When little Becky wanted to attend ballet lessons, you bought her a pair of 
leotards and ballet shoes. When her brother, Robbie wanted to learn the guitar, you purchased a guitar but within three months, he decided that learning the guitar was not for him, after all. Then, when Kourtney told you that she was interested in learning the piano, you were rather hesitant especially after you learned about the prices of pianos. You asked for some recommendations and most of your friends said you should consider buying one of the used pianos for sale in town.
The above scenarios are common among families. Parents are always keen to support their children and their hobbies, but when it comes to musical instruments and lessons, you need to think about them thoroughly. Buying a used piano has its pros and cons. One of the pros is the price tag, which can be very affordable depending on the type of piano and of course, the condition. People who want to buy pianos – used or new – will normally shop around and that is exactly what you need to do.
The first thing you need to know is that there are many used pianos on the market, but not all of them are necessarily in a good condition. Even if you find a remarkably good second-hand piano, there is a lot of maintenance that needs to be done regularly. In this article, you will learn the pros and cons of buying used pianos.
The Benefits of Buying a Used Piano
When you decide to buy a second-hand piano, you will learn there is a lower upfront cost involved. There is no need to put a large amount of money down to buy the musical instrument. These days, most households can afford to buy second-hand pianos because they cost a lot less than many years ago. Although these pianos are used, you will find plenty of them in various shapes, sizes, styles, cabinetry, and finishes. You will certainly find a large number of attractive second-hand pianos in various music shops, online stores, and from individual sellers.
Shopping for a used piano can be more interesting and exciting especially if you like old things or antiques. Nevertheless, it is best that you go piano shopping with someone that has a lot of knowledge about pianos. Even if you do know lots about pianos, it is always good to hear other people’s opinions. Another advantage of buying a used piano is many restorers tend to restore the musical instrument to an extent that it can compete with new pianos. Second-hand pianos are already highly decreased in terms of value, resulting in no loss if it is resold.
The Downsides to Purchasing Used Pianos
Now that you know the advantages of buying a used piano, let’s learn about the disadvantages. Used pianos do not come with a manufacturer’s warranty. You may receive a restorer or 
dealer’s warranty, but that is it. The warranty normally expires within a shorter period compared to warrantees of new pianos. If the pianos are not completely restored, you will find the chances of hidden defects are higher. That will result in increased maintenance costs because you will need a professional piano technician to look at it more regularly.
Second-hand pianos that are not correctly restored will have a shorter life expectancy. While it may be fun and exciting to shop for this type of piano, it can also be maddeningly confusing and tough. Moreover, the choices in local shops might be lesser compared to in other cities or states. This means you will need to pay additional transportation fees to get your used piano from another state to your house.
Even though there are more disadvantages than benefits, more people still lean towards buying a second-hand piano, because of the lower upfront fee.
Will you buy a used piano knowing what the risks are?