Currently on Facebook Marketplace there are over a dozen pianos for sale in the San Fernando Valley. Not all the images for upcoming estate sales have been posted yet by the companies involved in liquidating the contents of houses (EstateSales.net & EstateSales.org) but on any given weekend there are 2-3 pianos for sale.
Succinctly said: Buying a secondhand piano is not difficult nor are there limitations on choices between upright or a grand or baby-grand if one is willing to wait for a week or two as new listings become available.
The DYNAMIC MUSIC ROOM online is a great resource for answers to common questions for a novice looking at a first purchase of a second-hand piano:
- How to Glissando on Piano (that's the technique of running the back of the hand over the keys)
- How to clean piano keys
- How often should you tune a piano
- How to add a microphone to an upright piano
- Where to donate a piano (Many charities do not have the means to move a piano without notice)
- How long does it take to get good at playing a piano
Whereas Thumbtack suggests it costs as much as $160 - $170 to tune a piano. There is an association of piano tuners: Piano Technicians Guild
Where to buy a piano at a retail location:Â The SFV hasÂ
- Knauer Pianos - Buy Pianos, Piano Service, Moving Pianos (ipianos.com)
- Musical Instruments Store | Music Equipment | American Musical Supply
- North Hollywood Piano Store | Pianos For Sale Los Angeles
But what if you don't have the time to wait until you piano sells?  The scrap value for a piano is based on:
Piano Harp - according to the Mozart Project a cast iron piano harp can weigh 50 -100 pounds BUT a grand piano harp weighs as much as 375 pounds.
Strings - made from copper, nickel, and silver. Keep in a mind a grand piano has over 100,000 strings!!!!  Estimates are generally $50 to $300 but more for a grand piano
Word of caution: The strings create thousands of pounds of tension between the iron frame and the soundboard.  Collectors weekly expressed it as
"AnythingObscure, 5 years ago ".... it might technically be possible to separate the harp from the soundboard -- IF and ONLY IF you first were to use a tuning key to relax ALL the tension on EACH AND EVERY one of the strings until they were all physically 'floppy loose', essentially just short of removing them entirely. Even attempting to this (loosen all the strings) would likely be a very hazardous process. (if not done slowly, carefully, and likely in somewhat of a precise order??)"
Creative use of pianos, beyond musical appreciation is seen online as people turn the shell into desks, wall art, and more.Â
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