Ragland Piano Company is owned and operated by me - Howard Gustafson. I am a second-generation piano technician with over 25 years experience with all types of pianos, including player pianos.  My career started as a preteen helping my father with minor tasks in his shop, followed a few years later by a decade associated with one of the largest music stores in the Memphis, TN area.  I relocated to Texarkana, TX in 1996 and a year later opened Ragland Piano Company in its present location at 314 Main Street.  I have three boys, the oldest of whom has started assisting me in the shop after school - the third generation to work in the piano business.  This is what I have done professionally all my adult life.

Baldwin Hamilton Studio Piano
Oak Cabinet, Serial #140849
Professionally reconditioned

SOLD!

One of the most popular studios of all time.  Better than excellent condition - nice cabinet, plays great, sounds great.  Extra height of a studio piano allows for longer strings than spinets and consoles - sound quality rivals many small grands.  Many sellers are only offering their pianos "as-is" or "condition unknown".  NOT US!!!  This piano has been Reconditioned in our own in-house service facility, click here to see a photo tutorial that shows the reconditioning process.  All keys play and play properly, pedals work, tuned to standard pitch - A440.  Bench included, plus inside our 100 mile service radius you get a 2 year parts and labor warranty, in-home tuning and a tradeback guarantee - should you decide anytime in the future to upgrade with us, we'll give you what you paid for this piano toward another one.  Call or email for full details.

You can buy a used piano online for a few hundred dollars (or less!) yet here we are selling one for much more.....why?  Our reconditioned pianos have had an average of $800-$1000 worth of work done to them.  Again, why?  An instrument with worn keybushings, excessive lost motion (or not enough), unlevel keys and is out of tune (usually a half step or more low) will be a disappointment to a student.  Many are not experienced enough to even know why the piano is difficult or not fun to play.  Make the smart choice and go with a piano that has been professionally reconditioned by a reputable dealer or technician (even if it's not me!!) and give the gift of a lifetime of music to your child.  Take time below to read what we do to our pianos and you will know more about what to look for, what to ask for, and some of the pitfalls regarding used pianos.

Typical work done to the average used piano we receive includes:
 -Raise to correct pitch (A440) and tune (usually takes 3 tunings if the piano hasn't been tuned in the last 2-3 years).  In our market this work alone is $200.  How flat is the piano you are considering?  Gibson has a free app you can download and use to check the tuning. Around 30-40 cents flat (or more), plan on pitch raises.  We also check tuning pin torque (requires a torque wrench with tuning pin adapter - as far as I know, there's no app for that...).  Low torque pins require correction before a tuning can be expected to hold.
-Perform a thorough interior cleaning - you would be surprised how dirty they can get.  The lower frame panel is usually held in place by one or two clips - push these up and tilt the bottom board forward to inspect the lower interior - be sure to check the soundboard and bridges for cracks.
-Tilt piano and clean (or replace) and lube casters, tighten bottom board screws.
-Recondition trapwork (the levers and rods associated with the pedals).
-Check action parts for excessive wear, friction or breakage.  Tighten all action screws.
-File hammers (they develop grooves where they contact the string during playing.)
-Check and adjust hammerblow (distance from the tip of the hammer to the string - usually 1.75" on smaller pianos, but can vary a bit)
-Adjust lost motion (this is the distance the key & wippen travel before the hammer starts to move.  If you feel a noticeable amount, it's too much.
-Level the keys and set keydip.  Put a yardstick or other straightedge on the keytops.  Most of the time on a used piano you will find the keys in the middle are much lower than keys on the ends (which are usually played less).  Differences in key height (and dip - the distance the key travels when pressed) will make the piano play inconsistently, sometimes to the point the keys will double strike.  Correct keydip is usually between 3/8" and 7/16", most often 13/32"
-Cabinet work.  The piano is very often the focal point of the room it is in.  People will walk in your living room and often exclaim "Oh, you have a piano".  Seldom does other furniture get similar status and recognition.  So, we treat it accordingly.  While most used piano cabinets will usually not be absolutely perfect, we take great pride in making each cabinet the best it can reasonably be.  Realistically, a $1,695 piano is probably going to look better than an $895 piano, but even the $895 is going to look better than most "as-is" pianos you will see.
-We also include home delivery and tuning within 100 miles (sometimes a little more for some market areas)

In some cases, depending on condition and price
we also have to do additional work such as:
Ease tight action centers
Keytop replacement
Keybushing replacement
Elbow/plastic parts replacement
Hammer replacement
Additional action regulation such as let-off, adjustment of backchecks or damper regulation

Extreme cases can require
complete restringing
refinishing
new action parts
or even complete restoration

Questions? CALL 903-791-1758
(often answered after hours & on weekends)
or email:  raglandpiano@yahoo.com
(Please reserve use of this toll-free number for questions regarding our pianos for sale.  Sorry, I simply cannot give advice regarding pianos I cannot see and play.)

Payment:  Mastercard, Visa and Discover - call 888-517-4266 to make payment via credit card.  At the store we accept personal checks (photo ID required).  Financing and layaway also available for most pianos, call for details.

Texas deliveries must pay 8.25% sales tax unless you are an exempt organization or are purchasing the piano for resale (Texas resale certificate required)

Ragland Piano Company
314 Main Street
Texarkana, TX  75501
raglandpiano@yahoo.com

please remember this.............

DO NOT JUDGE A PIANO ON LOOKS ALONE!

PIANOS WILL STILL MAKE A SOUND WHEN YOU PRESS A KEY LONG AFTER MAJOR REPAIRS ARE NEEDED!