If I exclude dealers who advertise online (and I'm one of them, although I don't offer pianos on eBay or on classified ad sites) the majority of pianos you will see being sold online have probably already been rejected by a dealer or two. The current owner doesn't want to see the piano destroyed or doesn't want to pay to have it scrapped so they try to sell it - or even give it away - to keep their costs down.
There is also the perception that an old piano = a valuable antique. Sadly, this isn't so - unless the piano actually plays and will hold a tuning - an old piano = a piano-shaped ornament only good as a photograph shelf.
What to look for when you buy a used piano
Rather like estate agents, private sellers of pianos will present their instrument in its best light, emphasising the good points and ignoring or glossing over the bad ones, often because they don’t know their piano has any bad points.
A few months ago I browsed through the listings on the largest online auction site to find some examples of what to look out for in descriptions and pictures.
These are typical:
In one auction there was a picture of what appeared to be a well-kept old piano, but I could see it was in the kitchen, so it will have been exposed to high temperatures and humidity levels – just right for growing mould on the internal components as well as damaging the wrest plank and sound board. (Also look out for radiators in the vicinity of the piano being sold – this will give rise to temperature fluctuations which you wouldn't like and nor will the piano.)
In another auction a piano was being sold with a large split in the fall (the part that covers the keys) – how did it get there? What happened to the piano to cause damage to this part? An impact that catastrophic may well have damaged other parts
A third piano was being sold as the product of a certain manufacturer – in fact the name on it is the dealer who originally retailed it; it was a ‘no-name’ brand that the dealer sold as the ‘house’ piano – like the house wine in pubs and restaurants.
A fourth one was being sold with a provenance of having been in a prominent local theatre. There will be no hard evidence to back this up, of course – just ‘my great-aunt remembers playing this when it was at the end of the pier / in the concert hall / owned by such and such celebrity or concert pianist’ etc.
Another one was being sold by an upfront seller at least, who admitted they bought it from a house clearance, hadn't had it tuned (and didn't mind and couldn't tell that it needed tuning), mentioned the chipped pedals and chipped keys, the note that didn't work and the castor that went missing during their last house move. At least you’d know what you were buying with this one!
The last I will mention is typical of the sort of description you see in auctions. (I have copied the description exactly as given by the seller:):
- “Normell London, Antique Upright Piano
- Working but needs attention
- Antique Normelle of London Vintage Upright Piano
- Still in working order. All the keys work. Has music stand and foot pedals. It has been in our family since the 1940's and was second hand before that so dont know how old it is.
- Sadly for about 15 years or so it has sat in the garage doing nothing. The material on the back of the piano is torn from disintigration whilst stored.
- I am not a musician but my son plays the guitar and has had a go at the piano. He says it obviously needs retuning. There is also a key that has the white ivory half missing as shown in the photo.
- This would make a great restoration project as once cleaned up it really is a beautiful item.
- This is now looking for a home …”
The pictures to accompany this listing show a black piano that is grey with dust, the backlining hanging in shreds, and a close-up of a missing section of ivory from one of the keys. The piano was being offered at a starting bid of £40 – collect it yourself.
[I would like to state here that I am not having a go at the seller – I believe they are honest (they have 100% feedback on nearly 300 transactions) and have described their family heirloom as the desirable object they believe it to be, albeit in need of ‘attention’.]
Analysis:
First of all, Normelles were considered to be very poor quality even when new – they built pianos for the masses – what we refer to as ‘Woolworth’or 'Walmart' pianos. Cheaply built, cheaply sold and not meant to last 80 or more years. We would not take this piano if you were giving it away and including delivery and dinner.
Secondly, just to be pedantic, it can’t be both vintage and antique – but these are buzzwords on eBay so people use them. Strictly speaking I’d say it was vintage, although we don’t use that term with our instruments.
‘Still in working order. All the keys work.’ What that means is that their son has pressed all the keys down and got a sound out of each one. It doesn't mean it’s playable. Having been in a garage for 15 years I’d bet money it’s full of dirt and dust and God knows what else (did I tell you we once found a dead budgie inside a piano? Not to mention moth, woodworm, mice carcases, spiders…). And as it’s been in the family since World War II and there’s no mention of any work being done on it I’d guess it needs a full professional overhaul, never mind a tuning. And I’d also bet the missing ivory is under the keys – they often are. However, the chances are that all the ivory is loose – damp causes the old glue to weaken and once one falls off the others tend to follow.
There is no mention of the configuration of the piano (because the seller doesn't know anything about pianos) nor even a picture of it with both the top and bottom doors removed so you could see for yourself.
They make a point of mentioning the backlining, probably because it’s obvious, but this is the least of this piano’s problems, is easily fixed (or just rip out what’s left of the fabric and do without – modern pianos don’t have a backlining these days).
‘This would make a great restoration project…’ a trigger phrase designed to encourage you to believe that with a bit of dusting and vacuuming the piano could look and play like a Steinway.
Never going to happen.
If you threw $20,000 at this piano it still wouldn't look or sound like a Steinway.
But it’s cheap, and maybe with a clean-up and a tuning….
Please don’t waste your money on any instrument advertised like this. If the piano had any real value it would not be on eBay in this sorry state.
[By sheer coincidence I found another Normelle for sale on eBay starting at £19.99:
“Upright PIANO by NORMELLE
This was in my flat when I moved in - so just want rid!! It is by no means in good condition and could do with a lot of TLC!! DEFINITELY a REFURB PROJECT!! For collection only from ……. and CASH ON COLLECTION!! - any questions please message”
The single accompanying photograph shows the inside of a large black piano which is obviously straight-strung and overdamped. The words ‘barge pole’ and ‘don’t touch’ come to mind.]
In my next post I'll be looking at buying a used piano from a dealer or retail store.
Playing piano is certainly a wonderful experience. old upright piano to be an electronic midi piano.
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