Used piano, any recommendation?

[PandaBear]

Wife want to get a piano. The one she grew up with was with her folks and she doesn't want to take it away from them due to their emotional attachment.

So we are going for an upright used one if possible. No need to be top notch but wouldn't want something that falls apart in 3 years (hope it last 10-20 years if possible).

Any suggestion? I was told Yamaha U1 or the equivalent Kawai are good, used price seems to be about 2.5k before moving charge.

 

[XS650]

Check Craig's list, there are lots of them on the Bay Area list.

A friend here in the Sacramento area just donated a real nice upright player piano (could also be played normally) because it wouldn't sell for $400 on Craigs List. I'm not suggesting a player piano, that's just what I had a recent experience with.

She even had trouble donating it because the charities have them in the warehouses and can't move them at any sane price.

 

[simple_gifts]

Please take a look @ digital pianos. To some people this is absolute taboo, but they practicality is unparalleled. I lived in one house that had a 1900's era Chickering and another house that had a Steinway; both great instruments, but one has to be committed to temperature and humidity control, else your "investment" goes into the toilet.

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Cont...D600150,00.html

These are not "Casio" type instruments; look great in a home.

Totally affordable, no tuning, weighted keys; advanced features like different piano sounds, (rinky tink, full concert, upright etc), reverb, sequencers built it. Virtually immune to temperature differences. Amp and speaker systems are designed specifically for the instrument and the timbre.

I bought a Roland HP3000 back in 1987 and have carted it all over the place and I still have it.

 

[GeaugaFletcher]

I'd keep an eye on Craigslist, to be honest. You're likely to find one in good enough shape that it'll work just fine for your purposes, once it's been tuned and had the likely minor repairs.

New, Yamaha sounds like a good recommendation, maybe Boston as well.

Digital is cheaper and easier, but it's a matter of whether you want the real thing or an imitation - that's my advice as a musician.

 

[PandaBear]

Can't consider digital piano. Wife knows piano enough that digital isn't her cup of tea (like auto transmission or CVT for many piston heads). Acoustic only.

Looking at craigslist right now, so far seems like there are decent deals around if not too picky.

 

[PandaBear]

Got a "Palantino" Upright from a store that is downsizing. This store (Colton) was subleasing from Levitz and eversince Levitz close down, they have no traffic to the store, and need to relocate to a smaller location. Recession didn't help either.

We checked the conditions of used piano from private sales on craigslist, and wife doesn't like it because 1) they usually are too old and in bad shape if they are cheap, 2) they are gray market pianos from Asia climate, not a good idea, 3) reputable Yamaha or Kawai cost just as much as a new Chinese piano, 4) we don't have the know how to check the piano, but can notice the quality of sound.

So in the end, we found this Palatino 50" that MSRP for $5500 and we managed to bargain it down to $3400 before shipping ($150) and tax. It sounds great (was told that it is a high tension piano, but with a low vac cast iron plate), better than a Yamaha U1, and matches the house. It also has 10 year full warranty, and the company (importer) is actually in Brisbane, within 10 miles from my wife's workplace (South SF), so if they refuse to honor warranty we are going to kick their rear end.

The only down size is it is Chinese and has only been in the market since 2006. The factory suppose to be a good musical instrument factory in Shanghai for a few decades (started before China becomes communist).

If this thing die, the money we save (about $2800) can buy us a used Yamaha U1, so I guess the risk factor is covered.