All About Choosing and Buying Pianos

[MummyThreeStreams]

I don't have feedback on Piano Gallery. but I use a U3 that's about 30 yo too. The U3 is an excellent piano. I agree with you about its character. Love the sound and touch.


I bought it a few years ago at about $3-$3.5 k. Maybe the one you saw is a bit newer than mine. What's the serial number? You can google the serial number for the age and the various U3 series online to see if that series has a history of problems. Eg see this site : http://www.markgoodwinpianos.co.uk/info/yamaha-u3-u3h-u3m-u3a-u3g

I think the old Yamahas are built to last several decades, if the are well taken care of. Did you take a good look inside? I'm not an expert, but I think the main risk is humidity damage to the soundboard. Can't think how else the piano can break down. If the strings snap or the keys become sticky, you can just replace the parts, not a problem. But if you have soundboard damage...

[MusicAmor]

MummyThreeStreams:

I don't have feedback on Piano Gallery. but I use a U3 that's about 30 yo too. The U3 is an excellent piano. I agree with you about its character. Love the sound and touch.


I bought it a few years ago at about $3-$3.5 k. Maybe the one you saw is a bit newer than mine. What's the serial number? You can google the serial number for the age and the various U3 series online to see if that series has a history of problems.

I think the old yamahas are built to last several decades, if the are well taken care of. Did you take a good look inside? I'm not an expert, but I think the main risk is humidity damage to the soundboard. Can't think how else the piano can break down. If the strings snap or the keys become sticky, you can just replace the parts, not a problem. But if you have soundboard damage...

Inside is okay i guess.. no rusty parts and etc (im no technician to begin with!)

If i could recall correctly, the serial no is 30xxxxx(7 digits). What about yours?

[MummyThreeStreams]

Mine starts with 2, so yrs is newer. The Yamaha website allows you to search for the age via serial number.

[tiredmummy1972]

I am going to confirm a 2nd hand 6yr old Pearl River ( UP-108M) piano @ $1400. is the price ok?

[Chattyirena]

tiredmummy1972:

I am going to confirm a 2nd hand 6yr old Pearl River ( UP-108M) piano @ $1400. is the price ok?

Hi Tired Mummy,

The only way to know whether the 6 year old Pearl River is a good price is to check the price of a new Pearl River of the same model and calculate the depreciation value from there. If the piano is in excellent condition, then any price between 70% to 60% of a new Pearl River would be reasonable. The depreciation schedule may be found on:

http://www.pianobuyer.com/spring12/65.html

Just fyi, early last month, someone offered me an Exam-Model Christofori for $1K. However, the seller was unable to give me the model or serial number (probably due to language differences which made communication between us difficult), but said that she had tuned it regularly every 6 months until her DD gave up learning the instrument. She also said it was around 6 to 8 years old... She did offer to let me try out the piano though. I never got round to going to her home or to the Christofori shop to check out the prices or the piano, coz I had already decided on a Yamaha.

My piano tuner told me that Cristofori pianos are made by the same manufacturer as Pearl River, as Cristofori is an EOM brand (you can commission the factory to put any brand name on a batch of pianos and market it as such, but all pianos of with the same model specifications bearing different brand names are essentially the same piano). So if you are keen, you could check up on both brands and compare prices. I believe that Cristofori sells used pianos in their shops / warehouses too. In fact they just had a warehouse sale last month.

[Chattyirena]

Hi MusicArmor,


I’ve never been to Piano Gallery before, but a 10 year guaruantee sounds like a good deal to me…Quite a few people have assured me that pianos can last many decades even in Singapore’s weather conditions, and it’s very rare for strings or soundboards to break (as long as heater is left on 24/7 and termites don’t eat up the soundboard). However, heavily used pianos may need to have their hammers re-felted after a few decades, and for this is easily done for Yamaha pianos. I’ve been told it costs only about $1k+ to change the entire set of worn-out hammers on a U1 or U3, but that shouldn’t happen unless the piano is very heavily used… Just open the top and see how thick the felt is on the hammers, and use a brand new yamaha U3 as a point of comparison.

[Ticklesmum]

Can any one advise me on Samick pianos? Is Samick good enough for beginners? I’m thinking of getting a new upright exam model for my 5 year old.

[Oh My Gosh]

I just bought a brand new U1 (Japan assembled) from Yamaha. When it was delivered last week, out of curiousity, I decided to try online and check on its age. To my astonishment, the piano is assembled in 2009/2010. Is is common to get a brand new piano which is already almost-3 years old?

[jce]

Oh My Gosh:

Is is common to get a brand new piano which is already almost-3 years old?

Possible, may be old stock and 3 years is not very long considering the life span of a piano. The piano may have been brought in some time ago but demand was low. As long as a check was done to ensure everything is as it should be then I guess it's acceptable. Did you get it direct from Yamaha or a dealer?

[sushigal]

Hi


I have a Asahi Piano to let go. Piano is still in excellent condition.

Height: 121 cm
Color : Black
Price : S$1700 (neg)

Parts are from Japan and assemble in North Korea.

Tuned regularly. Heater is ON 24hours. It comes with adjustable height chair.

Piano is less than 10years old.

Viewing is at Sengkang. Buyer has to arrange your own transport.

This piano can last till Grade 8.

Reason for letting go is moving to a rental place and owner does not allow piano.

Please email me direct at [email protected]