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| Requesting More Piano Input | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 6 2011, 01:27 PM (824 Views) | |
| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 01:27 PM Post #1 |
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Senior Carp
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I know I'm going to bore you to tears with my piano questions, but I tend to research the heck out of stuff before I make a decision. I have the piano bug again and with graduation only 6 months away, my thoughts have turned to full-time employment, having disposable income again, and visions of a lovely grand piano in my Texas living room (and maybe even lessons!). I've never considered looking at the Chinese or Korean-made pianos. Should I? Does anyone have experience with any of them? (I'm sure somebody does.) Even though I don't like to admit it, I can be a bit of a snob when it comes to brand and I need to get over that. I haven't had many opportunities (read: shortage of dealers) to try a large variety of manufacturers, but what I've found so far is listed by personal ratings: 1) Shigeru Kawai - new 2) Kawai Blak series - new 2) Baldwin - used (SF10, pre 1970's) 3) Petrof - new (pre shake-up, circa 2007ish?) 3) Mason & Hamlin - refurbished 3) Charles Walter - new 4) Estonia - new 4) Schimmel - new (the first one I tried was wonderful; sometime later, another seemed too bright; I know, voicing) 5) Boesendorfer - new Imperial (in my dreams!; tried a beat-up used one later and it was horrendous; not a fair comparison, I know) 6) Steinway - new (personally won't consider, especially for the $$$) Seems like someone suggested looking at Pearl River sometime back. (Larry, maybe?) Or perhaps I'm remembering incorrectly. Anyway, you know I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions. I love gleaning knowledge. |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| Mark | Dec 6 2011, 01:48 PM Post #2 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Budget? |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| kenny | Dec 6 2011, 01:52 PM Post #3 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I'd go out and play the new ones on your list - keeping in mind what you experience is somewhat dependent on how much prep the piano got. Used pianos can be a great deal but the older they are the less they are, say, a Baldwin and the more they become a BaldwinSmithJohnson as a result of work they may have gotten. Smith and Johnson may have done good or poor work, using good or poor parts, or even the wrong parts. The pre-1960s 7' Baldwin is one of my favorites. |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 01:59 PM Post #4 |
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Senior Carp
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Oh, good question. Maybe 35Kish, but of course, less is always better. |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| VPG | Dec 6 2011, 02:00 PM Post #5 |
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Pisa-Carp
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What you have to decide is, will this be the last piano I ever buy? If you think it will be then go for the biggest most expensive you can. I M O the Chinese and Korean are fine, but with them I think it's more important who you buy it from then what brand you buy. With the more expensive brands it's not as important. Remember the better brands are rebuildable. The Asian are not. The better ones with rebuilding 70 years down the road will be in your children's family for a couple generations. The Asian you'll get 15-20 years out of it, then buy another Asian piano. All of this again is IMO!!!!!! |
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I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK! "People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look." Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971 | |
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| Mark | Dec 6 2011, 02:02 PM Post #6 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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No no no. More is better! ![]() That's a real nice budget. Mine was substantially less when I was shopping but I ended up with a sweet Estonia L190. I really like it and it would take something akin to KB's piano (and winning the lottery) to part with it. |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 02:02 PM Post #7 |
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Senior Carp
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When I found the Baldwin, I fell in love. The sound was like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter's night; the touch was perfect for me. And the price was, I thought, a steal. But, it really wasn't the right time to make such a purchase. |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 02:05 PM Post #8 |
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Senior Carp
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But Vince, that's exactly what I want; your opinion. I feel like most folks here have a much deeper knowledge than I do. I love picking brains.
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 02:08 PM Post #9 |
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Senior Carp
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What piano does KB have? |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| Piano*Dad | Dec 6 2011, 02:11 PM Post #10 |
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Bull-Carp
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What are August Forsters going for these days? |
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| Axtremus | Dec 6 2011, 02:12 PM Post #11 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Look, it's simple. You've got an ordered list (ranked by your own preference), and you've got a budget. Just buy the one ranked highest in your list that is within your budget, and you're done. Stop fretting and start playing your new piano already. |
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| Axtremus | Dec 6 2011, 02:15 PM Post #12 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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You children don't even like your music. What makes you think they will like your piano? You buy what you like (what you can afford), and you let your children buy what they like (what they can afford). |
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| VPG | Dec 6 2011, 02:23 PM Post #13 |
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Pisa-Carp
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If they hate her music and her piano they can sell it for a down payment on what ever Casio has out that year. |
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I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK! "People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look." Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971 | |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 02:36 PM Post #14 |
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Senior Carp
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But Ax, you don't understand how a woman shops. Currently, my biggest dilema is that the Shigeru dealer is in Michigan. I don't have the fortitude to pick up the phone to see if he still has the model I tried out before I left the state. I can't even remember for sure if it was the III or the V. Besides, the agony is almost pre-climactic. (See, I told ya' I'd pester someone to exasperation. )
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| Dan | Dec 6 2011, 02:38 PM Post #15 |
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Senior Carp
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Set the budget, which sounds like you've already done. Play everything (both on an off your list) that you can get your hands on within +15% of your budget and down to say $15,000. When you fall in love with a piano, go play something else. Then come back and see how your love compares. Do that several times. When you've seen and played lots of pianos, go with the one you love. If you love more than one, choose between them however you wish. (Dealer vibe, cost, size, service expectation, etc.) Don't let yourself be pressured into making a buy decision until you've played the field. |
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| Mikhailoh | Dec 6 2011, 02:59 PM Post #16 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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I doubt it was Larry who told you to look at Pearl River but then I have not looked at one in several years. They may be a lot better. You are kind of all over the map there. Have you given serious consideration to budget? It is very nice to have a good grand, but it is also very nice in these uncertain times to have money in the bank. It would seem you have a pretty large pile set aside for this, but do you really want to spend it, and is your playing level such that it would justify that expense? These are of course questions with no right or wrong answer, just things to consider. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Mikhailoh | Dec 6 2011, 03:01 PM Post #17 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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I can see other answered after I started an hour or so ago.
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Luke's Dad | Dec 6 2011, 03:31 PM Post #18 |
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Emperor Pengin
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If you don't mind my asking, why are rebuilt Masons on the list, but not the new ones? Today's Masons may be the best they've ever built. |
| The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it. | |
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| kenny | Dec 6 2011, 04:22 PM Post #19 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Try to get a 7' piano. I think that's a sweet spot. |
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| Jolly | Dec 6 2011, 05:21 PM Post #20 |
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Geaux Tigers!
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[Reaching up and knocking the dust off my piano-buying hat] Now, take anything I say with a grain of salt...I'm a value shopper and I have a firm belief that the pianist is as important as the piano. A bad pianist can't make a good piano sound good, but a good pianist can make a so-so piano into something better than what it is. Having said that, you still can't make chicken salad out of chicken dookie, though. A few thoughts... 1. Determine sound. Depending on how a piano is prepped, that can be a tough assignment, since prepping does make a difference. But you will notice certain brands have their own basic tone. Find what you like and fixate on pianos that have that same basic sound. 2. Determine size. It's fine to say a 7 footer has wonderful tone, but it's more trouble than it's worth, if your place is so small you have to compromise everything else in life to shoehorn that piano into your home. Dealers used to give out free templates. If not, it's easy enough to make your own and try that template out through your home. IIRC, 6 foot-ish, one way or the other, is a great home size and very popular. 3. Determine budget. You don't want to buy a piano that will make you miserable, either because it is too cheap (and thus cheaply made) or it is too expensive (making you an insomniac worrying about whether it's food or piano note this month). Find a number you are comfortable with, especially in these uncertain financial times. If you can't stand the new pianos in your budget, think used. Unless it comes from a Full Gospel Apostolic Church (and I once saw a trade-in Kawai that had the side kicked in and repaired from such a venue) or it was formerly owned by Jerry Lee Lewis, most good quality, later model, privately owned pianos are played a lot less than they are looked at, especially if they don't have a player system. 4. Find a good tech in your area. Your piano will love you for it. Lastly...if you've found you really like that Baldwin sound, concentrate on Baldwins, M&H, Steinway and Charles Walter. My 2 cents, YMMV. |
| The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros | |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 05:46 PM Post #21 |
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Senior Carp
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Love the pun. |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| PattyP | Dec 6 2011, 05:57 PM Post #22 |
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Senior Carp
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I would love to try a new M&H but I've not had access to any. The refurbished ones were at a dealer who does not sell them new. Mik, to answer your question: If push comes to shove, no, I don't believe that my playing skill warrants the kind of grand I want if skill were the only criteria for owning a grand. But, I know I wouldn't be satisfied with an upright, not even the best out there, or a lesser grand. I'm the kind of person who would rather wait to get exactly what she wants rather than settling for some else. I'd just end up starting the process all over and spending more money in the long run, and being unhappy in the mean time. |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| Mikhailoh | Dec 6 2011, 06:00 PM Post #23 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Good idea. Your playing does not have to be a bigfactor in the decision, it is just something to consider for yourself. I want a Bechstein 210 and my playing will never justify that. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| brenda | Dec 6 2011, 06:46 PM Post #24 |
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..............
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My thoughts, too. Find some new M&H pianos to play, even a M&H BB. We got ours new for a really great price just a few years ago. |
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“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” ~A.A. Milne | |
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| kenny | Dec 6 2011, 06:51 PM Post #25 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I agree on the new M+Hs. I've toured the factory twice and owned a new BB. I think their quality is very high and they are a great value among fine pianos. Also check out the models A and the AA. While under 7' they have very powerful bass for their size. Personally I loved my BB, but the chest-kicking bass was hard for me to control for the music I most like to play, Mozart, Bach, and Chopin. This may not be a problem for a more proficient pianist or someone with a large enough room to move a 7' grand away from the corners, a location which strengthens the bass. |
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