All About Choosing and Buying Pianos
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Hi Schen,
You're most welcomed. I purchased a 20 year old used U1E from The Pianoman's shop in Bt Timah Plaza last week. The salesmen who are piano tuners seemed honest and knowledgeble. The facts they gave me including serial number and piano age were easily verifiable via the internet. My piano came with 5 years warranty and 2 free tunings. The only disadvantage is that they do not have a large stock of pianos, but if you leave your number with them, they will call you for a viewing when the model you want arrives.
I had a very different experience at http://www.usedpianos.com.sg. The salesman at the second shop told me that the two available U1s were 15 years old and 10 years old respectively. When I checked the serial numbers of the pianos online, I discovered that they were 50 years old and 30 years old!
I followed the instructions in the Youtube video to check the inside of the piano. There are many other similar videos on Youtube but this one is one of the easier ones to follow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fn0ChTg1us
Good luck on your search! -
Village girl and janicelhl, both of you chose nice pianos, Iβm sure no regrets. Enjoy!
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Any recommendations on model of second hand Kawai piano to go for?
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jce:
Village girl and janicelhl, both of you chose nice pianos, I'm sure no regrets. Enjoy!
Thank you. The piano will be here tomorrow afternoon. My son is looking forward to play his favourite tune. -
Hi janice,
What a coincidence we chose the yus5 n guess what , the delivery is tomorrow afternoon too :boogie:
My son is looking forward to his new piano n went around telling everyonejanicelhl:
Thank you. The piano will be here tomorrow afternoon. My son is looking forward to play his favourite tune.jce:
Village girl and janicelhl, both of you chose nice pianos, I'm sure no regrets. Enjoy!
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I have been thinking. Letβs say I organise outings to piano shops and then I perform pieces on the pianos being displayed and then share my opinions on them. Would any to be piano owners here find this useful?
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Cool! But pls pick short pieces.
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peanut_butter:
Cool! But pls pick short pieces.
Lol, I doubt anyone wants to hear 20 minutes Beethoven Sonata in a showroom. -
wondering if Haessler K124 is worth buying? it certainly edges out the Kawai K-8 in terms of sound! still many more models to look at.
i'm not sure if i shld be spending that much esp since i dont think my playing is that good. yet just hearing that rich sound.. i cannot resist.. how to settle for something lesser when you've heard a sound that is so much better! -
rex21:
If budget is no concern, get whatever you think sounds the nicest. You will be much more motivated to practice.wondering if Haessler K124 is worth buying? it certainly edges out the Kawai K-8 in terms of sound! still many more models to look at.
i'm not sure if i shld be spending that much esp since i dont think my playing is that good. yet just hearing that rich sound.. i cannot resist.. how to settle for something lesser when you've heard a sound that is so much better!
Speaking of K8, it does not really provide that instant beautiful tone more readily like its Yamaha and Petrof counterpart, but I like it because it's kind of like a beast that I can keep working to tame it. :evil: -
Any comments on Kawai KX21? It is made in china, a brand new cost approx $4.8k. Is it worth buying? Compare to a 2nd hand U1? So much choices, confused
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Dreamaurora:
hahaha. the thing is i'm more of playing for leisure now. it's been more than 10 years since i prepared for grade 8. and kids being kids.. i didn't take the exam in the end after preparing for almost 2 years.If budget is no concern, get whatever you think sounds the nicest. You will be much more motivated to practice.
Speaking of K8, it does not really provide that instant beautiful tone more readily like its Yamaha and Petrof counterpart, but I like it because it's kind of like a beast that I can keep working to tame it. :evil:
my current piano is breaking down now.. hence i'm on the hunt for a new one. heading to chiu piano later. i'd definitely prefer getting a german piano than a jap one. haha.
K8 would be rather acceptable if you do not want to stretch your budget too much. but the tone lacks something. kinda like the ooomph! is missing. haha.. which the haessler definitely has.. -
rex21:
How much is RP asking for the Haessler K124?wondering if Haessler K124 is worth buying? it certainly edges out the Kawai K-8 in terms of sound! still many more models to look at.
rex21:
Oh no, I think you've been bitten by the piano bug. :evil: I always feel that one should get the best piano within budget, cos like education, you can't put a price on music.how to settle for something lesser when you've heard a sound that is so much better!
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FQW:
haha check the classified ad yesterday, think it's something like S$21,600 cash nett due to easter day promotion. original price about S$27,000+ if i remember correctly.
How much is RP asking for the Haessler K124?rex21:
wondering if Haessler K124 is worth buying? it certainly edges out the Kawai K-8 in terms of sound! still many more models to look at.
rex21:
Oh no, I think you've been bitten by the piano bug. :evil: I always feel that one should get the best piano within budget, cos like education, you can't put a price on music.how to settle for something lesser when you've heard a sound that is so much better!
it's hardly my budget to begin with since it's probably my parents who will be paying for it. so i feel bad if it's gonna be too expensive.. maybe to them it'll all sound the same.. but to me.. the differences are very glaring to my ear. so i'm really torn now. haha.
but i'd definitely want the best i can get out there! -
back frm chiu piano. tried the various Steingraeber, Schimmel & Wilh.Steinberg they had there. was rather taken with the Schimmel C130. it has a very sweet voice. but i find the bass lacking in power.
still kinda leaning towards the Haessler K124.. -
rex21:
Oops, I thought you're a parent like me. Whoa, $20K+ is a lot of money to spend on a piano. Since your parents are gonna to foot the bill, better seek their opinion/approval first.
haha check the classified ad yesterday, think it's something like S$21,600 cash nett due to easter day promotion. original price about S$27,000+ if i remember correctly.
it's hardly my budget to begin with since it's probably my parents who will be paying for it. so i feel bad if it's gonna be too expensive.. maybe to them it'll all sound the same.. but to me.. the differences are very glaring to my ear. so i'm really torn now. haha.
As a parent myself, I know there're lots of bills to pay and buying a piano would most probably rank low in the natural order of things. Does that make me sound old and naggy? My son says so.rex21:
back frm chiu piano. tried the various Steingraeber, Schimmel & Wilh.Steinberg they had there. was rather taken with the Schimmel C130. it has a very sweet voice. but i find the bass lacking in power.
I know that Steingraeber is a super ex piano. Generally speaking, those piano brands I can't pronounce are all very ex. :scared: -
FQW:
hahaha.. actually i'm thinking of asking them to pay upfront for me, then i pay back every month la.. i'm already working but not to the extent where i can plonk 20k out straight! lol.Oops, I thought you're a parent like me. Whoa, $20K+ is a lot of money to spend on a piano. Since your parents are gonna to foot the bill, better seek their opinion/approval first.
As a parent myself, I know there're lots of bills to pay and buying a piano would most probably rank low in the natural order of things. Does that make me sound old and naggy? My son says so.
I know that Steingraeber is a super ex piano. Generally speaking, those piano brands I can't pronounce are all very ex. :scared:
that day i told them i want to buy a piano, my mum just said ok, buy lor. then i said but a good one should be upwards of 10k.. hahaha.. seems like my budget has doubled now!!
interestingly, I didn't like the Steingraeber at all. Mr Chiu told me it costs 50k. haha. after hearing the price tag it was quite a disappointment when i played it. nothing really stood out. perhaps didn't tune? even my friend who accompanied me, and has no musical background said that it loses out to the Schimmel. :siao: -
Intermezzo:
wow.. is that the IN thing to do? i remember another forumner here, markfch also engraved his son's name on his Sauter? [/quote]hey i think i just realized something ........................
Yalor, Last Waltz contains some arpeggios which made for beautiful music.FQW:
[quote=\"Intermezzo\"]
didn't get to hear the Last Waltz for demo.. what a pity..
maybe the guy wasn't there on that day.. we had to demo DIY..
so which piano did u get?
I got the Sauter M1 in the end. Very nice piano too - even had my son's name engraved on it. So now if I ever have to sell this piano for whatever reason, I just need to find a buyer with the same name as my son. :yikes:
............... you two have the same ds!!! :rotflmao: -
rex21:
i like the Schimmel C130 alot too ~ it was a tough decision between it and the bechstein a1.back frm chiu piano. tried the various Steingraeber, Schimmel & Wilh.Steinberg they had there. was rather taken with the Schimmel C130. it has a very sweet voice. but i find the bass lacking in power.
still kinda leaning towards the Haessler K124..
for the bass which you found lacking, it might be due to the showroom condition..? unless you plan to place your piano in a very large room / hall, i would say the C130 is very powerful oredi.. jmho.. -
FQW:
no wonder i can never figure out whether it's pronounced Sao-ter or Sor-ter or Sow-ter... :faint:
I know that Steingraeber is a super ex piano. Generally speaking, those piano brands I can't pronounce are all very ex. :scared: