Some Grand PIano questions

[guarnerius]

Hey there, I've been playing the piano for about 9-10yrs now.
Ive always had an Alex. Steinbach Romance Piano (about 121cm in height).
Do you think its time to change to a grand?
I do yearly exams with the AMEB.
I just went to the store for a browse and was interested in the Yamaha because They are used at my school and all my teachers have them.  Is the yamaha a good option?  We were thinking about one about 5"8 in length. 
How much roughly would a steinway grand about the same size be?  There is no shop that sells Steinway but only a private agent.  How would a steinway compare to a yamaha?

[thalberg]

Grands are great, I say get one.  Personally, I had a Yamaha and didn't like it.  I'd recommend something else.  The Steinway you're mentioning would be much more expensive than a Yamaha--nowhere near the same price range.  My personal opinion is that you can do better than Yamaha in that price range though.  Call Keith Kerman at pianocraft in Washington DC.  He'll hook you up with something great at a low price.  He's a member here, you can find his information.

[classicarts]

Listen, if you been playing the piano for ten years, and you don't know the price between Yamaha's or Steinway's or other brands, I don't think your ready to buy one at this point.  I suggest you wait few months and do some independent research, before you even think about spending some serious cash.  It just doesn't sound like your ready to buy one, sorry to say.    And remember, it's not want people want you to buy, it's what is right for you.

[iumonito]

Dear Guarnerius,

In answer to your question, a Yamaha is a good instrument, the bigger the better.  S series is better than C, although C is entirely fine.  Personally, I think anything smaller than a C7 is simply an inferior piano, but I am a snob.

How it compares to Steinway?  Steinway is more expensive.  You can buy a fine house for the price of an Steinway C.  If I have my numbers right, you can buy from 2 and half to three Yamaha C7 for the same amount.

By now you must have figured out I am what Steinway lovers call an "Steinway basher."  I strongly believe they are not worth their price, and that there are several better pianos that are less expensive (most prominently, Mason & Hamlin).

Although I disagree with classicarts' logic (while I admire the significant growth that her or his opinions about the various brands has undergone since s/he was asking whether to get a Steinway a Baldwin or a Yamaha, not so long ago), one thing we agree on: you would benefit from taking your time to buy a piano.  Develop your palate, read about the various brands and especially try to play on them, and embrace what aesthetic you really identify with.

You may fall in love with the sweet (and to me inaudible) sound of a Bosendorfer, the richness of Bluthner, the projection of Bechstein, the mystery of August Foerster, the competence of Mason, doesn't matter.  If you end up loving a Yamaha C5, who can really judge you for not having a more expensive (if not sophisticated) taste?  Buy the piano that makes you happy.  That's what money is for.

Best wishes,
H

(and to Classicarts, please forgive me for not engaging anymore with you.  I find your opinions uninformed and feel you have no interest in exchange of ideas, so I will largely ignore you in the future.  Good luck.)

[alzado]

I can think of several considerations.

1-- Do you have the money?

2-- Do you have the space, because grands take up MUCh more room.

3-- Are you permanently settled, or do you move from time to time?  Because it is a great trial and expense to move grands.  If you are a student in an apartment, for example, you might want to hold off.

Good luck--

[bearzinthehood]

I can think of several considerations.

1-- Do you have the money?

2-- Do you have the space, because grands take up MUCh more room.

3-- Are you permanently settled, or do you move from time to time?  Because it is a great trial and expense to move grands.  If you are a student in an apartment, for example, you might want to hold off.

Good luck--

Although, if you get an older grand that doesn't look so good but has a nice sound and touch then it might not be such a bad idea.

[classicarts]

Take some time and don't rush buying a piano like most people do. ;)Good luck.

[sonatainfsharp]

I have two bits of info I would like to pass on that a master teacher gave to me:

1) DON'T take too much time shopping for a piano--you will know when you found the right piano as soon as you touch the first key.

2) The way the piano sounds in the store is the best you can get it to sound. Even if you put a great amount of regulation and services into it, it will always settle back to how it was in the store after a few months. Then, you are either stuck with it, or having your tech out every 3-6 months or so. (This is aside from tuning, of course.)

2a) When you are shopping for a piano and the salesperson says "oh, we can fix that with a little regulation," then stay away--that regulation may only last a few months or so (now I am repeating myself).