Newbie needs help on baby grand $5000 or so USD

[GOD]

I'm buying this for my wife. She wants a gloss back baby grand. She
does not play at all --yet -- and I play as badly as one can, but we
are both planning on lessons.

I've been to a few piano stores and played a few, but I'm way out of my
depth here as I own electronic keyboards only.

What brand should I consider and which should I avoid?
Where on Usenet or the web should I be do my due diligence?

I've been to a few stores and have played about 2 dozen pianos so far,
but it's a daunting task for this neophyte so any tips, pointers,
links. etc. would be much appreciated.

We do need a small baby given our available space, and we are not
interested in an upright.

Looking to stay within about $5K but can go higher and would love to go
lower.

Thanks in advance for any guidance and sorry if this isn't an
appropriate group for this posting.

P.S. We play pop and classical and are in the NY/NJ area.

[CTessier]

Post by GOD
I'm buying this for my wife. She wants a gloss back baby grand. She
does not play at all --yet -- and I play as badly as one can, but we
are both planning on lessons.
I've been to a few piano stores and played a few, but I'm way out of my
depth here as I own electronic keyboards only.
What brand should I consider and which should I avoid?
Where on Usenet or the web should I be do my due diligence?
I've been to a few stores and have played about 2 dozen pianos so far,
but it's a daunting task for this neophyte so any tips, pointers,
links. etc. would be much appreciated.
We do need a small baby given our available space, and we are not
interested in an upright.
Looking to stay within about $5K but can go higher and would love to go
lower.
Thanks in advance for any guidance and sorry if this isn't an
appropriate group for this posting.
P.S. We play pop and classical and are in the NY/NJ area.
--
Uh

Hello,

If you are newbies I would recommend that you start with a digital piano, the Yamaha Clavinova is a good one, one of the best. And it might correspond to your budget. If your wife is intent on a baby grand I would recommend maybe the Knabe made in Korea. I don't know if they make baby grand, we have a 5' 8" from their Concert Artist series (the Baltimore design). By the way the first piano bought by the NY Metropolitan Opera was a Knabe made in Baltimore. And a couple of years one my cousin had his Knabe 1915 sold when he decided to retire definitely, at over 90 years of age.

Christian

[Michael Joel]

Post by GOD
I'm buying this for my wife. She wants a gloss back baby grand. She
does not play at all --yet -- and I play as badly as one can, but we
are both planning on lessons.
I've been to a few piano stores and played a few, but I'm way out of my
depth here as I own electronic keyboards only.
What brand should I consider and which should I avoid?
Where on Usenet or the web should I be do my due diligence?
I've been to a few stores and have played about 2 dozen pianos so far,
but it's a daunting task for this neophyte so any tips, pointers,
links. etc. would be much appreciated.
We do need a small baby given our available space, and we are not
interested in an upright.
Looking to stay within about $5K but can go higher and would love to go
lower.
Thanks in advance for any guidance and sorry if this isn't an
appropriate group for this posting.
P.S. We play pop and classical and are in the NY/NJ area.

Hi,
If you want to play piano buy a piano - if you want to play a digital
buy a digital.

Investing $5k in a digital is not going to hold value like a piano
will. So if in a year both of you decide you don't want to play - with a
digital you will have a hard time selling for even near cost (since
digitals depreciate about as fast as your home computer). On the other
hand an acoustic piano (a real piano) is going to retain value for a lot
longer and depreciate a lot slower.

If I was to be bold enough to give a lot of advice I would suggest you
not be in to big a hurry to buy "new". You can make your money stretch
further if you go for a used (but good quality) piano.
Of course you *may* be taking a bigger chance - but if you get a local
piano technician to look over the piano before you buy you can be a lot
more sure of what you are getting.

So here are a few suggestions:

Whether or not you decide to look at new pianos or on the private
market, first go to a better quality show room and try a few pianos you
will *never* afford (leave your check book, and credit cards at home!).
This will give you a reference for what really good quality feels and
sounds like. Spend a good while trying different pianos. If the show
room has a few lower quality instruments then toss some of those in for
contrast. Just tell the sales person your trying to get an idea of the
style of piano you prefer.

Decide on new or try looking at the private market before going new.
Knabe used to be an excellent maker. But so were so many other makers
that are now made in Asia and many times to a much lower standard than
they used to be - and by completely different companies.
A Knabe from 1915 is not the same instrument as a 2012 Knabe. If I had
the choice of a 1915 Knabe in good condition or a 2012 Knabe - I would
grab the 1915. Modern Knabes are not the ones the Opera chose. I am not
pushing a Knabe, there are plenty of old great pianos. A general rule is
1930 or *older* is a safer bet on most quality instruments. After 1930
many makers started falling apart and the names were sold off to other
businesses that made the piano, usually, to a much much lower quality.

With the idea of what you heard and felt start trying different instruments.

When you find a piano you want then call in a local piano technician (no
- it is not important if he/she is a member of the piano
tuner's/technician's guild. The P.T.G. tries to "scare" people away from
technician who are not members- but the truth is there are plenty of
excellent technicians who are not members and plenty of mediocre ones
who are). He/She will look the instrument over and be able to tell you
what is wrong with it, what work it will need, and from that they should
be able to give you a good idea of a fair price. *Note* that this is a
good idea even if you are buying new. Some will try to tell you there
aren't any really bad instruments made anymore - ok, I think the answer
will be obvious.

Make an offer. You don't have to pay the "asking" price. Most of the
time the seller doesn't really expect to get it anyway - for new piano
show rooms they have usually marked it up and aren't going to be shocked
at a lower offer.

[laraine]

I'm buying this for my wife.  She wants a gloss back baby grand.  She
does not play at all --yet --  and I play as badly as one can, but we
are both planning on lessons.
I've been to a few piano stores and played a few, but I'm way out of my
depth here as I own electronic keyboards only.
What brand should I consider and which should I avoid?
Where on Usenet or the web should I be do my due diligence?
I've been to a few stores and have played about 2 dozen pianos so far,
but it's a daunting task for this neophyte so any tips, pointers,
links. etc. would be much appreciated.
We do need a small baby given our available space, and we are not
interested in an upright.
Looking to stay within about $5K but can go higher and would love to go
lower.
Thanks in advance for any guidance and sorry if this isn't an
appropriate group for this posting.
P.S. We play pop and classical and are in the NY/NJ area.
--
Uh

For some reason, I'm reminded of that
funny episode of "The Jeffersons" from
long ago when George buys I think a 16'
grand for his apartment, probably to impress
his friends. Then when it is brought in,
and they have a party, no one has any room,
and some are crawling under it to go to
the other side of the room.

If you find a good quality grand for 5K,
let us know!! I recall being in a piano
shop many years ago, just looking for
fun, and I recall the price ranges being
from about $17000 to over 30K.

I don't think you can even get a good
upright for such a low price.

Maybe the used market...

C.

[laraine]

Post by laraine

I'm buying this for my wife.  She wants a gloss back baby grand.  She
does not play at all --yet --  and I play as badly as one can, but we
are both planning on lessons.
I've been to a few piano stores and played a few, but I'm way out of my
depth here as I own electronic keyboards only.
What brand should I consider and which should I avoid?
Where on Usenet or the web should I be do my due diligence?
I've been to a few stores and have played about 2 dozen pianos so far,
but it's a daunting task for this neophyte so any tips, pointers,
links. etc. would be much appreciated.
We do need a small baby given our available space, and we are not
interested in an upright.
Looking to stay within about $5K but can go higher and would love to go
lower.
Thanks in advance for any guidance and sorry if this isn't an
appropriate group for this posting.
P.S. We play pop and classical and are in the NY/NJ area.
--
Uh

For some reason, I'm reminded of that
funny episode of "The Jeffersons" from
long ago when George buys I think a 16'
grand for his apartment,

I suppose he might have rented it,
which could also be an option.

Grand pianos seem to be a good
investment anyway.

C.

[Michael Joel]

Post by laraine
If you find a good quality grand for 5K,
let us know!! I recall being in a piano
shop many years ago, just looking for
fun, and I recall the price ranges being
from about $17000 to over 30K.
I don't think you can even get a good
upright for such a low price.
Maybe the used market...
C.

$5k for a grand will not be easy - but a used grand can be found for it.
It won't be a Steinway, and it will likely need some work - but if your
not needing everything just right - you can get an ok used *baby* grand.
In fact I know sometimes (if your patient) you can pick up a good name
used grand for free - it will need a good bit to make it really nice but
you usually end up with something usually *much* better than you can buy
off the new market for the same amount.

If you can't find a very good used upright for $5k you need to look in
the right places. We could very likely get an good name (an old Knabe
for example) upright for free/or less than $800 and probably get it in
excellent shape for the other $4k (probably with a refinish job). It all
of course depends on what you start with and what needs doing. Getting
it's mechanics in good shape is #1, then the rest..... of course there
are some who feel the reverse is more important :/










----------

Michael Parks



For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,
being understood through what has been made,
so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God,
they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became
futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
- Romans 1:20-21 (NASB)