A Quick-fire List of Frequently Asked Questions

Most of these questions come up on nearly every enquiry, so here they are in one go.

What’s been refurbished?

Everything that wears out gets replaced: felts, cords, bushings, keytops. The main structural work happens with our suppliers in Japan before shipment. Once it’s here, our own technicians tune it to concert pitch, fine-regulate the action, voice it where needed, and polish the cabinet again, following our 50-point checklist. Same process on every piano, whatever its age.

Do you know its full history?

Not in full. These were mass-produced, mass-exported pianos, so no dealer, us included, can trace one back to a specific family in Japan. Some come with old Japanese tuning cards, though plenty are blank. What we can tell you a lot about is condition, hammer wear, action, cabinet, which we check properly rather than take on trust. If we sold the piano ourselves originally, we can trace that part of its history.

Is the action regulated and the piano voiced?

Yes, always. Not an optional extra.

What’s the condition of the hammers, strings, soundboard, bridges and tuning pins?

All checked. Hammers are reshaped or replaced if worn, strings and bridges inspected for cracks or corrosion, tired strings replaced, and tuning pins tested for a stable tuning. Anything with a real structural problem doesn’t make the stock list.

Any major repair or restoration work?

Usually just the standard service above, though bridle tapes and loop cords are routinely replaced on pianos from before 1990. If a piano’s had something bigger done, we’ll say so, just ask with the serial number.

What does the lifetime warranty cover?

Manufacturing and material defects, for the original owner’s lifetime, non-transferable. It doesn’t cover tuning, wear and tear, accidents, or an unsuitable environment. For comparison, Yamaha’s own guarantee on a new piano is 5 years, extendable to 10. Full terms are on our guarantee page.

What’s included in the price?

Free UK delivery, a matching stool, and your first home tuning, best booked around six weeks after delivery once it’s settled in (you’ve three months to request it). You also get 14 days to return it, with free collection, a full refund and no restocking fee. Nothing extra to pay.

Can I hear it played first?

Yes. Every listing already has around 12 photos and a proper video of that exact piano, not stock footage, filmed and mixed to give a fair sense of how it really sounds. If you want more before deciding, just ask and we’ll arrange a live video call and play the full range for you.

Any questions on a specific piano, just ask with the serial number.

For the full story on how we source, recondition and back every piano, our provenance, the 50-point checklist, warranty comparison and more, read Why Mark Goodwin Pianos Is the Best Place to Buy a Yamaha Piano.