Want to purchase piano - have 1 Grand +/- Limit - It's possible

[mystearica]

Good Day,

After multiple failed attempts at getting a cheap used acoustic piano (craig's list/kijiji)... I have resorted to asking for HELP from here and hoping I can find some.

So NEVER played piano... want to take it up.  Have no music history - needless to say I have no idea what brands are good/what to look for in a piano/what sounds good etc.  This is practically the reason why I kept failing at getting a used piano since me (work times vary day by day) + getting technician + getting seller at the same time.... was very very hard.  And the few times I tried to.... fixing the piano was worth more than 1 grand.   Myself... looking at the piano - wouldn't know left form right

So here's the thing - I live in Canada... but I do have a US shipping address to (which means if a retailer only ships to the US... I still have to pay charges to ship it again to Canada).  So I prefer it if the retailer ships to Canada.

Anywayz... so - another problem... I have no idea which company sells cheaper pianos, semi-decent priced pianos or decent quality ones ('cause you gotta balance both).  So doing a random google/yahoo search wasn't very helpful 'cause I felt like a 5-year old trying to solve Calculus...

So I did find this link (don't have a costco membership but I don't mind paying 50 bucks if any of the ones listed in the following link are decent)

https://www.costco.ca/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BCCA&topnav=&search=piano&N=0&Ntt=piano&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA

Another thing... my purchase limit is about $1000 +/-.... am willing to go a bit higher - but I don't see why since I don't need super quality and many pianos (mostly digital) sell at that price or lower.  So any suggestions???  Again I'm 1000000% so super quality is not what I am currently looking for - perhaps and HOPEFULLY in the future it will be!

BTW I am aware that amazon does sell multiple brand new digital pianos (third party mostly) pianos.  But again not knowing anything and having no ratings makes it awfully hard to tell if it's any good or not

Thanks for bearing with me.


EDITING:  BTW I know... local used piano stores... but I had a look at them and pretty much all of their upright pianos (no digital btw) are 2 Grand + (except they had one for 700 and another for 1750... basically they said the price depended on how much they had to fix)

[silverwoodpianos]

Are you located in the Vancouver area?

[mystearica]

Nope.. Windsor, Ontario (across of Detroit)

EDITING:

Also found the following....

#1 - $549
https://www.amazon.com/Williams-Overture-Key-Digital-Piano/dp/B0021F36J4/ref=sr_1_26?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1301090705&sr=1-26

#2 - $699
https://www.amazon.com/Williams-Symphony-Console-Digital-Piano/dp/B001G7BW8U/ref=sr_1_44?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1301090949&sr=1-44

#3 - $799
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P5V3BA/ref=s9_simh_se_p267_d0_i7?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=0N7MFZA0ZCRG4A0XK4CG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1263465762&pf_rd_i=11970121

#4 - $799
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-AP220-Celviano-Digital-Piano/dp/B003BVJ7S6/ref=sr_1_51?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1301090962&sr=1-51

#5 - $799
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-PX830-Privia-Digital-Piano/dp/B0037W3IRU/ref=sr_1_49?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1301090962&sr=1-49


Dunno $4 looks nice but I think I'm just jumping the gun 'cause it looks nice... not sure if I'm looking at it the right way... prices/features.  There are probably much better more specific piano sites...

I know acoustic pianos sound much better... but for now I want the least trouble possible until I actually learn how to play then I'll probably think about getting one

[quantum]

So for clarification.  Are you looking for a digital or acoustic?  If acoustic are you looking for vertical or grand?

[mystearica]

Well I initially wanted a vertical acoustic... but realized I couldn't get one at a decent price... so I decided to settle for a digital piano since it comes with less trouble (tuning, weight, maintenance).

So basically looking for whatever I can get really

[Bob]

You might be able to find a used digital too.

I'd go with Yamaha over Casio for sure.  Williams I've never heard of and wouldn't bother with.

You could get something decent for a digital for around $1,000.  There are lots of thread on here about that.

[jimbo320]

Mysteria,
By looking at the choices you are looking at I'm suggesting a Yamaha P95. This might offend the Casio fans out there but I'd go for a Yamaha instead. Actually the CP5 is my first choice but that might be a bit pricey...

Musically, Jimbo

[Bob]

Is there such a thing as a Casio fan?

[jimbo320]

lol

[mystearica]

The Yamaha P95 -> https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-P95B-Digital-Piano-Black/dp/B003KVKSYY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301197933&sr=8-1

Seems cheaper than both Casios that I was considering (the AP 220 and PX 830)... by 300+ dollars.  Stupid question here... it looks like a keyboard but it's called a digital piano... so right now I'm really really confused between the difference of a keyboard and digital piano.  Another thing it doesn't come with a pedal - is that sold separately or how does that work?? 

If I were to get the Yamaha - does it come with a stand ('cause doing a quick browse-through I see none).  Sorry I'm comparing it to the Casios again which come with a pedal+stand/table... I'm assuming you don't need that but a pedal is sold separately?

BTW "weighted-action" or "weighted-keys"... is that something that is incorporated into a digital piano?

^Man, I can imagine experienced piano players reading my above message and thinking "what oO is she for real"

[john90]

Keep asking, these are valid questions. These Stage Piano type instruments usually come without stand or pedals. My stage piano is weighted, and I believe the P95 is. Weighted action vs Weighted keys, there will be differences between manufacturers but basically it is the same thing, a simulation of a real action. Unless it is an actual grand piano action, in which case it is large and costs a fortune, it won't feel exactly like a piano, so don't worry. Typically there is a phono style jack on the back to plug in a pedal. You usually won't need a pedal straight away. The stool (bench) is usually sold separately from the instrument. You want to get a stand that suits you and the bench. One of the benefits of digital is that it is lighter than a Grand, so you can have it at the height you want, raise it and stand up and play, etc. This is why I like the stage piano format more than the traditional cabinet style. It also takes less space and is easier to pack away. Just make sure you get a decent stand that is flexible with height and can take the weight.

[jimbo320]

Here's the stand I use. After going through a few I find this one to be an excellent choice...
https://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/On-Stage-Stands-Pro-Platform-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450384

Jimbo

[mystearica]

How's this for a bundle price?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/724866-REG/Yamaha_P95B_P_95_Performance_Value_Bundle.html

Cheaper than the actual piano itself!  

They are a legit site right oO?

[keys60]

Is there such a thing as a Casio fan?

Where I take (or used to take) my electronic stuff (synths), that particular shop does all of the warranty work for Sam Ash in the NY area. If you're not from an area that has Sam Ash, they are quite a large instrument dealer/chain. I live in the metro NY area.

Cool factor=Yamaha.  Hardly any coming back to the shop for warranty work=Casio.

As a technician, he recommends the Casio. Most musicians will prefer the Yamahas, although he is quite a good keyboard player himself.

[lhorwinkle]

Lots of good advice.

To the OP: If it's not already obvious, you don't need to buy a Costco membership. The same pianos are available elsewhere (music stores and online) for the same price.

And at a music store you at least have a chance to try out the piano. At Costco, it's either not available to try, or the environment is unsuitable for a trial.

[jland7]

Definitely go with a Alma-Tadema Steinway.