All About Choosing and Buying Pianos

[verykiasu2010]

raynreg:

imho 30 years U1 @ $3,500 is steep considering there is a sales thread here that was asking for less than that and not as old.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12549

again, question is on country of origin, parts made from what from where and assembled where ?

was told, since quite long ago, Yamaha can't get the same type of wood in Japan anymore compared to the old original U series

[verykiasu2010]

sleepy:

U1 is made in Japan

There is another similar model made in Indonesia but already reflected in its pricing $6K+ compared to made in Japan ones at $8K+

if you check the serial numbers, you can tell precisely where it is made

[compvale]

sleepy:

U1 is made in Japan

There is another similar model made in Indonesia but already reflected in its pricing $6K+ compared to made in Japan ones at $8K+

You're right. There a model U1J that has Japan parts but assembled in Indonesia so not looking at that. Prefers one that is fully from Japan.

[MUMMYOF3]

verykiasu2010:

MUMMYOF3:

Hi,


1 dealer told me that M10A is the same as U1. In Japan, they don't call U1. Is that true ? I tried google search but can't find M10A. The shop will provide 2 heaters for all his pianos to prevent from humility. But another dealer told me that the piano can only have 1 heater otherwise it'll be too hot. I'm confused :?

first time heard of two heaters (he is kiasuparent.com grandmaster ?)

i thot standard is one heater

me no piano know how

Yes, as far as i know all pianos only hv 1 heater but this dealer told me he specially installed another heater to prevent the wires from getting rusty so easily and he's the only dealer that provide with this special service FOC. I've totally no knowledge in piano so when i went to another shop to source for piano, they were shocked too to hear that pianos have 2 heaters !

[sleepy]

compvale:

sleepy:

U1 is made in Japan

There is another similar model made in Indonesia but already reflected in its pricing $6K+ compared to made in Japan ones at $8K+

You're right. There a model U1J that has Japan parts but assembled in Indonesia so not looking at that. Prefers one that is fully from Japan.

KingRascal:

Just curious, is there a difference when we are told something is \"made in xxx\" vs \"assembled in xxx\"? Someone told me before that producers like to play around with words. Thus could it be a case that the parts are made in Japan but the assembly is done elsewhere? Or maybe I had been given the wrong facts in the first place. If so, forget what I said :lol: :lol: :lol:

verykiasu2010:

if you check the serial numbers, you can tell precisely where it is made

Yes, U1 & U3 all made in Japan & ship direct from Japan. At least that's what Yamaha sales told me.
U1J is assembled in Indonesia and this is reflected in its lower pricing at $6K+. Yamaha sales staff would tell you so too, they are quite upfront with the country of origin

As to quality of wood, yes, I heard they used to have better quality wood long ago. Now so many forest being cut down.... I think there's some truth that older pianos are made of better quality wood

[verykiasu2010]

sleepy:

Yes, U1 & U3 all made in Japan & ship direct from Japan. At least that's what Yamaha sales told me.
U1J is assembled in Indonesia and this is reflected in its lower pricing at $6K+. Yamaha sales staff would tell you so too, they are quite upfront with the country of origin

As to quality of wood, yes, I heard they used to have better quality wood long ago. Now so many forest being cut down.... I think there's some truth that older pianos are made of better quality wood

hence the perception and market practice / sales talks that old piano if well maintained still worth some money, especially those low mileage type, not those from music school

[verykiasu2010]

Aug 4, 2010

Piano ‘played by Mozart’ found

BERLIN (Germany) - AN EARLY piano believed to have been played by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has surfaced in Germany and could be worth millions of dollars, a radio station reported Wednesday.

Public broadcaster SWR said the instrument was built in 1775 and acquired in the 1980s by piano manufacturer Martin Becker in the southern German city of Baden-Baden from an antiques dealer in Strasbourg, eastern France.

When Becker decided to auction off the fortepiano, a music historian noticed the offer and ‘had a hunch that it could be the same long-lost instrument that Mozart played whenever he was in Strasbourg,’ SWR said.

A historic oil painting in Vienna shows the composer Joseph Haydn, a Mozart contemporary, playing what may be the same instrument.

The fortepiano, built by Christian Baumann, is one of eight known examples.

SWR said auction house Christie’s confirmed the instrument’s provenance but the company could not immediately comment on the report when contacted by AFP. Experts said the piano could be worth millions if its illustrious pedigree is established. – AFP

[jce]

Yes, there’s a difference btw "assembled in xxx" and "made in xxx", workmanship would be different and certain material would be different though mechanism would be the same. What I like about older pianos, say, one that’s about 10 yrs, is that it would be "climatised" and it would have "matured in sound" so for the next 10-20 yrs, I would be living with that sound, what I hear is what I’ll get if I continue maintaining the piano well.

[i3mum]

I m interested to buy a piano for my DD. Does anyone heard of Yahama YM5?


I went to Yamaha music school today & the person recommended YM5 to me, which is suitable for all grades.

Any feedback & review? Does anyone know if there are any 2nd hand shop that sells this model too?

[MUMMYOF3]

Hi,


For those who have bought Hailun piano, any comments/feedbacks ? I’m contemplating to buy a BN Hailun or 30 yrs Yamaha U1/U3 piano. Appreciate your feedback/comments on Hailun piano. Would love to hear more before i buy.