A piano that has been in the family for many years – even generations, is often an object of great sentimental value. After all, it has adorned the living room, endured many practice sessions, received many a dusting, and has stubbornly resisted relocation attempts. Perhaps the best reason why we keep it has to do with what it returns to us when we or out children sit down to play.
However, there may come a time when, despite our efforts to keep the piano in tune and reasonably good repair, it fails to respond to our touch. What starts as an annoying buzz in the bass, or a sticky middle C, can become the reason we don’t sit down to play quite as often as we did. As difficult as it may be to face, you need to consider a few options:
- Have the piano completely rebuilt (it will play and look like new!)
- Give or sell the piano to a friend or relative – preferably someone who we think will appreciate it – and purchase another in better condition.
- Sell the piano on Craigslist or eBay – the downsides of going this route are fairly obvious.
- Other options you don’t want to think about.
Another option you may want to consider is reconditioning. It is priced far more reasonably than rebuilding, can often be done in the home over a period of days, and may preserve many of the features of your piano that you have come to love. It can be done to address particular problems such as sticky keys, broken strings, and squeaky pedals – and even done in stages. Even the piano’s finish can be repaired and renovated in the home.
At your next tuning, ask your technician to give your piano a thorough inspection and have them provide a detailed condition report. Suggest the viability of reconditioning, and you may be pleasantly surprised at what you hear!