🎹 Top 10 Blunders to Avoid When Buying a Used Piano 🎹

[@andrewweis5857]

This is good advice. Having owned an acoustic baby grand, I think the relationship with a local dealer that will stand behind and service the piano is at least as important as the 12:05 piano itself (new or used). Going down any other road is very risky IMHO. I’m not in the business so there is no commercial motivation in saying this. Just my two cents. It’s not just a product, it needs a trustworthy and competent relationship. All pianos are different the same way people are. Just walk into a showroom and try playing the different pianos. If they are all over the map there’s a message there.

[@MerriamPianos]

For sure! That is definitely sound advice. At Merriam Music, the relationship and trust we build with our clientele is our number one priority. The relationship between the business/sales rep and the customer does not end with the purchase of an instrument; it begins. :)

[@tonyromano4341]

Would you guys consider doing a video on acoustic piano dampp-chaser, and any other, humidity control systems?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! That is an excellent idea. I will certainly pass it along to our production team for consideration. :)

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

4:48 I've come across meny videos that tell you not to buy a used Range Rover haha! Great vid as always🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! We appreciate it! :)

[@chanyjchan861]

Thank you so much for another great video, Stu and team!!!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in! :)

[@DMcC]

Stu again tells it like it is. As someone who tries not to get into "cork sniffer" territory with instruments...I will just add that, hands down, the best piano (or any instrument) you can have is the one you're motivated to actually play. Having something that checks boxes for quality means little if you don't actually enjoy playing the thing, and someone who dearly loves the sound of their slightly "off" upright and plays the crap out of it...well, that's a damn fine piano right there I'd say :).

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi David! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your advice! I certainly concur with the sentiment. The "best" instrument is a very personal and subjective thing. While I have several pianos now, my very first Young Chang studio upright has a special place in my heart. :)

[@ScottXiong]

Thank you for another great quality of content video Stu and team. I live on the other side of the country, and your videos were key to the purchase of my first upright, acoustic piano this week, a barely used 2011 Kawai K3 in excellent condition (from my observation) via private sale, for a very good price in comparison to what's available locally on the market. I'll find out how good of a condition it is in after my local JPTA and First Degree Japan National Licensed technician gives it a proper inspection and tune/regulation in a month after it's been acclimated (technician's recommendation). Cheers!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Congrats on your Kawai K3! They are awesome pianos and I know you will be thrilled with it. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

[@mickandrews9458]

Thanks again Stu for a very useful video, which reminds me that long not ago I purchased a 1970s U1 which had been reconditioned (or was it restored, rebuilt or refurbished - watch out for this terminology) by Yamaha in Japan themselves; it even came with a certificate. I purchased the piano from a dealer with good reviews, yet I was inexperienced and it was not till I had been playing the piano at home for a few weeks that I realised there was something seriously wrong. I could not get consistency of volume across the keyboard and my hands ended up aching. As it transpired, the static note down weight varied dramatically across the keyboard, ranging from 56grams to 76g (it should be circa 48-52g)! The dealer did take the piano back and refunded me in full and I have since purchased a brand new piano, but the confidence I had falsely gained by the 'reconditioned by Yamaha' aspect and that 1970s Yamaha U1s were amongst the best, was certainly misplaced. A final note I would add is that piano designs are getting better (albeit slowly), so if someone tries to tell you that a piano built 50yrs ago or more is going to be better than a modern piano, be very wary.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights. I'm sorry to hear you experienced some issues with the 70s Yamaha U1 that you purchased. At the end of the day, pianos do have a lifespan and a younger, more modern instrument will generally outperform an older piano of equivalent quality. With that said, I'm happy to hear that you sorted out a piano solution for yourself and that you were able to get a refund.

[@johnpawlicki1184]

I acquired a Yamaha digital GP a short time ago. The piano is 15 years old and came with everything. It is the best piano that this amateur piano player will ever own and it is a hoot.

[@MerriamPianos]

That's awesome! Glad to hear that it has held up well for you! :)

[@stevecappella7358]

Thank you for another great video. I have a 1904 Steinway model K upright that I'm considering having totally refurbished. But it's in need of a lot of repairs so I'm on the fence of doing the overhead or getting another piano. This one does have a wonderful sound and also has ivory keys.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! That is certainly a difficult choice to make. If you enjoy the sound and the touch though, that should certainly be factored in. :)

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

@Merriam Music thanks🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! :)

[@gfunk449]

Whoa... what's with the U1 shade at the end? I was actually interested in it.

[@MerriamPianos]

I don't think Stu was throwing shade at the U1. He was just stating that it is worth considering pianos of different heights as there are many factors beyond just height that impact the musical performance and output of an instrument.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

Just a question? Did the sostenuto pedal already exist during the time of classical music?🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

The sostenuto pedal was invented in 1843/1844. While the start and end points can be somewhat arbitrary, this would be just after the classical period and into the early Romantic period by most historians' accounts.

[@crisoliveira2644]

Hey, I have an unusual question. Is there a piano made without animal by-products? I mean, with non-animal substitutes for wool felt, leather and shellac? I saw Yamaha made an experiment with other materials for the hammers and the only one that provided a result close to felt was leather, but not without noticeable difference. Even digital pianos usually feature felt parts. Thanks!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! That is a good question. I am not aware of any pianos that would be 100% without animal byproducts. The wool is the component that I am unfamiliar of a synthetic substitute for.

[@crisoliveira2644]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks!

[@pompom906]

does your camera man use a lot of lsd? whats with all the zooming in and out?

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate it and appreciate you taking the time to tune in.

[@antonrubinsteinisthebest]

The camera man is a tripod. That question should be left for the editor.

[@hyperseah]

"is like judging a groom on his wedding day". Or the bride! The bride! 😉😂

[@MerriamPianos]

:)

[@michelprimeau4531]

On an acoustic piano, everything can be fixed or replaced if you are willing to pay the money on it. A cracked pinblock is more problematic because it also involves the restringing of the instrument. Soundboard can be fixed but I don't trust glued back pinblock. Regarding mistake number 5, tuning, voicing and regulating a piano is required no matter what on any acoustic piano. It's just a question of time or play. If regulating and voicing your piano is unnacceptable and that's why you buy new, let me know where they traded your piano just to make sure that I never touch it. In this case, just buy a throw away digital piano.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your insights regarding acoustic pianos! We appreciate it! :)

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

Prity sure they replace pinblocks once they're cracked🎹🎶

[@michelprimeau4531]

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Indeed they do but if you intend to do it, you will replace the string, put new pins. With bright strings and pins, your old hammers look out of place so let's replace them with the dampers. You know what, we should re-pin it and change a few bushing too...

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

@@michelprimeau4531 from what I understand the strings if in still in good condition don't have to be replaced. Still just in case I'll try to ask around about this🎹🎶

[@ThePolypam]

What is the piano behind you?

[@MerriamPianos]

I can't be certain as the pianos change positions every few weeks, but I believe the two pianos (from left to right) behind Stu are the Bechstein A190 and Seiler SE186.

[@HS-wp5vb]

My advice: pretend to be interested and ask to see the workshop. If the dealer refuses to show the workshop, you should worry.

[@MerriamPianos]

I think there could be some legitimate reasons why dealer may not want customers in their workshop, particularly when it is active with work going on.

[@andrewtaylor8899]

Interesting content as always, but the constant jump-cuts make the video unwatchable for me.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the feedback! We are also striving to refine our content, so we always appreciate honest feedback.

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Hi there Letter for all of the Piano Companies out there. Why couldn't all of you Remake most Daddy Grand Pianos with Three and a Half Times more Lower Tuning Folks on most of those Particular Daddy Grand Pianos this will be a Half time lower and better sounding Tuning Folks on most of the Particular Daddy Grand Pianos such as for example on most of the Eighty Eight Keys than most of the Different Colour Pattern Daddy Grand Pianos on Every Single one of those Daddy Grand Pianos instead of using most of the normal felt tip hammers on most of the Daddy Grand Pianos so all of the musician's will enjoy more of the particular Similar sounds of all the Daddy Grand Pianos? We all meant Eighty-Eight Keys on Every Single one of those Daddy Grand Pianos so it will be Better Progress for Every Single one of those musicians to Remake a Similar Theme and also Remake Different Tune for those particular Daddy Grand Pianos and that will include most of the Different Colour Pattern Daddy Grand Pianos so that all of the other Piano Companies would always be having the Special Opportunities to be remaking Eighty-Eight Key Version of all the Three and a Half Times more Lower Different Colour Daddy Grand Pianos on Every Single one of those Daddy Grand Pianos but with most of the Three and a Half Times more and more Lower and better-Tuning Folks on most of those Particular type of the Different Colour Pattern Daddy Grand Pianos please make sure you can Remake them to the perfect exact way Eight-Eight Keys on all of the Colour Pattern Daddy Grand Piano's for all of us music lovers out there and Please do those type of interesting Daddy Grand Piano Project for all of us Different Colour Daddy Grand Piano sound lovers out there Thank You for Understanding that what I am Talking About.

[@MerriamPianos]

Unfortunately, I don't understand what you're talking about.

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

@@MerriamPianos What I mean is Replacing most of the Daddy Grand Piano with a Different Sound for all of us Daddy Grand Piano fans out there?

[@pedllz]

@ 4:31 top 1 mistake of video editing

[@MerriamPianos]

It was a creative decision. We are constantly experimenting with new looks/approaches.

[@pedllz]

@@MerriamPianos Good one haha!! ...joking aside .. it is a very informative video. Thank you!