All About Choosing and Buying Pianos

[pingering]

After reading so much about the U1 (it’s like the defacto choice for many parents, especially with its very good resale value), I went down to Tampines Yamaha to look at it.


After tingling with the U1 and U3, I was surprised that I very much preferred the sound of the U1 (much clearer, bright and "crisp"). For some reason the U3 sounds kind of muffled, though it does have a very good ‘base’ (not sure how to describe).

But the salesman showed me the YUS5 (which was already sold), and it sounded like the best of both U1 and U3. I was blown away!

Problem is that the YUS5 will cost S$12.5K, compared to the U1 S$8.6K (upcoming sale price).

Can anyone advise if it’s worth getting the YUS5? What would its resale value be like? I have heard that the U5 was a flop, and was discontinued after a couple of years.

[markfch]

pingering:

But the salesman showed me the YUS5 (which was already sold), and it sounded like the best of both U1 and U3. I was blown away!


Problem is that the YUS5 will cost S$12.5K, compared to the U1 S$8.6K (upcoming sale price).

Can anyone advise if it's worth getting the YUS5?

Because music enjoyment is very subjective, nobody can advise you whether the YUS5 is worth it. Only you yourself can answer that qn. The deal breaker is this. Do you think the YUS5 that blew you away is worth $4K more than the U1 which didn't? Secondly, will the YUS5 blow your budget away?

Personally if I can afford it, I'll go for the YUS5 so that I can avoid the dreaded 'what if' scenario.

[choonie]

Just to check whether anyone has bought from Piano gallery at IMM before? They are selling Kawai & Yamaha 2nd hand pianos at attractive prices & Japan models. Anyone knows whether they are reliable? I am looking for piano for my 5 yr old daughter. Thanks

[jce]

U5 has a sound which matures nicely as the years go by. If money is not an issue then U5 really has some good work that’s been put in. One of the reasons it hasn’t and didn’t quite take off is because the price is very close to a baby grand but personally I think a grand should be at least 5ft for the sound to be effective.


As for resale value, Yamaha always holds a good command for that, whether there’s a market for it is another matter.

[pingering]

Ya, guess it all boils down to the budget. By all means go ahead and get what you like as long as your budget allows it.


I should probably go and check out other brands before making up my mind. It’s a big buy (whether U1 or YUS5)! Planning to drop by Millenia Walk Robert Piano to look see. Does anyone have any recommendation on where else I could check out?

btw, is there anywhere I can check out both Yamaha models and other brands? (new, not second hand…)

[Ah Soh]

Hi, Anyone has experience on both Hailun piano and U1 Yamaha in terms technical?


Here’s the quotation I obtained:
1. Hailun -HL125 (upright Grand) SGD3500- Brand New - 5 years buy back at 50%
2. Yamaha U1 - SGD4500 - 20 years - 2years buy back at 50%. If 3 years than buy back at 40% and each year decrease 10%.

Which one is a better buy? Thanks

[Xnowy]

I think 4.5k for a 20 years old piano is too $$. R u buying this for a beginner?

[Ah Soh]

Hi Xnowy,

Yes. It is for beginner. Am quite hesitate to go with Keyboard as the feel and strength is diff.

[jce]

Ah Soh, the Yamaha U1 at such an "old" age is too ex. Hailun’s reputation has been picking up and with the buy-back system you can perhaps get that for starters and sell it off after 5 yrs if you so wish and change to a "better" piano?

[AgnesMM]

Has anyone here bought HaiLun125?


I am keen to get one for my daughter - she has just moved into grade 2.