When do I "dump" my old upright piano?

Piano tuning can be a challenge at times, not because it's a difficult task in general, but because a piano can have many problems that hinder a tuner from pressing the keys to produce a tone because the mechanical parts are badly worn out.  There are a lot of badly worn out pianos out there in many homes.  I enjoy working on many of them because I
can usually fix them.

The question of "Should I get rid of this old piano?" comes quite often and I usually make an assessment based on several factors:

1. Is the amount of money required to do the repairs well worth the value the piano will have after the job is completed?

2. Is the owner of the piano willing to pay that amount required to finish the job?

3. Is a new piano a better option or a newer used a better option?

The answer is very dependent on the quality and condition of the piano and the goals of the piano owner.  Some of the most common problems that usually end the discussion is when the piano has a cracked pin plank.  It is the part of the piano that holds all those tuning pins which hold the tension of each and every string to its proper pitch.  Another problem is found in the bridges that strings are stretched across containing cracks in the wooden bridge causing bridge pins to be loose and vibrating buzzes.  The third most common problem is badly worn out hammers, (felt strikers) old and badly grooved from years of playing the piano.

There are many old upright pianos that should never be disposed of because they are of such high quality tone and beauty.  Patience and care should be considered for such pianos because there are many people who want to restore that piano.  When a person decides they don't want to keep such piano because they are not prepared to put the necessary funds toward repair or restoration, someone else could end up with it and also not realize the value of it.

A piano technician can evaluate a piano and determine whether the condition of a piano is worth the investment; but he cannot determine how much sentimental value there is in the piano owner's view of the piano.  I have come across many pianos that were in the family for  long time and it is hard for the owners to part with old pianos.  So the decision should be made only after all things have been considered, especially after a qualified technician has made the proper determination of the condition of the piano.

A tuned piano will keep America sounding beautiful.
http://frankspianotuning.com/