Does a new piano need tuning right away?

[peddidle]

I've been looking at pianos to purchase and have found the process to be more confusing than I had anticipated.

(Background information: I played piano from 3-12 years old and then stopped completely. I bought a digital piano in my late teens but never fell in love with it [read: didn't play much]. I bought a piano about 8 years ago but just basically jumped at the first one I saw in my price range due to ignorance. Very shortly after buying it, I sustained an unrelated finger injury that caused me to decide not to play and to get rid of the piano. I've been having the desire to start to play again, and I feel my finger has healed well enough to be able to do so.)

I have a very limited selection to choose from where I live, although I'm getting the impression that a lot of people do not buy their piano locally (where do you buy from, if not locally? how do you arrange for shipping? and at what cost?). We have two piano stores. One that seems to have a lot of cheaper pianos and seemingly poor customer service. And one that has friendly, helpful staff but only 2 new pianos and a handful of used pianos (none of the used pianos interested me--they were all very old and/or...dare I say...ugly). The 2 new pianos are Yamaha brand--P22 and T118. The P22 is in the local store. The T118 had to be shipped from another location (same store name, different city). I wanted to test them both out yesterday, but the store owner asked that we test them out on Friday instead because the T118 needs to be tuned.

My concern/question is: Is it normal and expected that a brand new piano needs to be tuned on arrival? Or is this a red flag that something might be wrong with the piano? I want to be more careful about jumping into buying a piano than I was the last time, but I do feel that my options are limited. Any suggestions/feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[silverwoodpianos]

 The dealer would like to sell you a piano, but at the same time would also like to give the piano a chance to be sold. After transportation from another location the instrument would require a tuning in order for it to sound good. Also at the same time the tuner touches every key so anything faulting in the mechanics would be addressed at the same time.

The P22 replaces the P2 series which were a good institutional instrument; heavy front leg with interior metal brackets holding the toe assembly to the casing. A good solid instrument.

I have only come across one T118 in my travels so far and it seemed like a good piano also. So it seems that your choices are Yamaha and Yamaha so far…….

Forget names; go for the tone you like to hear. Even go and play the ugly ducklings just to see what they sound like; you might discover that one of them has the tonal qualities you are looking for. Then you could look for a similar sound in another cabinet style.

There are lots of pianos everywhere. The more difficult task is to find a good technician to work with into the future as the instrument will require continuing service. Spend time doing that first and the task of choosing an instrument for yourself will become considerably easier.

[quantum]

I have a very limited selection to choose from where I live, although I'm getting the impression that a lot of people do not buy their piano locally (where do you buy from, if not locally? how do you arrange for shipping? and at what cost?).

There are stores in my area that offer free delivery within 300 KMs of the store.  Should give you an idea of how far people are willing to travel, but this in no way represents an upper limit.  There are people that are willing to cross international boarders to audition a piano. 

If you are going to invest in a piano you might as well get one you love.  This is regardless of your budget: whether it be a Fazioli or a vertical.  Get the piano that you will want to play every day. 

[pianoplayjl]

I dunno but I think it depends if it is in tune or out of tune but obviously it will be in tune. Still I think it is best that a piano tuner checks the piano for anything wrong.

JL

[peddidle]

Thank you for the replies! Hubby has agreed to travel to the nearest big city (137 miles) this weekend to see what they offer. I'm glad a new piano needing tuning is nothing to be concerned about. Whether I purchase this particular piano or not, I really like the business manner of this store; it would have been a shame to find a reason to not trust them.

[willvenables]

Indeed - if you want to sell a piano, it needs to be in tune for anyone to be able to judge its tone and be impressed. New pianos in stock are typically unstable and require 4 tunings within 2months of being in a showroom. It usually takes 2 months for a piano to settle in a stable environment, and this is why most piano dealers will provide a post delivery tuning 4-8 weeks later. However, in a piano showroom, the piano needs to be impressive all the time - so you can't present it to a client whilst its drifting out of tune during the settling-in period. Moving a piano doesn't usually upset the tuning, but the change in environment (each room/location will usually have a different humidity level) which the piano needs to adjust to.

If you imagine where the brand new piano has been.... factory, factory warehouse, container, docks, ship, docks, out of container, warehouse, transit to store.... and then it needs to settle in a stable environment at last.

Choice in piano dealer is as important as the piano you choose. Price is always a key factor when buying a piano - but a particular model of piano that has been recommended to you but is available at slightly varied prices (depending on the source) seems to make price the most important thing... which is a shame. You may find that the lowest price is actually only achievable in forfeit of getting any decent standard of service other than low price & quick delivery.

You may find that the highest price doesn't guarantee the dealer is the best either!

The value of a quality dealer is the benefit to you of the advice, range of pianos, standard of piano preparation (over and above that of the manufacturer) and dealer's ability to service the piano directly or via an established relationship with technician locally to you, so the piano stays in the great condition you bought it and with the same performance that impressed you when you chose it... and being there should there be a problem with the piano in the future.

Remember... the last technician to work on a piano may be as influential in the piano's performance as the piano itself.

[peddidle]

Willvenables, thank you for the explanation on the tuning needs of a new piano. It certainly makes a lot more sense to me now.

We went to the store today to try the T118 and compare it to the P22 and walked out with the P660, lol. There was a hiccup in one of the orders the store made, and they ended up getting in a P660. I really wasn't expecting to purchase a piano today b/c I was pretty set on looking in the big city, but the piano is gorgeous and sounds amazing! It has a very similar feel/look to the piano I played as a child, so it has a very nostalgic feeling about it as well. Also, I very much agree that "choice in piano dealer is as important as the piano you choose," and this dealer has made me feel comfortable about buying a piano--providing detailed explanations to any questions I had and showing confidence in the technician they use--instead of leaving me to swim in deep waters. I really had determined NOT to buy a piano today, but I was so incredibly drawn to this one piano that there was just no stopping it. Now I just have to learn how to play again! 

[rachfan]

The rule of thumb is that once the piano is moved into its new home, it should be allowed a week to settle into its new environment.  Once that week has passed, then yes, the piano should be tuned.  Frequently, this is done by a tuner working for the dealer who sold you the piano and typically that first tuning is free.  (Ask about that when making the appointment.) While there, the tuner will also make sure that nothing was put askew by the movers.

[willvenables]

Willvenables, thank you for the explanation on the tuning needs of a new piano. It certainly makes a lot more sense to me now.

We went to the store today to try the T118 and compare it to the P22 and walked out with the P660, lol. There was a hiccup in one of the orders the store made, and they ended up getting in a P660. I really wasn't expecting to purchase a piano today b/c I was pretty set on looking in the big city, but the piano is gorgeous and sounds amazing! It has a very similar feel/look to the piano I played as a child, so it has a very nostalgic feeling about it as well. Also, I very much agree that "choice in piano dealer is as important as the piano you choose," and this dealer has made me feel comfortable about buying a piano--providing detailed explanations to any questions I had and showing confidence in the technician they use--instead of leaving me to swim in deep waters. I really had determined NOT to buy a piano today, but I was so incredibly drawn to this one piano that there was just no stopping it. Now I just have to learn how to play again! 

And this is exactly what buying a piano should be like! Everything... the piano, the dealer and the experience should just feel 'right'.

Congratulations!

[naaga]

you have to wait a few weeks for tuninig a new piano: it requires some time to "adjust" !

[pianoplayjl]

you have to wait a few weeks for tuninig a new piano: it requires some time to "adjust" !

Rachfan said 1 week should be enough. If something wrong with the new piano get tuner right away.

JL