All About Choosing and Buying Pianos

[jamesowng98]

Selling at $900. Made in Japan. Regular piano tuner (not from the shop) highlighted that it is still in good condition. Selling becos my son will move to grade 4 by this year so it time to upgrade the piano.


Just note :
1. Piano is around 30 years
2. Bought at $1700 from second shop about less than 2 years
3. Sound is bright and I like the sound compare to Yamaha model.
4. Suitable for beginner and child to try out before committing on an expensive model.
5. Transport and Tunning is not included.
6. Quality assured.

Thank you.
Sms : 96799068.

Thank you.

[Francis Tan]

Dear Folks,


Looking for a 2nd hand piano with a budget of $4.2K.

1. 18-22 years or more than 28 years? Some people believe that well maintained old pianos are still a good buy. Others believe that under Singapore’s humid conditions, pianos can only last to at most 40 years.

2. Old pianos have better sound and wood quality. Is that true?

3. Is it true that a 20-year-old piano that sounds mellow can mean that it has not been seasoned yet to due to low usage?..compared to one that has a brighter and more dynamic sound which means it’s well seasoned with high usage?

4. Kawai: NS35, BS10, BS20, BS2A, BL61, BL71?

5. Has anyone done business with Prince Piano @ Textile Centre or Piano Gallery @ IMM?

Thank you!

[Dreamaurora]

Francis Tan:

Dear Folks,


Looking for a 2nd hand piano with a budget of $4.2K.

1. 18-22 years or more than 28 years? Some people believe that well maintained old pianos are still a good buy. Others believe that under Singapore's humid conditions, pianos can only last to at most 40 years.

2. Old pianos have better sound and wood quality. Is that true?

3. Is it true that a 20-year-old piano that sounds mellow can mean that it has not been seasoned yet to due to low usage?...compared to one that has a brighter and more dynamic sound which means it's well seasoned with high usage?

4. Kawai: NS35, BS10, BS20, BS2A, BL61, BL71?

5. Has anyone done business with Prince Piano @ Textile Centre or Piano Gallery @ IMM?

Thank you!

With 4.2K do yourself a favor and save up more to get a first hand U1. I would generally try to avoid pianos more than 10 years old because components inside deteoriate. However, you may choose to get an old piano and then ask a tuner to recondition the piano. Reconditioning cost around 1 to 2K but you might save money if you can buy the piano very cheap. Please don't believe anyone that said pianos get better as they get older. If this is true, why the older the piano gets, the cheaper it gets?

[babylion]

I have been looking around for used pianos lately. Most dealers offer 5 year warranty or was it guarantee, as a few said. There’s one which provide only 1 year guarantee only. Do pianos breakdown and fail after several years or how often do they require parts replacement ?

[Dreamaurora]

babylion:

I have been looking around for used pianos lately. Most dealers offer 5 year warranty or was it guarantee, as a few said. There's one which provide only 1 year guarantee only. Do pianos breakdown and fail after several years or how often do they require parts replacement ?

Yes, parts do deteoriate with heavy use and aging, although good maintenance will minimise the deteoriation. Some of examples of common things happening as pianos get older are sticky keys (caused by faulty damper mechanisms), overly bright sound (the felts at the tip of the hammers get worn out), broken dampers, pedals not working correctly. Parts replacements are rarely needed actually unless something actually break; normally tuners can repair them.

The best advice I can get is really to get a decent pianist/teacher to come along piano shopping with you. Piano salesmen will obviously try to clear as many stocks as possible and as such may 'exaggerate' some facts.

[babylion]

I suppose the logical thing is to get one that has longer warranty, if all else is the same.


The one or two Kawai pianos i'm eyeing now give only 1 year warranty...sighhh

Dreamaurora:

Yes, parts do deteoriate with heavy use and aging, although good maintenance will minimise the deteoriation. Some of examples of common things happening as pianos get older are sticky keys (caused by faulty damper mechanisms), overly bright sound (the felts at the tip of the hammers get worn out), broken dampers, pedals not working correctly. Parts replacements are rarely needed actually unless something actually break; normally tuners can repair them.

The best advice I can get is really to get a decent pianist/teacher to come along piano shopping with you. Piano salesmen will obviously try to clear as many stocks as possible and as such may 'exaggerate' some facts.

[jce]

Pianos at Piano Gallery are sourced by my tuner (and friend). Trust me, he does have a good eye and ear for pianos and he is trustworthy. Look for Julie as my friend is always running around tuning for Esplanade or private homes.

[babylion]

Thanks for the recommendation. I have spoken to Julie yesterday.

[2818]

I am very new to piano. My son has just taken up G1 lesson and the piano teacher had recommended us to purchase the following two piano brands:


. Kaiwaii, Japan
. Heilmann, Europe

I am wondering which one to look up and did anyone know about ‘Pearl River’. Can anyone share like the brand to look up for, the pricing and the model that is suitable for examination for G1 (my son only own a electronic keyboard).

Thank you.

[jce]

Pearl River is from China, has been around for a long time. It is a rather decent piano but it doesn’t last for long (as in more than 10 years) as the sound gets rather "jang-jang" and won’t sound like what it started off as. My personal view