Read any of those personal-finance columns they like to publish in any standard magazine, and you often find them talking about how there are two or three huge investments that people take up to make in life – the purchase of a house, a car, college education for the children. Perhaps they should add a piano purchase to that list. In families where there is a tradition in love of music learning, a real baby grand is a major purchase that can run to nearly as much as a car costs. Let's look at some of the things you should keep in mind buying one of the most popular choices in this area – the Yamaha acoustic piano.
In a book aimed at young violin players that the Israeli virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin has written, he devotes a full page to how beautiful the violin is to look at. He says you shouldn't even touch the finish of the panels or your fingerprints will mar the polish. Which is to say that even people who have the greatest respect for an instrument of wonderful music often find themselves admiring it more for how it looks. Your first step buying a Yamaha acoustic piano would be to go around the piano dealerships, taking a good look at all the finishes available at every price level.
For instance, the GB1 Yamaha acoustic piano, which at about $9000 is the lowest-priced grand in their entire range, comes with a special option in a special ebony finish. And it's a popular option too. If you're buying a real piano, pay a lot of attention to the finish. Even if the finish doesn't really have anything to do with the real purpose you're buying a piano for, you'll find that the right kind of finish makes you a lot happier.
If you're thinking of saving a little on your purchase by going the used and refurbished route, you might find yourself thinking longingly about the individual owner option where you generally find lower prices.
If you can take the trouble to hire a Registered Piano Technician to look your potential purchases over, the lack of a warrantee might be something you could live with. Go with the retail option in a used or refurbished instrument, and you'll get that warrantee, a proper professional reconditioning, and you can expect your purchase to be delivered to your door and set up too. If you're willing to put up with the hassle, and if you hire a professional to give you the green flag, buying used from a private owner can be a great way to go.
If you're not willing to put up the money for a registered technician, with a little preparation and learning, you can usually tell that an instrument isn't in the best condition possible.
In your Yamaha acoustic piano purchase, look for notes that are out of tune, look for keys that don't play or are not smooth, open the piano and look for any new hammers that have been put in and try to see if they seem to be the same kind of material in general as the other parts. And check for any extraneous sounds – buzzes or rattles.
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