6ft grand 15K-20K purchase

[digidudefl]

I have between 15K-20K to buy a 6ft horizontal piano. I've been looking around town and found a Vogel by Schimmel that sounded pretty decent. Anybody heard of it?

Any other brands anybody would recommend? I tried some used Yamahas and they were nice... any models around that price worth trying?

Thanks for your time.

--digi

[Axtremus]

I played a VOGEL before. Nice tone, a bit on the bright side sound-wise, big sound.

Other possibilities I can think of (assuming new pianos for your price range, some may exceed the $20k mark a little with the 2004 price hike and such):

Yamaha C3
Kawai RX-2, RX-3, possibly RX-5
Petrof V, IV, may be III as well
Estonia 5'6" and may be 6'3"
Wilh. Steinberg (IQ77 ?)
Samick World, Knabe, Weber
Young Chang, Pramberger

[Plaz]

The Boston 5'10" is also a pretty nice piano in this price range.

[digidudefl]

Thank you all for your input!

I checked out some Yamaha C3's yesterday and they were really nice... although it stretches my budget a little more. They were offering to sell at around 22K out the door. Is that a good price?

Also... since the Vogel is not in the same room as the Yamaha I could not compare. If you guys could buy the Yamaha would you choose it over the Vogel? I guess that's more of a taste question but I was curious to see what opinions were out there.

Thanks again.
--digi

[Axtremus]

On C3 vs. VOGEL, you are correct -- it mostly comes down to "taste." That aside, I believe the C3 has longer good track record. Vogel is quite new, hence track record is not as established as the C3. A technician who services these two models can better address the "track record" issue.

[Plaz]

I checked out some Yamaha C3's yesterday and they were really nice... although it stretches my budget a little more. They were offering to sell at around 22K out the door. Is that a good price?

It's not a bad price, but don't hesitate to offer lower.  If that's what they offered you, then they're probably willing to accept less.  If you're not comfortable paying that much, then offer what you are comfortable with and see what happens.  But be sure you really like the piano first!

[Steinwayman]

I had a C3 for nearly 30 years before finally getting a Steinway. I must say, the C3 was a VERY good piano, very reliable and well-built, with a very nice action. It needed surprisingly little maintenance (tuning, regulation and voicing) despite being played a lot.  The only thing it lacked was...that Steinway tone and personality.  I would have kept it if I'd had room for two grands, though.

Still, the C3 may have changed a lot from when I got mine in the early 1970's.

[rachfan]

Try the Baldwin Model L, 6'3" which falls into the budget range you describe once you've negotiated off of the list price.  I think you'll like its sound.

[digidudefl]

Hey guys...
Thank you for all the info provided. Here's something I heard: Yamaha is having a C-3 sale. I heard it from a friend in NYC and another one in Florida.

I'm going to check Kawai's sometime next week. I tried the Pramberger but I tend to lean towards the C-3... it's all a matter of taste anyway.

Cheers,
--digi

[digidudefl]

I BOUGHT A PIANO!
It's a 1994 yamaha C7!!
I went to this place in Margate, FL called the Russell Housen Piano Outlet. He's got mostly used Yamahas in unbelievably good condition. Really good prices on pianos from C-3's to C-7's.

Thanks again to everyone for all the info!!

Cheers,
--digi

[Axtremus]

Congratulations on the C7. I have come across a few C7's that were very, very nice pianos that I liked a lot. Wow, you went from 6ft to 7'6". Congratulations!