All About Choosing and Buying Pianos
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springwater:
I am eyeing a 2nd hand U1 (said to be bought less than 6 mths as the expatriate is going back his country) but I am unable to check online to verify its age. Even Yamaha website does not provide serial number after 6280000 (http://usa.yamaha.com/support/finding_age_of_yamaha_piano/). Can you let me know the serial number of your new U1 piano (after you receive your new piano this Sat) so that I can do a simple extrapolation. Appreciated in advance!Hi all friends here,
I have been reading all your posts for some time since we have planned to buy a piano for our dd who is now in 2nd term of Yamaha Junior Course. My dd is 5.5 years old but he is very interested in piano playing and can play quite well without a lot practice.
I just placed the order for a brand new Yamaha U1 at $9100 with 2 tunings, 1 bench and free piano cover. By paying with Maybank Family and Friend credit card, you will get 5% rebate in your bank statement.
Just to share with you my experience in trying to settle a piano. Initially we planned to buy a 2nd handed one after reading some of the comments in this forum since our dd is so young and we won't know how long his interest for piano playing can last. We went to see and touch some pianos in a Christofri GSS road show. They have used U1, U3, Kawai etc. On the price tag of a U1 model, it reads: $4299, 25 years. We were allowed to take a photo of the serial number of it, and we did the same for the U3 which is priced at $4999 for 25 years too. Then the next day since I went to Yamaha school together with my son for his weekly lesson, I checked with the staff about the 2nd handed piano. The staff showed me a booklet: the fact if re-conditioned Yamaha piano, in which there is a reference list with the manufacturing year and the serial number. So I checked the serial numbers of the used ones that I took photo for and wanted to confirm the serial number is real. Guess what?! It appears that both the used U1 and U3 are 43 years already! I was kind of shocked by this....... How can they cheat on the age of the piano?!
As some of the forumers here, we almost know nothing about piano. So to play safe, we finally decided to invest in a new one with a good will that it will be my son's accompany and best friend
The piano is going to arrive this Sat. Can't wait to see my son playing on it. And hope he enjoys every moment playing it. -
I also went through the same process as you and in the end, I bought Hailun HL125. Should be value for $.
rosicky:
Just to share that I have bought a Hailun after much consideration, but the H-5 model, which cost 1k more then the HL-125. Both are attractively priced at 4.6k and 3.6k respectively.rosicky:
May I seek the advice from parents here. Guess I am facing the same old issue, need to buy piano for DS and DD, but parents know next to nothing about pianos. :? But after much googling, very much narrow down to 3 choices:
1) Used Yamaha U1 (20+ years) - Cost ard 3-4k.
2) Cristofori CU-123 EP - Cost ard 3.8k
3) Hailun HL-125 - Have not checked, but should be about 4k?
Not really comfy with the Yamaha as we are noobs, and thus unable to tell the condition. Between the cristofori and hailun, which is better?
Thanks!
As I dun play music, I can only rely on my ears as the sales person demo to me. We went to the showroom, and \"listened\" to the petrof, hailun and some used Yamaha, Kawai and Bohemia.
1. Sound. The Hailun is at least on par with Yamaha and Kawai based on our non musical ears. :oops: But the Petrof and Bohemia somehow sounds better, but expensive.
Just like european cars...
2. Value. The Hailun H-5 is like 50% price of a new U1 or a entry Petrof. Same price as a 20+ year old U1/U3.
3. Quality. The built quality, and the material used looks good. But again, I am not a expert, so probably only time will tell.
4. Warranty. The Hailun comes with a 10 year full parts+labour warranty, and a 5 years trade-in scheme at 50% of the sale price.
It has been a stressful experience buying our first piano, going thru many shops and warehouses, seeking advice from teachers and friends. But we end up buying something that they have not heard of....
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I was on a hunt for a new piano recently as
my current kawai cx5 won’t last long. 30 years
already.
Have u heard of kholer and Campbell? Made in Korea.
K131. Dont know k131 or km131. I’m getting a 131 because I want it to
last till dip. For my girl.
It’s an unknown brand at least to me, so
it was kind of a struggle. I played it at chiu piano recently.
Nice tone, kind of in between Yamaha and
europe made pianos. Definitely not like kawai.
And also Yamaha baby grand GBk1.
Made in indonesia
Anyone here has any feedback? -
Oh My Gosh:
Sure I will inform you about that.
I am eyeing a 2nd hand U1 (said to be bought less than 6 mths as the expatriate is going back his country) but I am unable to check online to verify its age. Even Yamaha website does not provide serial number after 6280000 (http://usa.yamaha.com/support/finding_age_of_yamaha_piano/). Can you let me know the serial number of your new U1 piano (after you receive your new piano this Sat) so that I can do a simple extrapolation. Appreciated in advance!springwater:
Hi all friends here,
I have been reading all your posts for some time since we have planned to buy a piano for our dd who is now in 2nd term of Yamaha Junior Course. My dd is 5.5 years old but he is very interested in piano playing and can play quite well without a lot practice.
I just placed the order for a brand new Yamaha U1 at $9100 with 2 tunings, 1 bench and free piano cover. By paying with Maybank Family and Friend credit card, you will get 5% rebate in your bank statement.
Just to share with you my experience in trying to settle a piano. Initially we planned to buy a 2nd handed one after reading some of the comments in this forum since our dd is so young and we won't know how long his interest for piano playing can last. We went to see and touch some pianos in a Christofri GSS road show. They have used U1, U3, Kawai etc. On the price tag of a U1 model, it reads: $4299, 25 years. We were allowed to take a photo of the serial number of it, and we did the same for the U3 which is priced at $4999 for 25 years too. Then the next day since I went to Yamaha school together with my son for his weekly lesson, I checked with the staff about the 2nd handed piano. The staff showed me a booklet: the fact if re-conditioned Yamaha piano, in which there is a reference list with the manufacturing year and the serial number. So I checked the serial numbers of the used ones that I took photo for and wanted to confirm the serial number is real. Guess what?! It appears that both the used U1 and U3 are 43 years already! I was kind of shocked by this....... How can they cheat on the age of the piano?!
As some of the forumers here, we almost know nothing about piano. So to play safe, we finally decided to invest in a new one with a good will that it will be my son's accompany and best friend
The piano is going to arrive this Sat. Can't wait to see my son playing on it. And hope he enjoys every moment playing it. -
Dear All,
Someone asked about Yamaha Serial Numbers. Here's the official listing with age and place of manufacture:
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/Text_WithCatMenu_XC.html?CNTID=12173
Yes, there is a shop which lies about the age of the pianos. The one which lied to me that the U1s were 20 years younger than they actually were is located in an Industrial warehouse in Jalan Peminpin. However, the shop I eventually bought my U1 from was honest about the age and condition of the pianos and I managed to verify it on-line as well.
Hope this helps! -
Chattyirena:
Currently no website available for checking the age of \"newer\" U1 piano. Apparently, those after 628xxxx are not available.Dear All,
Someone asked about Yamaha Serial Numbers. Here's the official listing with age and place of manufacture:
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/Text_WithCatMenu_XC.html?CNTID=12173
Yes, there is a shop which lies about the age of the pianos. The one which lied to me that the U1s were 20 years younger than they actually were is located in an Industrial warehouse in Jalan Peminpin. However, the shop I eventually bought my U1 from was honest about the age and condition of the pianos and I managed to verify it on-line as well.
Hope this helps! -
Oh My Gosh:
I am eyeing a 2nd hand U1 (said to be bought less than 6 mths as the expatriate is going back his country) but I am unable to check online to verify its age. Even Yamaha website does not provide serial number after 6280000 (http://usa.yamaha.com/support/finding_age_of_yamaha_piano/). Can you let me know the serial number of your new U1 piano (after you receive your new piano this Sat) so that I can do a simple extrapolation. Appreciated in advance!
If it helps, my new U1 silent delivered in Feb 2012 has serial no. 6334XXX. I figure it was built sometime in 2011 seeing as the Yamaha website say 6280000 was made in 2010.
Incidentally, I gave up on getting a 2nd hand U1 when I realized that paying something like $4-5k for a 20-25 year old U1 from the shops did not seem like a bright idea considering that it probably cost around that to get a new one 20-25 years ago! :faint: -
Szepinge, personally, I think there’s no point in getting baby grands. Grands should be at least 6 ft in order for it to really function in a way that a grand should in terms of tone, action, response etc.
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anyone have idea how is pearl river piano? good?
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Pearl River has been around for a very long time. In other words, it does have some quality for it to have lasted so many years. My mum use to have a Pearl River, used for 10 plus years and sold it off secondhand and the next owner used it for another 10 years. Lasting, but that was some 30 plus 40 years ago…
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