I got offered a free piano (if I pick it up) and a really cheap piano which hasn't been tuned for 8 years. But she told me the free one hasn't been tuned in years. I was told if it hadn't been tuned for more then 2 years that it would never be able to hold concert pitch and would cost thousands in repairs. I wonder if I should pay a technitian to go with me or if it's not even worth going to see it.

It depends what you are wanting it for - are you a professional pianists who really requires a piano to hold concert pitch, or are you simply looking for something to learn on?

Generally you get what you pay for, and whilst it's true that most free/cheap pianos are worth little more than fuel for bonfire night, many of them can be a good first instrument to learn on them to a reasonable standard. A tuner should be able to do something with it provided all the keys work and each key plays a single sound, the problem with tempered instruments is if one of the 3 strings is in a completely different place to the other 2 it sounds dreadful and there is little a tuner can do about it that is cost effective.

Depending on what you really need it for - you'll lose nothing by looking and you might get lucky and get something half decent.

I was thinking of getting a tuner to go with me and tell me what he thinks and if it's worth it. I am a compleate begginer and I want to self teach myself until I can aford piano lessons as I had them when I was young but had to stop.

I think its worth going to see it but it shouldnt make much difference if it hasnt been tuned in a couple of years - that wouldnt mean that it would need to cost any money to repair.

That would be a good idea, he will be able to tell you if it is worth spending time and money on, or may be able to recommend another option.

As long as the piano can be tuned so that it is in tune with itself, it really doesn't matter if it is not at concert pitch for your purposes (ie beginner learning). If the piano sounds reasonable to you, and it is free, go for it. You have nothing to lose.

Agreed. Just as long as it isn't a wreck which will cost you money to dispose of....

No problem - just offer it to the next beginner you meet, free to the person who collects it....

And then, no doubt, it'll eventually be offered to the local church, where the unfortunate organist (I speak from bitter experience!) will have to find some way of getting it dumped!

Easier said than done. I offered my old piano, free, for over 6 months, before I moved to the Netherlands. (It was serviceable but not good enough to justify the cost of shipping it overseas). No one wanted it.

so:

1. Definitely go and look at it
2. If it seems OK to you then go back with a tuner/technician, for another look
3. Don't take it if it is not fundamentally sound and in good condition.

Don't get your hopes up. Most pianos offered for free are exactly what you'd expect ... worthless. But if you do the legwork to look at a few you will eventually find a good one.

Even then it won't be completely free. You should expect to spend £50 to £100 to have it collected/delivered and a similar amount on tuning and minor repairs. You might get a better deal if your tuner/technician also does piano transport.

Free pianos come up from time to time (or you could offer an old one on it yourself) on Freecycle, an internet message service to bring givers and receivers together for items that are too good to send to landfill!

You can find your nearest group here:

http://www.freecycle.org/group/UK

Hope this helps your search for a free piano!

Collyermum