted expert technician who can guide you in the purchase of an acoustic piano.

Thanks Simon. Very precise and useful. Can you recommend some useful sites for looking for used instruments? Then I was thinking that I could bring you along so you can check the used acoustic [instrument].