Brands to keep an eye out for

[jockette]

First, I'd like to say that I've been browsing a little bit on this forum and I think it's great and veeery useful. I will have to do some searching ... but I'm gonna ask the questions that every newbie has probably already asked.

Abit about myself - I played the piano when I was younger, stopped in Intro to Royal Con. (western) and continued to in the music life as a trumpet player in school. At about 21, my sister (12 at the time) was taking piano lessons and the teacher was able to slide me in so we'd be back to back. He told me I was old constantly (nicely of course, he was very nice) and he told me I've got early signs of tendinitus (sp?). Due to my job, I didn't stay with him very long, maybe just a few months. Now he's taking his Masters so he's got no time on his hands... so I will have to find someone else.

I told him I wasn't in gr 1 at the time. I don't read very well even in concert band. So within the very short time I was with him, he jumped me to grade 3.

I have a house and a mortgage payment to take care of and I am just wanting a piano for my part time instrument. Gr 4 sightreading is what the university here is required for their music/ed program. I'd like to become a music teacher but I don't think I could cut it just yet. I have confidence I'll get there.

With that being said, I have very little money to spend so I'm on the lookout for a used piano. So I'm looking for a mediocre brand but something that'll serve me just right. I'm going to be browsing the Buysell.com for the next little bit to see if I can snag up a good deal. If anyone could suggest brands just to keep an eye out for, that would be really appreciated.

I know nothing about brands. Can I guess Yamaha is a pretty good brand for what I need? There's obviously different models, I understand. I just don't want to be a pest and post on here everytime "is this a good deal? is this a good deal?" Maybe if someone doesn't mind being harrassed via PM, post your nickname at your own risk. haha.

[jockette]

I found this in another thread. Would anyone agree that anything in the "good" catagory is a good for what I need?

* = good
** = very good
*** excellent


- * : BALTIKA - BLESSING - CALISIA - CARAIMAN - CHAVANNE - CHERNY -
CHOISEUL - DAEWOO - DANIEL - EISENBERG - EXCELLENCE - FUCHS & MOHR - FRITZ
DOBBER - GEYER - HANLET . - HERRMANN - HOHNER - HOLSTEIN - HSINGAI - HUPFELD -
HYUNDAI - IRMBACH - KLINGMAN - LEGNICA - LINDHOLM - LESAGE - MAEARI -
NIENDORF - NIER - NOCTURNO - PEARL RIVER - PETROF - RIEGER KLOSS - RONISCH -
ROSENBERG - ROSSLER - ROYALE - SAMICK - SCHOLZE - SOJIN - STEINBACH -
STEINMANN - TCHAIKA - WALDHEIM - WEBER - WEINBACH - YOUNG CHANG -
ZIMMERMANN

- ** : APOLLO - ARCANA - ATLAS - BACHMANN - BALDWIN - BARRATT &
ROBINSON - BLUTHNER - BORD - BRINSMEAD - BROADWOOD - BROTHER - BURGER
JACOBI - CHALLEN - CHAPPELL - CHICKERING - DIETMAN - ERARD - EUTERPE - ETERNA -
FAZER - FEURICH - FORSTER - FURSTEIN - GAVEAU - GOMBAULT - GORS & KALMAN -
GRAND - GROTRIAN STEINWEG - GUNTHER - HELLAS - HOFFMANN - IBACH - KAWAI -
KEMBLE - KLEIN - KLUG & SPERL - KNABE - KNIGHT - KOHLER & CAMPBELL - KRAUSS -
LOWREY - MANTHEY - MARSHALL & ROSE - MAY - MOORE & MOORE - NORDISKA -
PFEIFFER - PIANO DE FRANCE - PLEYEL - RAMEAU - RIPPEN - SABEL - SASSMANN -
SAUTER - SCHIEDMAYER - SCHIMMEL - SCHULZE & POLLMAN - SEILER - SILBERMAN -
SILVER - SOLTON - STEINGRAEBER - STORY & CLARCK - THURMER - TOKAI - TOYO -
WEISS - WELMAR - WILLIS - WURLITZER - YAMAHA - ZEITTER & WINKELMAN- FAZIOLI

- *** : BECHSTEIN - BOSENDORFER  - STEINWAY & SON - ( FAZIOLI)

[kamike]

What is the criteria for this list?  How was it developed?  It does not agree well with what I've read elswhere and doesn't agree with pianos I've played.  Bluthner certainly should be in the "excellent" list.  Other makes are also questionably rated.

I'd suggest Larry Fine's excellent recommendations published in "The Piano Book" as a start.

[bella musica]

Mason & Hamlin pianos are very good as well.  Some people think they are even better than Steinways.  (Personally I like Steinways better but I'd settle for an M & H any day).

[pianiststrongbad]

I just had a Weber rebuilt and it is one of my favourite pianos to play on.  I would like to see Weber higher up on that list.