Old pianos are common to find and can have simple and complex problems. Some of the common problems include:
Breaking/broken strings
Sticking keys
Clicking keys
Worn out/broken parts
Cracked pin block
Cracked soundboard
These are the most common problems that happen to older pianos. Some of these are simple repairs and some are complex problems and costly fixes.
Broken Strings:
Strings breaking on old pianos is a very common occurrence and is fixed by either splicing the string or replacing the string with a brand new one. The problem with old pianos is that there is a chance for multiple strings to break due to the age, amount of use, and how rusty the strings are. If the piano strings are super rusty, piano technicians may opt out of tuning the piano due to the higher chance of breaking multiple strings.
Sticking Keys:
On old pianos sticking keys are usually caused by key rubbing against each other or by parts we worn out. Fixing sticking keys is usually a pretty simple repair that doesn't take too much time or cost that much.
Clicking keys:
Clicking keys is common and can be caused by many different reasons, but most commonly it is caused by a loose wippen or hammer butt screw. This is a simple repair and not costly.
Worn out/Broken Parts:
On old pianos, piano parts wear out or break due to age and amount of use. These can be simple and complex repairs depending if the parts can be fixed or if they need to be replaced.
Cracked Pin Block:
A cracked pin block can happen and it is a super huge problem because it is a very costly repair. If there is a crack in the pin block some of the time it can be repaired but most of the time it has to be replaced which is very costly and if it isn't done then the piano can not be tuned. This results in an untunable piano.
Cracked Soundboard:
A cracked soundboard isn't as common as other problems but it can be a huge problem. In many cases, if it isn't repaired then it can cause the piano to sound tiny, cause a buzzing, make you hear false beats, and have a shorter sustain over time. This causes the piano to never really sound in tune no matter when it was last tuned. In many cases, the crack can be fixed by a very skilled piano technician or piano rebuilder.
Older pianos sometimes are worth every cent of the repairs to fix them depending on what type of piano, manufacturer, and age. Most of the time however older pianos are not worth the cost to fix the piano, the only reason people pay for these repairs is because of the sentimental value of the piano.
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