Q: Who are you? 
Chicago Used Pianos is a small workshop in Wauconda, IL owned and operated by Michael D. Collin. Michael is a certified piano technician through the Chicago School for Piano Technology, and is an active member of the Piano Technicians Guild. He serves as head field technician for Family Piano Company in Waukegan and also maintains a private tuning clientelle. Prior to becoming a full-time piano technician, Michael served for nine years as General Manager of a major Chicago area piano dealership.
Q: We are just getting started exploring pianos and liked your Refurbishing Tutorial. Do you have any further resource tips?
Anyone who is considering anything relating to pianos needs to read the Larry Fine "Piano Book" (red cover is the latest). Every dealership and technician owns a copy of Larry Fine. Fine explains what a piano is, what to look for in buying one, what to expect from salesmen, and most importantly he provides help in cutting through the not-so-transparent pricing in this industry. Larry Fine publishes a supplement each year which updates pricing and company details. Your library probably has a copy or two.
There is a great website called PianoWorld.com that has become the hub for piano buyers, enthusiasts, and technicians. Check out their forums, and make use of the search function there. You will learn a lot.
Our trade organization is the Piano Technicians Guild. The Resources section of their website is a goldmine of information.
Q: Do you tune pianos?
Of course. A standard tuning is $85. If the piano has not been tuned in a long time, it may be way off pitch. In that case, a "pitch raise" is required, which brings the fee up to $120.
Pianos sold by Chicago Used Pianos are tuned several times while in the shop in order to stabilize pitch, and are tuned at no charge immediately before delivery.
Q: Will you appraise my piano?
No. We actively acquire pianos, so appraisals are a conflict of interest.
Q: Will you evaluate my piano?
Yes. The fee is $85 for an in-home vertical piano evaluation. We will inspect the piano for structure, tone, action, hammer, key, and finish condition and will provide you with a checklist and written evaluation.
Q: Will you refurbish my piano?
Yes. There is a fee of $85 to evaluate your piano and provide you with a refurbishing proposal. The fee is fully refundable should you decide to proceed with the refurbishing. We arrange for pickup and delivery of your piano. The refurbishing process takes about three weeks. If you only want certain improvements made to your piano, like new keytops or action regulation, we generally don't need to evaluate the piano--just give us a call for a quote.
Q: Will you buy my piano?
Probably not. If you send us a photo, a serial number, and a price, we will respond. We do not make offers to buy pianos.
Q: Do you move pianos?
We contract out our moves to Kevin's Piano Moving. Kevin Gunter has been moving pianos for nearly 20 years and is fully insured. He does great work, and we can heartily recommend his services. He can be reached at 847-395-7048.