piano wanted in Sydney

[carolina estrada]

I write you guys, if you could help me out of this. In case you know someone selling a piano. I am trying to avoid shops as they mostly try to profit from customers.

My budget is around $2000, I am open to all sorts of second hand instruments (digital, upright, grand).

If you have a piano or know someone, that would like to get rid of it. Please contact me! I will be more than happy to care for it with great love!

thanks
looking forward to Aussie´s reply!
hugs,mates

[johnandtc]

Hi Carolina,

We have an old Ricordi-Berlin upright, probably 80+years old.  Needs some repairs (some keys need their ivory glued back / replaced) and a good tune up .. Other than that, it has a great sound and it is in good condition.  You can have it for free if you pay for transportation / pick up.

John

[john90]

Hi Carolina,

All these instruments you mention are so totally different that there is no one that can do the jobs of the others. Sounds like you have the space. I think you need to buy all 3 types. This is actually extremely practical if you have a big music room.

You get an old upright to use for Honkey Tonk, pub style piano music. De-tune Winifred Atwell style.

Then you get a nice grand or baby grand that has not been played much and still has a tight, crisp action. Try playing a new Steinway. Grotian, Yamaha, something brand new not a rebuilt one, consistently built touch wise. Block out the sound, just go for feel, feel the hammer action. Now search for second hand privately, less than 120 years old, and touch today still like the above new examples. Check the iron frame is not cracked. Soundboard cracks can often be patched up by a tech, so get yours to check any soundboard cracks to make sure they are fixable in your home. Truly amazing Bechsteins can be can be had for us$1500, at the higher end.

Do this first. Get a cheap old digital, Yamaha, Kawi, Roland, something we have all heard of (Circa us$300). Digital wise, get yourself an old 10 years plus weighted 88 key with Midi. The built in speakers and amp wil usually be buzzing/rubbish. Stage pianos don't have them, they are good options too. If the line out is clean an old guitar amp will fill the room, and sound/feel much more like a piano. Your furniture/floor will vibrate like when playing a real piano. The best modern electronics through crappy standard speakers can't do this. If the sound output is broken, or for top quality sound from any old midi Digital, a laptop, good software, and the guitar/keyboard amp.

Now, when the tech comes round to tune the grand, tell him he has 1 hour max on the upright. First priority is to glue back bits that have fallen off, then however it is left, just keep playing it.

Finally I would go for an old 70s/80s Yamaha Electone organ with a physically rotating Leslie speaker. I see these on ebay for $10 unsold. Make sure it works though before paying transport.

All that should be doable on $2000.