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Culture vultures

Any pianists around - does this seem like a good offer to you?

30 replies

JonesTheSteam · 10/05/2006 18:26

Have posted this in chat as well, but not getting much of a response!!!

\link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CRANES-CJS-112T-UPRIGHT-PIANO-OVERSTRUNG-4-COLOURS-NEW_W0QQitemZ7412728939QQcategoryZ16220QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\here}

Have finally decided to buy a new piano. Does this look too good to be true?

The music shop in question is about 10 miles away from my house, and I have been a customer there for other things in the past. Could go and 'visit' the piano this week, to get an idea. But have never bought a piano before and it's a lot of money.

Have looked at 2nd hand ones but they've been about the £1250 mark anyway.

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suenorth · 10/05/2006 18:36

I'm not a pianist but dh is. He says a good upright, new, would cost at least 3,000. He also says best way to check quality if it's a make you don't know is just to go and try it and see how it sounds, and how the weight of the keys feel to you. If you don't play yourself do you have a friend who does who you could take?

DH hasn't heard of Cranes before but you might find reviews if you Google them, if you haven't already. If the retailer has Yamaha pianos too you could try playing both for a comparison (Yamaha being generally excellent quality). Dunno if any of that helps - maybe another MNr will know more

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JonesTheSteam · 10/05/2006 18:45

Thanks suenorth - I am a pianist - think I will pop in and have a look at the pianos on Friday.

Cranes are a well respected music shop in Cardiff - been going for years and have always had an excellent reputation (AFAIK) for supplying and maintenance of pianos. Don't know how long they've been making their own though.

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Californifrau · 23/05/2006 05:12

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threebob · 23/05/2006 07:31

This piano looks to me like a Kemble piano made under the name of the shop. They make Chappell pianos also.

Ask where it is made - if it's Milton Keynes it's a Kemble.

They also make some Yamaha pianos in the UK in the same factory.

I haven't sold a piano in around 8 years so have no idea what they cost - but it's worth asking the shop what it would be comparable to - and they may even tell you what it "really" is. I always did.

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FloatingOnTheMed · 23/05/2006 07:56

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jura · 23/05/2006 13:44

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JonesTheSteam · 23/05/2006 17:05

Yes - did get my piano - it was supposed to be arriving tonight but they had a problem finding an address today so the driver has done his maximum hours .

Coming tomorrow morning now at 10 am!!!!

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cupcakes · 23/05/2006 17:12

have you booked a piano tuner?

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JonesTheSteam · 23/05/2006 17:13

Free first tuning with the piano - will be arranged after delivery !!

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cupcakes · 23/05/2006 17:16

that's good - is that because you are local to the shop?

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cupcakes · 23/05/2006 17:18

oh, I see - it says it on the listing. I'm really tempted by it too. I'm only short of £1390.

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cupcakes · 23/05/2006 17:19

I've been told that you have to leave a piano for a couple of weeks before tuning as the climatising will alter any tuning that is done too early.

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Californifrau · 23/05/2006 17:23

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JonesTheSteam · 23/05/2006 17:29

Wasn't my address they had trouble finding, Californifrau, but no doubt we'll get a phone call in the morning saying, 'Where exactly are you?' (Our house has been here nearly 10 years now - you'd think it would be on a bloody map by now!!!)

I haven't 'lived' with a piano for about 12 years. Do occasionally play my mum's when I'm over there. (It never gets played but they couldn't bear to part with it!!)

Will be horrendously out of practice, but am looking forward to it being here.

DH in the US of A at the moment (Rockford, Illinois) so I can have plenty of time to play it for the next few days.

Shall I send him round for a cuppa?

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FloatingOnTheMed · 23/05/2006 17:41

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Californifrau · 23/05/2006 17:42

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JonesTheSteam · 23/05/2006 17:48

LOL!!!!

How's it going - have you started looking at houses yet?

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Californifrau · 23/05/2006 17:53

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JonesTheSteam · 23/05/2006 17:57

My parents' piano currently sports a candlestick, a wooden metronome (about which my gran said, 'Maybe they'll let you have it!', entirely forgetting that it was my sixteenth birthday present from her!!!!), a fruit bowl, and the occasional birthday card.

It makes me cross really - couldn't see why they wouldn't rather it went somewhere where it gets played.

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Californifrau · 23/05/2006 18:08

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cupcakes · 24/05/2006 15:53

Has it arrived today?

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JonesTheSteam · 24/05/2006 16:57

Yes it has, cupcakes.

It's sitting in my study - all shiny and black. Have rather neglected DS today though as I have a good couple of hours playing on it.

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cupcakes · 24/05/2006 17:01

oh good. Am glad you are pleased - did you get the ebony one?
I totally can't afford it at the moment but I will earmark them for the future if you think they're good.
(I can't play at all well - very basic, I need lessons. Ds has just started lessons and our old piano is too rubbish for even his standard...)

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JonesTheSteam · 24/05/2006 17:28

Yes - went for the ebony one. Went to see them in the shop. Didn't like the pale one (looked like a schoo piano IYKWIM!!). The others were nice, but we've got light coloured furniture in our study (and bright red walls) so it goes really well.

We've been really lucky - totally unexpected compensation from the endowment mortgage we took out originally. Otherwise, we'd be looking in the free-ads!!!!!!

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JonesTheSteam · 24/05/2006 17:38

school piano - sorry

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