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Ok, is it true that New (by that I mean a piano that has supposedly been strung in the last 2 years) strings can be dull due to oxidation while sitting on a showroom floor. The dealer is insisting this piano was recently restrung but the strings are not the bright brass look you would expect from a recently strung piano.
thanks

You mean copper? Usually it does not oxidize that quickly, if it was handled correctly. What part of the country? There is big difference between dry Colorado and a coastal town...

What do the tuning pins look like? You may be best off bringing in a local technician to protect your interests as a potential buyer. There are some dealers, yes, even in the piano business, who sometimes stretch the truth a little...

A little, Jurgen????!!!! A little????!!!!

The only difference between a used car salesman, and a used piano dealer is...

Okay serious now. I know there are honest people out there, but sometimes I think the truth stretchers far outnumber the truthful dealers. I agree with Jurgen, I would pay a few bucks to get ANY used piano evaluated.

Corresion on the strings after only two years, sounds like something may be remiss.

This reminds me of a customer that recently purchased a piano on craigslist. People seem to be so fond of craigslist. I'm not. The person selling the piano told them it was "only 10 years old and in MINT condition! Tuned often." Sold it to them for $600.00. Turns out, the reality of the situation was that the piano was over 40 years old, hadn't been tuned in 25 years and was basically shot inside. Hammers were worn out etc. That customer got taken.

It's always a buyer beware market out there. If it sounds to good to be true? It probably isn't!

It seems like just about every old piano on craigslist in in excellent condition, plays great, and just needs a little tuning. If the worn out hammers have been reshaped and some of the bridle tapes replaced then it has been completely "gone through" or rebuilt. As Darrel Fandrich told me once "It's a wasteland out there..."

This is an 40 year old Baldwin SD-10 and the action and finish was completely redone (well done according to my tech) He was surprised that the dealer was saying these strings had been replaced as well. The pins do NOT look new. Do the pins always get replaced along with strings?