I'm old and play guitar a bit, but I really want a piano to teach myself. Old uprights used to be free if you could find a church remodeling and getting new ones. They are hard to find now.
Old church uprights are almost all rattle trap junk. With the heat and A/C turned on and off weekly the sound boards didn't last very long. The actions weren't much to begin with but the temperature swings didn't help then either. You can buy a pretty decent Spinet piano from an individual who has cared for it for less than a $1,000. Is it a Yamaha, Steinway or even a Bursendorfer? No, but it is head and shoulders above a retired church upright in most cases.
Take care, and Good LUck!
Rick
