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JennGM
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| Posted: June 12 2005 at 4:13pm | IP Logged
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One of next major purchases will be a piano. We haven't decided used or new, but I want something that will hold the pitch and will last from years to come. Dreamwise, I want a baby grand, but will be satisfied with a console. Does anyone have suggestions on good brands, new or old, or have contacts (like a piano tuner) who can give unbiased opinions about pianos? I don't want to go to a store, because they will be promoting their products!
Also, what's a reasonable price in new, or used?
Thanks and God bless!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 12 2005 at 4:21pm | IP Logged
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My post sounds like "Money is no object." That is NOT the case...I didn't mention that I would like to keep the costs down, so it would be inexpensive!!! I had an offer of a baby grand a year ago and then it was rescinded. Broke my heart!  
But maybe another opportunity will come along for me!! 
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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BrendaPeter
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Hi Jenn,
I know very little about music but wanted to let you know that we purchased a Technics digital piano & have been so happy with it. It was less expensive than a traditional piano but what I like best about it is that you can move it & never have to tune it. Also with 6 children it's so nice to have VOLUME control...
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Blessings,
Brenda (mom to 6)
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 12 2005 at 6:50pm | IP Logged
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I've used a digital piano in the past...and I know the technology gets better and better so it FEELS and sounds more like a piano, but I have to confess, I'm a traditionalist, especially when it comes to a real piano. There's no replacing the real thing! I know I'm the same way about books.
Just a little character flaw of mine!!! 
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Karen T
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| Posted: June 12 2005 at 10:04pm | IP Logged
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My advice is to go to several different stores and try them, new and used! Pianos have different sounds and feel to them. Most stores will have some used ones they've taken in trade-ups. I bought mine that way and it's been a good piano, even though it's about 80 yrs old! however, the soundboards don't last forever, and if a piano sits untuned and unplayed for years, it deteriorates faster and may not be salvagable.
Prices vary widely but by looking at more than one store you can get a feel for your area. I paid $1000, 12 yrs ago. My sister is still using the one my parents bought, used, in the 70's. They took care of it, had it tuned regularly, etc. Oh, you might call a couple tuners and see if they know of some 'deals' locally.
KarenT
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Victoria in AZ
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First of all, pray about it!
Second, take out your yellow pages and call at least two piano tuners. A local church might know a good piano tuner also. They know the most. My tuner said not to waste your time/money with anything smaller than a console. A good tuner will look at a piano before you buy for a small fee.
Two books to look at: Piano for Dummies (no kidding) and The Piano Book by Larry Fine c 2001.
We paid $600 for a Kimball console that was about 10 years old?? I kept checking our local little paper and finally this one came up.
Gotta run. Good luck!
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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amiefriedl
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Jenn,
Last summer I said a few prayers for a piano and then not a couple of weeks later I found a 1970's spinet (smaller than a console I think) at a garage sale. It was in very good condition and I only paid $150. I've had it tuned twice ($75/ea time) and a couple of smallish repairs done to it. My technician said it was probably worth 500-700. But as we all know, something is only worth what someone else will pay for it. (And this isn't really a worry at this point.)
I too couldn't stand the thought of electronic. I have a degree in music and played trombone semi-professionally for about 6 years and I could never reconcile myself to most of the electronic advances in the industry. I think I'm more of a purist than a technophobe but one could argue...
However, with my kids being so young, an inexpensive upright seemed just the thing. It has a pretty good tone, (I can hear some 'warbeling' in the strings occasionally) has surprisingly good action (I detect one sluggish key), and holds it's tuning for longer than I expected (8 months or so, (even with my 3yo occasionally banging on it,) which is pretty good considering all the weather changes).
But best of all, when someday, theoretically, my toddler spills something on it, or drives some sort of toy through the base board, or breaks a pedal, or engraves their name in the leg I'm not going to break down and cry. When my kids are ready for piano competitions, then I'll look into a high-quality used unit.
The professional symphonic musician keeps a very fine instrument indeed. Walking down the average conservatory corridor you could be passing quite a few violins costing tens of thousands. But the average 'bread and butter' musician will also have a more sensible/practical approach to their 'ax' as well. Consider that there is a time for a "Sunday-clothes" instrument and a time for the "everyday-clothes" instrument. I had my good symphonic trombone for the fine work and I had my simple little horn that I didn't mind playing in smokey bars where it usually got backed into by a 'bar guest' or two. 
And another practical angle is that your kids may HATE piano and love the accordian. Then you might have a very big, dusty paperweight on your hands. So my advice would be to go at this purchase from a certain practical point of view. If money really isn't a big deal, just a 'some-what deal', then go for it!
Asking the opinion of several piano technicians is great advice. May God bless your quest!
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In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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JennGM
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amiefriedl wrote:
| And another practical angle is that your kids may HATE piano and love the accordian. Then you might have a very big, dusty paperweight on your hands. So my advice would be to go at this purchase from a certain practical point of view. If money really isn't a big deal, just a 'some-what deal', then go for it! |
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Thanks for the advice, Amie! I have to admit, the piano is mostly for me! I've been without one for about 6 months and really miss it! (it's a long story, but it was an old upright my dh wanted out of the house ). I've played since 11 years old, then studied in college. To play is an emotional and spiritually uplifting for me...I need a release!!!
I love playing and singing songs to the kids (and it doesn't discourage me to have banging on either end, or even right on my fingers) and lead sing-alongs with adults. It would be used, for sure. But good point about getting something pristine if it needs to be more family-friendly.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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theNetSmith
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Jenn wrote:
| I love playing and singing songs to the kids...and lead sing-alongs with adults. |
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For $800, I bought a used Yamaha Clavinova (digital) from a church friend a few years ago to replace an old upright we had previously purchased at a garage sale. The upright was just too old and of such poor quality that it needed constant maintenance and tuning "to the tune of" over $100 a year.
I wasn't going to comment on the Clavinova since you already stated that you would prefer a real instrument, but your quote above reminded me of a praise & worship get-together that we had on our back patio a few weeks ago. We were able to easily move the digital piano out to the patio where we could sing and play (and grill sausage and hot dogs). It was a lot of fun.
I was fortunate enough to have had the best piano teacher in our area when I was younger, and I certainly identify with the desire to have a quality piano. One of our chief concerns with designing the floor plan of our new house is deciding where we will put my mother's baby grand that has been promised us at some point in the future. That said, I have been very pleased with the Clav.
I also second the motion that volume control is a nice feature to have.
Best of luck in your quest-
Tim
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Advice in Choosing a Piano
