Selling an old family upright piano

[franzbassist]

I have an old family upright piano that I'd like to move on but I have no idea where to start.  It's in decent, but not great, nick.  Any ideas?

[BigRedX]

You probably want to have a read of this thread and be prepared to be disappointed.

[barkin]

I was in the same position a few months back. Ended up giving it away through a local Facebook group. 

 

We humped it out of the front door, expecting a van, but he pushed it up the footpath on its wheels... 

Edited August 7, 2023 by barkin

[NHM]

ours went a year or two ago. It was a lovely piano probably worth three figures but I was grateful for someone to take it away for free. I offered it on the local community facebook group.

[TheGreek]

Isn't it the case that moving pianos makes them go out of tune?

How much does it cost to have one tuned?

[Dad3353]

Check that it's a piano with an iron frame, not a wooden one. A wooden frame piano cannot hold its tune, so not much point tuning it. In France (and maybe elsewhere...), such pianos are not classed as 'musical instruments', and cannot be sold as such, but only as 'furniture', for decoration. Just a thought. 

[Frank Blank]

Give Piano Pavilion a call, I'm sure they can give you advice.

[Shaggy]

We had the same experience a couple of years ago when clearing our parents home; ended up giving away their lovely old iron-frame upright piano for free.   Nobody wants them; I guess they take up too much space and the modern compact electric pianos are so good.

 

There was also an antique harmonium in the house (technically mine, as I’d bought it on impulse from a junk shop when in my teens....) which had a slightly more interesting exit.   A Finnish heavy metal band touring the UK and passing through Cambridge happened to notice it posted in the Freeads, took it away, and used it that night as part of their act.    I assume it was probably destroyed with a flame thrower or something (which was a shame as it was a beautiful thing....), but I guess better to go out in a blaze of glory than mouldering away in a garage somewhere.

[Rayman]

I can only echo what others have said. Been there, done it. I used to work for a piano specialist, moving and installing them. These older family models aren’t worth much unfortunately, unless they’re great condition and made by a top notch maker, which they usually aren’t.

 

Its very sad… I virtually gave my mums old piano away for nothing, but apparently it went to a good home. It’s a shame that nobody wants them anymore.

[Rosie C]

On 08/08/2023 at 17:01, TheGreek said:

Isn't it the case that moving pianos makes them go out of tune?

How much does it cost to have one tuned?

 

Ours costs £60, every six months or so

[tracyberge]

On 07/08/2023 at 23:53, franzbassist said:

I have an old family upright piano that I'd like to move on but I have no idea where to start.  It's in decent, but not great, nick.  Any ideas?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donkey Kong

If you have an old family upright piano that you'd like to move on, here are some steps to consider:
1. Assess the condition: Start by evaluating the piano's condition. Determine if it's playable, if there are any significant structural issues, or if it requires repairs. This assessment will help you determine its potential value and the best course of action.
2. Determine the value: Research the market value of similar pianos in your area. Consider factors such as brand, age, condition, and demand. This information will give you an idea of the piano's worth and help you set an appropriate asking price.
3. Decide on the selling method: There are a few options for selling an old upright piano:
 - Private sale: You can try selling the piano directly to an individual buyer. Advertise through online platforms, local classifieds, or social media. Be prepared to negotiate the price and handle inquiries from potential buyers.
 - Consignment: Another option is to consign the piano with a reputable piano dealer or consignment shop. They will handle the sale process for you, including advertising and showcasing the piano to potential buyers. Keep in mind that they may charge a commission fee.
- Donation: If the piano has sentimental value but limited market value, you might consider donating it to a school, community center, or charitable organization. Ensure the recipient is willing to accept the piano and arrange for transportation.
- Scrap or disposal: In some cases, if the piano is in poor condition and unsellable, you may need to explore options for piano disposal or recycling. Consult with local recycling centers or waste management services to determine the best way to dispose of the piano responsibly.
4. Prepare for transportation: If you find a buyer or recipient for the piano, you'll need to plan for its transportation. Moving an upright piano can be challenging due to its size and weight. Consider hiring professional piano movers who have the expertise and equipment to handle the job safely. They will ensure the piano is

Edited August 10, 2023 by tracyberge

[bass_dinger]

12 hours ago, Shaggy said:

Finnish heavy metal band touring the UK and passing through Cambridge happened to notice it posted in the Freeads, took it away, and used it that night as part of their act.    I assume it was probably destroyed with a flame thrower or something (which was a shame as it was a beautiful thing....), but I guess better to go out in a blaze of glory than mouldering away in a garage somewhere.

 

They Finnish'd it?

[NHM]

I remember back in the 1960s my parents gave an old wooden-framed piano to the local church's summer fete for a piano smashing contest, where two teams each with a piano completed to smash up them up with sledgehammers, the first to pass theirs all through a 1 foot square wins.

 

[BlueMoon]

6 hours ago, NHM said:

remember back in the 1960s my parents gave an old wooden-framed piano to the local church's summer fete for a piano smashing contest, where two teams each with a piano completed to smash up them up with sledgehammers, the first to pass theirs all through a 1 foot square wins.

I’m pretty sure the same “game” was on regional contests of “It’s A Knockout” back in the day. Sacrilege or recycling?

[godathunder]

Ive demolished a couple. Id recommend it, its very theraputic.

 

Bonus points if you can push one down a flight of stone steps, its an awesome sound. My only regret in this endeavour is that I didnt record it

 

But unfortunately unless theyre a particularly good one theyre just another piece of redundant technology

[Dad3353]

I may have posted this, a few years back, but I can't find it, soooooo...

 

The scene..? The local annual festival (Les Trois Elephants, France...) which attracted 300 volunteers, and 10-15000 visitors. I was, for several years, one of the standing committee to manage it all. One of the specialities, other than an excellent programme of top and up-and-coming acts, was street art, jugglers, theatre, odds and sods of all sorts, all with a festive spirit. That year, we rummaged through some brain-storming ideas of things to put on, apart from the rock concerts, main stage. I had worked for an enterprise importing second-hand pianos from the North of England to France, to be refurbished and sold here. In this, I had contacts with a major supplier of pianos, and knew that they had a massive stock of unsalable joannas, gleaned from modest homes all around the North. I 'phoned them, and organised a shipment of a trailer-load of these old wrecks, to be delivered to the festival site a week or so before the 'off'. The idea was thus : The fifty or so pianos were to be stacked, to build the Biggest Bonfire of Pianos in the World. It would be laden with divers fireworks, with things like ping-pong balls between the strings, so that, in melting, sounds would emanate.I had even foreseen a couple of sacrificial microphones inside, to capture and broadcast the cacophony as they burned and fell, 'live', and record the feat.

Alas, it all went awry when first one, then two, then more volunteers and committee members, in seeing these items, asked if one could be spared, as they wanted to give it a Good Home. By the time I became aware of this covert dilapidation of my pyramid stock, it was too late; half had been filched, and it was too late for me to complete the stock with enough to achieve the World Record I'd envisaged. The pianos were, in the end, dispersed around the site, tarted up with gaudy paint, and added to the atmosphere in a less spectacular style.
The cost..? I had contacts with shippers, willing to come back from Blighty with any load rather than empty, and the job lot of duff, wooden-frame pianos cost even less than the transport. The biggest part of my budget was to be the pyrotechnics, which were not called upon in the end. A shame; I would have liked to have gone down in History holding that World Record title. The Festival has moved on since, so there is no longer an annual, national event here that I could pin this to. One day, maybe; one day...  

[godathunder]

7 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

I may have posted this, a few years back, but I can't find it, soooooo...

 

The scene..? The local annual festival (Les Trois Elephants, France...) which attracted 300 volunteers, and 10-15000 visitors. I was, for several years, one of the standing committee to manage it all. One of the specialities, other than an excellent programme of top and up-and-coming acts, was street art, jugglers, theatre, odds and sods of all sorts, all with a festive spirit. That year, we rummaged through some brain-storming ideas of things to put on, apart from the rock concerts, main stage. I had worked for an enterprise importing second-hand pianos from the North of England to France, to be refurbished and sold here. In this, I had contacts with a major supplier of pianos, and knew that they had a massive stock of unsalable joannas, gleaned from modest homes all around the North. ETC.........

Should you ever hold a rematch and find yourself in need of an assistant piano mangler, youve hit upon one of my few areas of useful expertise........

[Dad3353]

13 minutes ago, godathunder said:

Should you ever hold a rematch and find yourself in need of an assistant piano mangler, youve hit upon one of my few areas of useful expertise........

 

Bring your own matches. 

[bass_dinger]

I am beginning to change my mind about old pianos being destroyed.  I see now that some instruments were poor quality instruments even when made.

It is ever thus: in the 1920s and 30s, one might buy a bowl back mandolin to show that you have visited Italy;  or a pair of castanets or a flamenco guitar from Spain.  Perhaps some maracas from South America, or a painted ukulele from Hawaii  . . . 

 

All those instruments (plus the wooden framed piano, and the Woolworths Electric Guitar) have one thing in common - they are made for people who want an instrument, but did not realise that what they bought was poor quality and not the real thing. 

I myself have binned a  Spanish guitar - it was more accurately described as a Guitarish thing from Spain - simply to ensure that nobody else had to play it.  However, I have kept my nan's castanets - easy to store.

As for the piano that we had, it was given to us by a piano shop - and eventually, we returned it to them.  I now have a much nicer Kurzweil piano.

PS I was surprised to learn that most of the Stradivari violins in existence have been re-necked, to move them from Stubby Baroque to Longer Classical  - so if a luthier can take apart a Strad and perhaps dispose of the old neck, to make it more usable, then losing a few old pianos is not so bad. 
 

[franzbassist]

Hello everyone.  Thanks for the updates: lots of interesting opinions and insights!

 

I know some history to the piano we have. It is metal framed and was made in London at the turn of the last century.  I have no idea what it's worth, but the good news is it's in sufficiently good nick and holds its tuning that a local village primary school are going to take it gratis.  I'm happy with that