buying a piano

[the coker variations]

so i currently have never owned or really played a real piano before, all ive ever had is my cheap little keyboard which does not even compare to a real piano, and now i just want to buy a real acoustic piano because they are so much more beautiful sounding and looking

anyway i was just curious to know if anyone has some advice for piano shopping, eg.. brands not to buy, good brands, tips and things i should know about piano's

the kind of piano im looking at getting is full acoustic upright piano, as id have trouble fitting a grand in my house..

any help is appreciated

oh and im looking anywhere in the price range of $3000-$5000 (australian)

[nyonyo]

Hi,
I am also in the process of buying a new piano. It is a very scary process in the States. Piano salesmen here act like a car saleman. They will rip us off if we are not careful. On Saturday, I was trying Yamaha C3. The MSRP was $45K. However, since it is a program piano (they loaned this piano and try to sell again after the program is done), he reduced the price to 21.5K Yesterday he called me again and told me that he reduced the piano to whatever price. I really do not like this kind of practice.  I paid attention that many many people got ripped off by piano salesmen.

My recommendation is that you just need to be very careful dealing with piano salesmen. You have to check the price in the internet to find the actual price. I know they have to make money, but not like 20K per piano.

[amelialw]

I would say that Kawai is a good brand. Maybe a Kawai K-3 or K-6? but i've no idea how much it costs though.

nyonyo: honestly, I think Kawai makes better grand piano's then yamaha. My teacher has a yamaha grand and the touch and quality of sound is not even as good as my kawai grand's considering that my piano's older and both of us play the piano just as much.

[the coker variations]

thanks for the tip, i think you have to be wary of salesman no matter what your buying, there sneaky buggers

ive been told that yamaha are a good brand amelia, but if you recommend kawai thats good because my local piano store has an abundance of that brand

[nyonyo]

For the last two weeks I have terrorized piano stores. I tried so many Steinways, Yamahas, Kawais , and Bostons. I am really in the market for a grand piano or upright.
I like Kawai the least. The RX1, 2, and 3 are horrible and so are the upright. Yamaha and Boston have the best action. Steinway is very inconsistent with its action, Kawai is the worst.

For voice, Yamaha, Steinways and Bostons are about the same. It really depends on our taste. Kawai is the worst.

The price of Steinways is rediculous.

Which model of Yamaha does your teacher have?

[amelialw]

that's not true...i've had a way worse experience with yamaha pianos.

oh, coker, when you look at the Kawai piano's make sure that whichever one you're buying is made in japan not china.

nyonyo: the kawai's you tried were probably made in china, you should try a few that are made in japan, those ones are much better.
I don't know which model my teacher has but her's cost about 40k canadian

[nyonyo]

Wow!! No wonder the uprights are considerably cheaper than Yamaha.
Do you think some RX1, 2, or 3 are made in China?

[amelialw]

yes, definately.
I know that even the Kawai Baby Grands are made in china.
Only the Kawai Grands for sure are always made in Japan, so if you've had a bad experience with a Kawai, go and try out a Kawai Grand, i guarentee you'll be satisfied.
Kawai Grands are better then Yamaha grands.

[sideshow]

Hey

I'm also planning on getting an acoustic buffet piano.
However, I'm planning on renting one first, so I can test and use it for months, before actually buying.

[nyonyo]

https://www.kawaius-tsd.com/pages/serial_manudate.html

Amelialw,

Kawai does not have a manufacturing facility in China see the link above.
That is why I do not understand where you got your info regarding Chinese Kawai?

[amelialw]

it does'nt, but for the cheaper piano's the parts are made in china