Buying an upright! I hope. hehe, could use some advice.

[aryantes]

Hey guys, I've been reading this forum a lot lately but haven't posted.

There are many, many threads about nice grands and such and I wish I had the space in a home for a grand but I don't 

Going to be moving into a condominium soon, sometime in the spring most likely. I will have to settle for a nice upright... at least for a few years then I'll get a... Fazioli or something. 

I have only been taking lessons for a few months now but wow it is cool, I plan to stick with it forever. ( age 23 )

I have read here that Petrof would be a nice one to try out yes?

A friend of mine can get some good deals on Yamaha I believe but I am open to suggestions. I definitely will pay for quality and not buy a piano just because it is a good deal but if there are some highly recommended Yamaha uprights ( I know that Yamaha has some controversy around here ) I'd check them out.


What is the money no object upright to get?


Well... money is an object but I would like to know hehe. Financing can go a long way and I am willing to do it. If needed, I can spend in upwards of $10,000 , give or take a few thousand if I find a piano I really want.

Since I am a beginning student, I was concerned about the action. My teacher recommended that I get a new piano and not a refurbished one due to consistency of the action and that it would be a bad idea to become accustomed to poor action on a piano.

I know that I am not good enough to recognize the little things that are different with every piano maker but I know that I will be good enough later on so I wanted some advice... I will probably be happy with almost any piano I get now that sounds and feels good but I just wanted to get an idea of one that I will grow into and not grow out of.

I am currently practicing on a digital upright, Yamaha YDP-223. It is cool but doesn't feel right and sound right after I play on my teacher's Baldwin Grand. The action is a little too heavy for my on the digital I think.

Yes, I will go out and play around on a bunch of pianos before I buy one but I just wanted to get a few ideas first.

Steinway 52" upright is a bit out of range...but sounded good...

I have heard good things about Renner action. Is this action only for Grand pianos?

Any information is appreciated.

Nick

P.S. I live in the washington, DC area if that is relevant to anything.

[tompilk]

Yamaha U3 and U5 are great, as well as Schimmel uprights (which I found amazing)...
There's plenty to choose from.... you shouldn't ask this because it'll confuse you!!!
Good luck at finding the right piano - I just got Yamaha G5 grand, and am very pleased!!!

[aryantes]

I wish I could get a grand piano too.

I also wish I had the time and the skill to go out and try every single piano out there. I will go out and try as much as I could, but I know that there are some pianos that I should just stay away from. Ones that an experienced pianist would take note of.

I will check out the Schimell if I can find some near me as well as the Yamahas.

[sonatainfsharp]

Boston tends to make good studio/performances uprights (however their grands tell another story). But they run about $11,000-18,000.

I strongly agree that you should have a new piano if you are going to go upright; they don't tend to age as well as grands.

You will want the tallest upright you can afford, and don't even consider a spinet or counsel piano. These pianos usually have a lowered action so the piano can be smaller. I forgot the technical name for the action, but it is so different than most other uprights or grand actions that you might do better with a high-end digital piano, which would cost more than a spinet anyway.

[tompilk]

Boston tends to make good studio/performances uprights (however their grands tell another story). But they run about $11,000-18,000.

I strongly agree that you should have a new piano if you are going to go upright; they don't tend to age as well as grands.

You will want the tallest upright you can afford, and don't even consider a spinet or counsel piano. These pianos usually have a lowered action so the piano can be smaller. I forgot the technical name for the action, but it is so different than most other uprights or grand actions that you might do better with a high-end digital piano, which would cost more than a spinet anyway.

Yes! Good words of advice... and Boston uprights are superb!!! I played some in a Steinway shop... sweet. I wish I could afford a Steinway D 

[aryantes]

I was at Jordan Kitts and the Boston Grands were only ok, way way below what I felt on the Steinway Grands.

I didn't get a chance to play the Boston uprights though but the prices were reasonable. I can get a new one with financing no problem I think but are they worth it? Anyone know if they can withstand the test of time?

You know what... might just get a piano from a place that will offer trade-ups like Jordan Kitts and not worry too much about the upright I will be using for a year or two, after which, I can trade up at full value and put it towards something like... Steinway B...

52" is a surefire thing for uprights it seems.

[jolly]

Petrof 131, Yammie U3, Kawai K50 and above, M&H, - all not too terribly expensive.

If money is an object, or kinda tight....Perzina, K&C Millenium 52", or the Charles Walter.

[andyd]

"What is the money no object upright to get?"


Check Larry Fines order...

For the UK I'd answer

Bluthner (or Bosendorfer - I've only ever tried used)
Ibach
and then
Steingraeber/Bechstein
Steinway/Grotrian
Schimmel
Pleyel
Yamaha SU7
and the rest.


Andy