What to Remember When Shopping For a Piano

At the Piano Workshop we have many customers every week looking to buy their dream piano; some are in the market to buy their first piano to play at home.

We know that you’re probably not an expert on pianos. But with our help, you don’t need to be. Our friendly staff will guide you through the buying process – we want you to be completely thrilled with your new instrument.

Thinking of coming to visit us, or just shopping around? Here are our pro tips.

What to Look For In a Piano

Everyone’s different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when buying a piano. There are a number of factors that will affect your buying decision. Here are a few.

The Appearance

The appearance of your piano will largely be down to your own personal taste. If you have a particular finish in mind, we’ll advise you on the brands and types of piano that will match your idea of perfection.

The Sound

Your ideal sound is also quite subjective; what works for your particular playing style may not work for your teacher or peers. We always recommend visiting a piano showroom so you can try out a few different brands, particularly if you’ve only played one or two pianos during lessons.

Remember: grand pianos often sound quite different to upright pianos because they have longer strings. Visit Piano Workshop and try both.

Connectivity

If noise is a problem, consider a silent piano. Silent piano systems offer all the benefits of a normal acoustic piano with the additional bonus of a headphone socket, giving you completely silent play and a range of different voices and sounds.

Silent pianos are also normally MIDI compatible; load your favourite MIDI files and your piano will play them for you. Features vary from brand to brand, so our showroom staff for a demonstration.

Size and Shape

For many domestic customers, upright pianos are the best option considering the available space in their home. If you’re fortunate enough to have a little more room, or you’re buying for a restaurant or hotel, a grand piano will offer stunning looks and fantastic tone, particularly in the bass notes. Remember to consider features in the room that might affect the piano’s position; we always advise against putting a piano near a radiator or window.

Price and Condition

As the price band for your piano goes up, you’ll have access to higher quality instruments. However, you could consider a used or restored piano if you want quality at a lower cost. Our in-house team are experts in piano restoration: we don’t just sell used pianos, we repair them, tune them and renovate them, too, so we can advise you on all aspects of buying used.

The price you pay for your piano will be something of a balancing act, so factor in all of your preferences and aim to get the best you can afford. Even as a beginner, you’ll benefit from a good quality piano that will serve you well as your skill level improves.

Where to Buy Your Piano

No matter whether you want a new or a used piano, we have one key piece of advice: don’t buy on the internet. Every instrument is different, and pianos are quite difficult to repackage and return if you make a poor choice online. Visit a piano showroom, buy from an expert and try as many different types of piano as you can before you hand over your card and pay.