European Upright Pianos under $10K

[sautille]

Dreamaurora:

sautille:

Hi rinakurniadi,


Unfortunately, I haven't found one that I like & can afford. I tried Petrof P135, P125 and P122. In terms of sound and touch, I like P125 the best but the price tag is >$12K.

I then tried Rösler (can't remember the model) but soon gave up because, for some reasons, the keys were really heavy.

I also tried Hoffman 120, which is currently on promotion at $10K. The sound is brighter than Petrof but the action is not as refined and responsive. I played Ravel's Toccata on it and had problems with the repeated notes (which I did not have when I played on the Bechstein next to it). Granted my technique is rusty but this is precisely why I need all the help I can get from the piano :rotflmao: BTW, I heard some parts of Hoffman were from China so strictly speaking, it is not quite a pure European piano.

Looks like my dream of owning a European piano under $10K is not so realistic after all.

Hmm, if you can play Ravel Toccata then you must be an LTCL/LRSM/BMus/BA grad right? Then surely your current piano must be good enough right and costing 10K above? Quite puzzled.

Why puzzled? My current piano is an Ellington which I bought many years ago from Renner for $4K. You are right about the qualification but what has it got to do with price of piano? I am buying a new one cos my piano is no longer tunable and I absolutely need it to be in tune so that I can accompany my children on the violin.

[rinakurniadi]

Thank for sharing sautille. Like dreamaurora, i am too puzzled now.

Abt being the european piano… how to check then?!
Btw, have you ever consider Korean instead of Japanese?
Saw an Albert Weber 131 cm at Cristofori, made by Youngchang.
I thought Yamaha u3 (or kawai k5) is highly overpriced in comparison to this one…
On the other hand, Yamaha may retain better resale value and sustain more quality over time (maybe?)

[rinakurniadi]

Thank for sharing sautille. Like dreamaurora, i am too puzzled now.

Abt being the european piano… how to check then?!
Btw, have you ever consider Korean instead of Japanese?
Saw an Albert Weber 131 cm at Cristofori, made by Youngchang.
I thought Yamaha u3 (or kawai k5) is highly overpriced in comparison to this one…
On the other hand, Yamaha may retain better resale value and sustain more quality over time (maybe?)

[sautille]

rinakurniadi:

Thank for sharing sautille. Like dreamaurora, i am too puzzled now.

Abt being the european piano.. how to check then?!
Btw, have you ever consider Korean instead of Japanese?
Saw an Albert Weber 131 cm at Cristofori, made by Youngchang.
I thought Yamaha u3 (or kawai k5) is highly overpriced in comparison to this one..
On the other hand, Yamaha may retain better resale value and sustain more quality over time (maybe?)

I was told that if a piano is entirely made in Europe, it will have a seal on it, like \"Made in Europe\". Petrof carries this seal but not Hoffman.

While I have not played on an Albert Weber, for some reasons, I never quite like the other Korean pianos that I tried. Thanks for the advice on Yamaha (and Kawai) though. Will bear that in mind when I go try them out.

[Dreamaurora]

sautille:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"sautille\"]Hi rinakurniadi,


Unfortunately, I haven't found one that I like & can afford. I tried Petrof P135, P125 and P122. In terms of sound and touch, I like P125 the best but the price tag is >$12K.

I then tried Rösler (can't remember the model) but soon gave up because, for some reasons, the keys were really heavy.

I also tried Hoffman 120, which is currently on promotion at $10K. The sound is brighter than Petrof but the action is not as refined and responsive. I played Ravel's Toccata on it and had problems with the repeated notes (which I did not have when I played on the Bechstein next to it). Granted my technique is rusty but this is precisely why I need all the help I can get from the piano :rotflmao: BTW, I heard some parts of Hoffman were from China so strictly speaking, it is not quite a pure European piano.

Looks like my dream of owning a European piano under $10K is not so realistic after all.

Hmm, if you can play Ravel Toccata then you must be an LTCL/LRSM/BMus/BA grad right? Then surely your current piano must be good enough right and costing 10K above? Quite puzzled.

Why puzzled? My current piano is an Ellington which I bought many years ago from Renner for $4K. You are right about the qualification but what has it got to do with price of piano? I am buying a new one cos my piano is no longer tunable and I absolutely need it to be in tune so that I can accompany my children on the violin.[/quote]Oh I see, it's just that normally people who take LRSM/LTCL would have at least invested in a good grand/upright grand, though it is not mandatory. Why limit yourself to European models? Even NAFA and Lasalle use mostly Yamahas and Kawais in their studios. Anyway, I accompany strings and vocals, often the pianos used may not be ideal or fully in tune. The instrumentalists will need to able to adapt to these, it's part of their training.

[sautille]

Dreamaurora:

Oh I see, it's just that normally people who take LRSM/LTCL would have at least invested in a good grand/upright grand, though it is not mandatory. Why limit yourself to European models? Even NAFA and Lasalle use mostly Yamahas and Kawais in their studios. Anyway, I accompany strings and vocals, often the pianos used may not be ideal or fully in tune. The instrumentalists will need to able to adapt to these, it's part of their training.

I guess people have to make the best out what they have been given.

Since it is not realistic to get a European piano under $10K, I will have to look at the Japanese alternatives.

[iRabbit]

Or you can up your budget a little and get the piano you really like. And long term wise your children will benefit too. In the past, I’ve bought things that are not my first choice due to budgetting and I usually end up regretting. Furthermore you’re so qualified and deserve something better. Think some shops allow installment payments. Jmho.

[Intermezzo]

FQW:

Or you can up your budget a little and get the piano you really like. And long term wise your children will benefit too. In the past, I've bought things that are not my first choice due to budgetting and I usually end up regretting. Furthermore you're so qualified and deserve something better. Think some shops allow installment payments. Jmho.

hey i really agree with FQW on this one ~
when we got the bechstein a1 it was like a few thousands bucks over the initial budget, but the whole family decided that we can give up our year-end overseas vacation to help finance it, and i can say it's really worthwhile, because we are getting so much joy out of it ~

ps. and it's not as if we play all that well either.. :rotflmao:

[iRabbit]

Yeah yeah yeah, I got supporter liao. Sell the car, go cheaper vacations (they can be equally enjoyable), but with a nick like sautille, you’ve got to get a Sauter. Muahaha!

[sautille]

Hahaha…we are beginning to veer off topic…


Anyway, thanks all for your advice/suggestions. I do have to keep to my budget as there are other things on my bucket list…