second hand piano recommendations

[deadtom]

Dear PH music maestros,

My partner turns 25 soon and I would like to acquire a piano for her as she often mentions how much she misses being able to play since moving out of her parents house.

However, I know diddly squat about second hand pianos so I was hoping the friendly PH masses would be able to point me in vaguely the right direction.

How much should one expect to pay for something slightly shabby but still very usable upright that doesn't look like it's made of MDF? are there any good makes to look out for / any to avoid?

How much should one expect to pay a company to deliver such a beast, and I assume such companies are well practiced at maneuvering a piano around hallways and such in a small house (sadly I do not live in a spacious dwelling with large rooms and broad hallways)?

How much should one expect to pay for a tuner to come and make sure it all works as it should after its been delivered (I believe that this is necessary after any moving of said piano?)?

I am hoping that all the above can be achieved for low to mid 3 figure numbers, or am I dreaming?



Thanks all

[deadtom]

this looks like what I'm thinking of, but is there a reason no one seems to want it?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-upright-piano-P...

[kuro]

What about a digital piano?

[sjg]

Because even a free piano means the logistics of moving an awkward heavy (300+kg) unit out of someone's house and into another, then the cost of tuning it, and then of putting right any issues it has. It renders many uprights near enough worthless, hence ebay and gumtree being full of them.

Getting a company in to move it - expect to pay £150+ for a proper firm that's insured for the piano itself and any damage to yours or the seller's house, assuming ground floor and easy access. Any complications and it'll go up and up - if they don't specify access then ask - could be in a top floor flat and will cost you a fortune to get out.

Tuning a moved or neglected piano is about £150 again.

Definitely worth considering a digital one, particularly if you're likely to move again. My mum has always played and her old upright moved with us a few times as kids. She switched to a Clavinova several years ago and is still delighted with it - great feel to the keys, nice tone, never needs tuning, takes up less space and you can practice with headphones if you want to. A good secondhand one is about the same cost as moving and tuning a "free" upright.

[deadtom]

aye, I have suggested that in the past but she reckons its not the same, which is a frame of mind that I can understand as I would have a very similar response if someone asked me why I would rather a smelly old petrol straight 6 than a quiet and efficient electric motor to power my car

[deadtom]

sjg said:

Definitely worth considering a digital one, particularly if you're likely to move again.

This is a good point actually, we are currently renting but would like to buy within the next year or two.

but, if I do forge on ahead despite better judgement, I should expect to pay in the region of £300 for it to be moved and tuned? But it is also safe to say that a 'free' piano is not necessarily going to be a worthless heap of junk once it has been moved and tuned?