New Pianos

1. The general rule-of-thumb for a piano's sound quality is, "The taller the piano, the longer the strings, the better the sound". However, keep in mind the size of the room your piano will be located in. A large piano in a small room can be overpowering, while a small piano in a large room will not fill the space with sound.
2. It is usually safe to purchase a piano with an established "brand" name, from a reputable dealer. The dealership should offer a solid store and factory warranty. The store should also have competent factory trained technicians for routine service and repair.
3. Most good dealerships will deliver the piano tuned, regulated, and voiced. They will also provide an in home service inspection and tuning 30-60 days after delivery.

Used Pianos

1. Used pianos can vary greatly in quality and value. Used pianos sold by reputable dealers should have been serviced and brought up to industry standards.
2. When considering a used piano in the private marketplace, enlist the services of a qualified piano techician to examine and certify your potential purchase. A quote should also be obtained as to what work should be required.
3. If the piano is badly out of tune, insist that it be tuned and adjusted to concert pitch (A440) before parting with your money. Many used pianos cannot be tuned in this manner and any repairs to correct this problem is extremely expensive.
4. Examine the face of the hammers carefully. Deeply-grooved hammer felts indicates heavy use, probably making the piano sound very "harsh" and overly bright. To rectify this, the hammers may need to be reshaped, and the piano re-voiced; or they may require complete replacement. You need to check the cost for reshaping or replacement.
5. Check the action of the piano (performance of the actual keyboard). It should feel firm yet easy to play, and be uniform from key to key. A "soft", loose action may require major work and could be expensive.