Help on buying piano

[supertarded]

I need advice on buying a decent quality piano at relatively low costs. I was thinking an Yamaha but what would you all prefer? I'm not that good at piano but would like one that would last because I'm striving to improve. The piano must be upright too to fit my house.
Thank you all for your help.

I've bought a Schafer & Sons upright six years ago and wasn't very happy with it. I guess I didn't really care then and also didn't know much about the structure of a piano at all, however it struck me odd that the keys took a lot of strength to press down, and the overall sound wasn't good either as I compared it to someone else's piano. Well I might consider getting a new piano sometime.

[gyzzzmo]

Yamaha uprights are good, if you like the touch (sometimes they're a bit heavy). Just take your time on trying out the piano and dont by shy. And if its false, ask how long ago it was tuned (and if it wasnt long ago, dont take the piano).
And if that all is good, you should have a peek inside, if everything is neat and undamaged (the vilting of the hammers, the snares, the tuneboard and the pedalling mechanism for example).

good luck,

Gyzzzmo

[pianocarlier]

Yamaha is a good choise
* decent build quality
* easy to find
* good reseale value if you want to buy an higher range piano later

[clicquot]

At the time I bought mine last year, my two pref. brands were the Yamaha and Kawai. (same budget categorie of course  )  At the end I decided to go with the Kawai as for me it sounded/s much "warmer". Of course, if you don't have the option to hear the two next to eachother... you won't know the difference. Also our "audio memory" lasts not for that long, so going from one shop to another to hear remarkable differences is tricky... Nevertheless, when you want to buy a silent upright, you might need to go for the Yamaha, as the digital piano sound and system itself seems better than the Kawai silent system...

[lizz93]

a Yamaha would be a good choice, considering your budget and QUALITY..it's a great for longtime-practice, and won't go false fast. It also has a nice clear sound. Though Kawai may have a mellower sound, it's keystrokes are a bit heavy though...speaking from experience


 And adding truth- that this brand is preferred by some conservatories over Steinway..
So...success with your choice!

[richard black]

this brand is preferred by some conservatories over Steinway..

Well considering how much Steinway's uprights cost and how disappointing many people find them (I certainly do) alongside the grands from the same firm, that's not surprising. I can't say I find Yamahas to last very well, though. The strings in the uprights are not great new or old, and the hammers get hard very fast, leading to a very, very bright sound after a few years' use. I would always advise spending the extra to get a German upright rather than a Yamaha if possible.

Funnily enough, one of the best budget uprights I've played was from a small Japanese maker (at least, I was told it was a budget small Japanese maker by a friend in the business) called Tonica. Only ever seen the one of them, but considering it wasn't very new (plenty of signs of use and handling on its case) it played very well.

[clicquot]

... (1) won't go false fast. It also has a nice clear sound. Though Kawai may have a mellower sound, (2) it's keystrokes are a bit heavy though...speaking from experience

Now that's interesting:

1) what would you define as "go false" fast? It depends on so many factors (even your piano tuner but above all the environment where your piano is located), nothing to do with the brand I suppose (if you take same "quality"?).

2) de gustibus I guess...no ?

Advice: go out and play, take the one you like the most in sound and touch... otherwise you will get frustrated afterwards. Play different brands! My thought if it's just about the music though...