All About Choosing and Buying Pianos

[jojo]

I got my girl’s piano in Nov last yr. At Textile ctr which former known as Prince Piano. The owner, Desmond, formerly was a piano tuner and he carries mostly Kiawa and Yamaha brands. If u are serious buyer, bargain with him, his price is better than Cristofori which i realised when i sourcing piano for my girl.


I bot a kiawa brand, it’s hieght is 131cm (any height above 121cm is exam model) and 30 yr old, cost me $3k+. Thereafter, i made enquire with Cristorfori who has lower range and the price is higher. So, I were happy that i have gd buy from Desmond, plus the take back value is better than cristofri

Before i went to desmond, I did go to Kallang liesure, what i learn from them were, their used piano also imported from Japan and not spore. Used piano from jpn is better than spore 'cos of climate and japaness can take care better than us. Which desmond said the same thing. I didnt get it from kallang liesure maybe it could the price is quoted to me was quite high and i didnt want to do any offer.

Japan brand is more reliable and resale value is better than any other brand. Keyboard feels is diff from piano.

[MaryDaisu]

Markfch/titank


Brought my DS to try the piano. He had a good time \"testing\" all the pianos including the HL Grands, Petrof brand, Grotrain.. And he like the HL Grand and Grotrain.. Haaa...mummy cant buy him such expensive one lah.. :shock:

Have placed order for the hailun 125 and delivery is in 1 month's time as they have no stock. Cant wait ...

I will update u guys when it is delivered.

[titank]

MaryDaisu


Can share what sort of freebies they are giving you when you purchase the piano?

[plum-cake]

titank:

jce:

Casio has keyboards, Yamaha has keyboards. Yamaha avail at all Yamaha stores, Casio avail at Giant, and all big stores. I would recommend getting a keyboard with actual size keys, ie not the slim ones with slim keys.

So have to get keyboards with at least 88 keys same as the piano? Saw those also cost around $1.5K ++ which maybe cost almost 1/4 of the price of old U3 or Kawai piano!

No It's not same as piano. keyboard's keys won't last long. and there is a slight difference in the presure, and the feel. If you are looking for your child who wants to do exam then go for the piano. I got mine from chiristofori.

to find weather its original. do your own research.
1. go have a look. try, play..and if you like it note down the model and siereal number. you can find it when you open the top cover.
2. search it in the internet. atleast you'll find some near set.

mine yamaha. every 6 months I do tuning and annual servicing. to keep some value

[ANobleNerd]

titank:

jce:

Casio has keyboards, Yamaha has keyboards. Yamaha avail at all Yamaha stores, Casio avail at Giant, and all big stores. I would recommend getting a keyboard with actual size keys, ie not the slim ones with slim keys.

So have to get keyboards with at least 88 keys same as the piano? Saw those also cost around $1.5K ++ which maybe cost almost 1/4 of the price of old U3 or Kawai piano!

Titank, the keyboards aren't at all like a piano. We're recommending the keyboard for smurfy because her 4yo son is just trying it out. For her to invest in a real piano for a few months will be too expensive.

My 5yo has just completed 4 months of piano class, but she's practising on a keyboard we bought 8 years ago for her elder brother to learn. Her brother gave up, but she appears to enjoy playing on the keyboard. We'll probably buy a piano if she can show more sustained interest in learning.

[jce]

88 keys or not, doesn’t matter. What is important is the SIZE of each key. Make sure it is the big ones and not the narrow ones.

[plum-cake]

jce:

88 keys or not, doesn't matter. What is important is the SIZE of each key. Make sure it is the big ones and not the narrow ones.

:? talking about exams / leisure ?

[BeContented]

MaryDaisu:

hquek,


Thanks for the detailed tips..

I am also trying to google / research as much as possible.
Likewise, i have no music backgrd..
Would a layman be able to understand the difference when u go down to the dealers to \"test\" it out?
Worry not sure what to test and to watch out for... also the credibility of the salesperson..especially i am a \"outsider\"

Just spoke to a colli, she too got hers from Century. But she too didnt make alot of visits/try, cos she is like me an outsider...

Doesnt help when husb thinks otherwise about investing in a piano now..

Is China make good?
Is there a thread on China brand pianos... will check..

Hi MaryDaisu,
Like you, I have no music background and also tried to google/research and asked around. Finally realised that even if someone plays the piano and has music background, most do not really know very much about piano. Eventually, requested a cousin (a piano teacher) to recommend a shop and went there to purchase one based on trust. The piano teacher helped by playing on the piano there and then tell us about the sound, pitch, key-feel etc, and of course, which does she like. The rest of the info came from the shop owner.

Outcome : I bought a 2nd-hand, 30+ year old, Yamaha U3 at S$4.5K (2 years ago) at a shop Zadok in Balestier. From what I gathered is .... the older ones are made in Japan and imported from Japan and normally are in better condition due to weather, quality of wood/workmanship etc. While there are newer ones which may be cheaper, those less than 20 years old are likely to be made in Indonesia/China and has been used in SG for a longer time. So far, I have not regretted the purchase.

Also, just to share....when my girl first started at 4yrs old in Yamaha JMC, I got a Casio keyboard (~$200) to start with. Bought the U3 Piano after her JMC 2 years later and having that piano at home fueled the interest in my older boy. So both are still learning now....

[jce]

Talking about leisure - the issue here is buying a keyboard as a means to trying out whether the child is interested or not before investing in a proper piano. If one is going to plunge into exams right from the start, no need to consider keyboard at all

[smurfy]

yes, talking abt 4yr old who just started to learn piano..


reluctant to start on keyboards.. so went to look at digital pianos last wk, brand new ones frm yahama and casio were like 2k. then teacher telling me err 2k can get good kawaii 2nd hand piano.

but i dunno how to explain. getting a real piano is a big commitment. whereas a dig. piano is like err still play thing (can run offf easily type). in the end, back to square one.. nothing at all