First Piano Advice--Kemble.

[davisonp]

I am looking to purchase a console sized instrument for my NYC apartment  My wife wants to play, we want our older daughter (4.5 yrs) to start playing, and I am interested as well.  I have played guitar (mostly acoustic) for 20 years so have a decent ear.  I don't want to spend more than $2000 for this first piano, and I am aware of the limitations both at this price and for this size.  I have been mostly looking at Young Changs (u-107 delivered from a dealer for $2200), and Samicks (SU108p delivered from a dealer for $1200).  However, I stumbled across a Kemble on Ebay, did a little research, and was curious.  The owner is looking for $750 and I think I could get delivery for about $300, so it would be well within my range.  I know all the caveats about inspecting the piano in advance, etc., but do people have any experience with/knowledge of Kemble?  It seems like it would be a higher quality instrument, but I wonder about the ability to get it serviced, etc.  Incidentally, here is what the owner wrote in response to my general request for information:

To your questions, we bought the piano in the UK just before we moved here 30 years ago. It hasn't been tuned for a while, but it hasn't been used for a while either. Meaning that it's not badly out of tune, but it does need to be tuned, though there's no point now because it's going to be shipped to a buyer at some point, and the time to tune it is when it's in its new location.

As I think you can see from the photos, the condition is good, both internally and externally. Some of the keys don't play multiple times, meaning if you hit them repeatedly, they don't play more than the first three or four notes. That's something that would be fixed during the tuning process - there's nothing broken, all the keys play, and some need rebalancing. We used Roland keyboards now, that's why it doesn't get used much, but the main reason for selling is we're retiring this year, moving back to the UK, and it's not really practical to have it shipped back. I'd prefer to see it go to a good owner in this country. I've never seen a piano in the US with such clean lines as this one - the others tend to be ornate, or have spindly legs, they just look old, to me at least. This one looks modern.

Regarding the model number, there's a small plate fixed on the inside, which says 191719, that may be it, I can't tell.

Any insight appreciated. 

[richard black]

Kemble is a well-known British make. It's now part of Yamaha but in the late 1970s when your piano was made (as can be deduced from the serial number you quote) it was I think still an independent company. The pianos were decent, though not truly first-rate, and tend to keep on through thick and thin. They are pretty easy to service and yours is unlikely to need any hard-to-find parts. The notes that don't repeat well may need nothing more than a bit of use to free up. That sounds like a very fair price and personally I would almost certainly prefer that Kemble to the Young Chang or Samick alternatives.

[john90]

I'd get a cheap weighted digital ($300) asap to take the pressure off finding a perfect acoustic. Make sure your daughter's teacher has a real piano. Schools usually have real pianos, get time on that too if possible. You will need a digital as well anyway living in an apartment. It is great to let yourself go without worry, at 2am if you can't sleep. You could also consider renting a decent make acoustic piano. Often there are deals on transport for say a 1 year contract. May work out less than purchase/repairs/transport if you are going to move for schools etc.

I have my dream piano in storage as I live in a tiny place. Floor space rental here costs more than instrument rental. I guess the same could be true for you.

[bbush]

I'm with John90 on this:  the weighted-key action of modern digital pianos that mimic that of real grands is far superior to any upright action I've experienced!  Plus, if you're in an apartment, you can turn the volume down below any level you could play on an acoustic, or even use headphones.

$300 is a low-ball estimate of what you'll have to pay to get a good one, though, unless you buy used.  I have an older Yamaha P-60 that I love, and I'll bet used ones run around $300.  Check the Internet, then shop locally where you can play different models or at least one of the actual instruments you may want to buy.

Bruce

[richard black]

Yes, but synthesisers are soulless and depressing. At least you can have some fun with a piano. And the difference between grand and upright action is a complete red herring - loads of professional players have done practically all their learning and practice on uprights.

[john90]

I still think $300 tops is enough for a digital. You only want it as a backup. Still get the acoustic. With 3 pianists in the house, I think you need a digital to take the pressure off, do two piano duets, etc. I can only ever find a good second hand acoustic piano if I am not under time pressure.