Question:
New piano, which brand?
anonymous
2008-03-25 22:15:40 UTC
Yes, I realise that Steinway is amazing and the best, but short of spending my parents retirement money, I need a new piano. My old one is a garage-sale specialty (Kimball), and it's out of shape and awful.

So, does anyone have any suggestions of what to get for a new piano (we don't have the space for a grand), I would really appreciate it. =)
Five answers:
268
2008-03-25 22:23:36 UTC
steinway & sons

famous famous piano

the sound is amazing.

i play it once a month when i go to my piano teacher's house

the sound is amazing.. wow..

but i would say kawai is great too..

i have yamaha and i think it sounds good..

but i like kawai better,.

it doesn't hurt to buy a used one either.. it;'s wayy cheaper

good luck :)
Chinese Cowboy
2008-03-26 09:20:29 UTC
Baldwin pianos are pieces of junk. I would avoid these ones. The main reason is the cabinet. The wood is not climatized naturally, rather they shove sheets into an oven, and then a humidifier to speed up the process. Due to this, the sound of the instrument changes abruptly. Their concert grands which are in the $80 000 range are not built like this, but the rest of their pianos are. Not worth the money. You'll be frustrated with the touch as it is not sensitive at all. Every baldwin I have played, upright or grand has given me problems. I am not able to project or even feel the depth of the key in the instrument.



I have a Steinway. Beautiful instrument, but I'm sure its more than you want to spend. However, take a look at their Boston or Essex series. Both series have uprights. The Boston upright is excellent, you get the Steinway quality in an upright. Porsche owns Audi and Volkswagon.... The lineage in piano would be Steinway - Boston - Essex. You'll be in good shape with either Boston or Essex.



My second grand is a Kawai RX7 Concert Grand. It is hand made and I have waited 7 months for its arrival. It will be delivered next week. Kawai's share technology with Steinway. The most important thing is the back tuning board. In Steinways and Kawai's, it is one entire piece without a break. You will notice on Baldwins and Yamahas that it is two pieces of wood. There is a break in the piano, well two breaks. The first break goes is where there is one string in the bass and then there are two strings in the bass. With Kawai and Steinway, you cannot hear a break or transition at that moment because of the single piece of wood, however, in Baldwin and yamaha you do, Its like you have two pianos.



I have a 3rd piano, a Kawai upright which has lasted me for 20 years. Highly recommend a Kawai upright, very affordable and it will last forever. Its a war horse piano. They design their uprights to be used as practice instruments. They are built to handle abuse.



Stay away from Yamaha, they have the same wood issues as Baldwin and eventually Yamaha's begin to sound like metal boxes. Petrof, Samick, Young Chang - don't even bother looking. The action is junk. Rittmuller which is now made by Pearl River in China is junk... they sell those at Costco!!!



To summarize - stick with Kawai and if you can try the Boston or Essex series Steinways. Quite afordable.
Alberich
2008-03-26 05:48:20 UTC
If you can't afford a "used" Steinway, then I would go with a Baldwin(used).



I personally just don't care for any Japanese piano.



Estate sales, auctions, are quite often good places to pick up pianos in really good shape. A lot of rich piano people buy one, just because they need something to show off. Sometimes, they are never ever even touched: they just sit there, and impress the owner's visitors.



My advice is take your time, look around, and try to get a good brand piano; you'll be glad you did, in the long run.



Happy hunting, and good luck,



Alberich
?
2008-03-26 14:37:37 UTC
... what the heck happend to my answer from last night?



Get and read Larry Fine's "The Piano Book"



Mason & Hamlin model 50

Baldwin 243E or 6000E

Kawai* UST-9 or any of the K-series Professional uprights

Charles R. Walter 45" Studio upright



* I don't much care for the sound of any other Asian pianos.
anonymous
2008-03-26 19:09:48 UTC
Try Riger-Kloss. You can get an upright with grand piano strings. It has an awesome sound.


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