Secondhand acoustic pianos can offer exceptional value for money due to the very high depreciation on a new acoustic piano. In addition, the tone of a secondhand piano will have settled down and become stable, whereas the tone of a new piano normally changes as it ages, even after a few months.

As well as the matured tone of a traditional secondhand acoustic piano, many secondhand pianos are made using real wood veneer, which has aged over the years to give a beautiful patina which cannot be matched by a new acoustic piano.

Touch and tone are generally the most important factors in buying a piano, and with secondhand pianos, there is an infinite range of tone and touch to choose from.

At The Piano Shop, we encourage customers to bring another pianist with them if possible to give a second opinion, particularly if the piano is going to be heard by other people, no matter how small or informal the gathering is. The Piano Shop's Leeds showroom is easily accessible and there is plenty of car parking.

There are, however, some factors which The Piano Shop advises buyers of secondhand pianos to be aware of, particularly if buying from the internet.

A piano with a beautifully polished cabinet may look tempting, but hidden problems may lie inside. If the piano has been housed in a very dry environment, the keys, action, pinblock and soundboard may all have been affected, but any problems caused by the wood drying out would not necessarily be noticed by the untrained eye.

Pianos can sometimes be prone to attack from woodworm, and it is advisable to check for any signs of an infestation.

One factor which can spoil the enjoyment of a newly-bought piano is if it has acquired an unpleasant smell from its previous environment. Animals, smoke and general fustiness can all leave their mark on an otherwise cherished piano, and the previous owner may not even be aware of it.

At The Piano Shop, all our secondhand pianos are thoroughly inspected and tuned before being installed in our showroom in order to ensure that hidden problems do not arise.

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