Yamaha C3, C5 or?

[keithw]

Dear Pianists,
My daughter is soon moving from Australia to Turkey to study piano in a conservatorium and live with grandparents. Currently she has a second hand Yamaha c3 (1985). I did some internet search and a brand new Yamaha C3 is around 32K USD over there. Her current C3 initially had a mellow Kawai like sound and a slightly nasal tone and tone was brightened by lightly ironing the pads twice. I am not a musician but I still perceive a slightly nasal tone in the mid tones and the bass whereas the treble has a nice with a bell like sound. Her teacher's Yamaha is considerably brighter (though a newer piano played 8 hours per day). She likes more open, brighter toned pianos. I am wondering whether a new Yamaha would have a better touch and tone, if so which one would be a better choice? C6 or C7 may be out of the price range. I will visit her in November, check the availability of the space in grandparents home and then visit the dealer together. I thought I may get some valuable advice in the meantime.. best wishes.

[lukediv]

all depends on the size of the space its going to be in. For home use, a C3 would probably be enough. I recently purchased a Kawai GE30, as was initially looking at RX 2's which are a little bigger. Even in fairly big room the size and volume of the piano fills the space nicely and i wouldnt want a larger one because it would drive the rest of my family insane as its already pretty loud. I would get the C3 - large enough to get a really nice tone and not be heard 4 streets away. i think the G5 for home use would be toooo loud. amazing piano but too loud for her poor old grandparents haha.

[hfmadopter]

Interesting, I never really associated mellow or nasal sounding out of Kawai Grands. I'd consider one actually and think perhaps the C3 is more that way than an equivalent Kawai. I like the sound of the Kawai 5'10" and 6'1" pianos , though I've never heard a brand new one.

The C3, I like for it's tone, the C5 even more so ( big help I am !) !! No matter what you get new it will have to be voiced and played in anyway before it's full tonal quality will reveal itself. That will probably be about half way through her studies away.  Your daughter is one lucky girl how ever this goes.