Kimball's Viennese Classic 5'8" Mahogany Baby grand piano: Model 5882

[wolf3]

A freind has asked me for advice on purchasing a "Kimball  Viennese Classic 5'8" Mahogany Baby grand piano Model 5882" for US $3000 for his home. He is about to start piano lessons and is the type of person to commit himself to accomplishing the learning task and the continuation of playing for years to come. My question to the forum is two fold. First Question: Is it considered best to start with an acoustic piano or a digital instrument? Second Question: How does the  Kimble "six foot" grand in good condition compare with other "six foot" acoustic grands. I am new to this forum and thank you for any responses. Wolf3

[stevebob]

As far as I know, there’s no consensus about whether a beginner is best served by a digital instrument or an acoustic one.  The choice is usually governed by practical matters like one’s budget and whether the noise from practicing is acceptable in one’s living situation.  Digitals allow private practice through headphones, and they require no upkeep.  Acoustic pianos require maintenance (e.g., regular tuning and other occasional service), but I believe that a quality acoustic grand is the preferred instrument for most people who play proficiently.

Kimball had a long history in the U.S., and its pianos were by and large very average in quality—not great, not terrible.  The brand was decent enough (and affordable enough) to be a popular choice in many middle-income households in the mid-20th century.  Kimball’s Viennese grands have a reputation for being of significantly better quality than the typical Kimball, but age and condition are important factors in judging any used instrument.  It’s definitely worthwhile to hire a qualified piano technician to inspect and evaluate it.

[richard black]

Digital keyboards are utterly soul-destroying if you're seeking to play classical piano, so avoid at all costs unless there is (for practical reasons) no realistic alternative. As Stevebob says, Kimball generally made a decent instrument and if it's in good condition it should be a nice play. That size is big enough for it to have good tone. It will outlast a digital by many decades and, if well looked after, will not lose much value over the years.