Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Buying a piano - where do I start

39 replies

Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 17:15

I am looking for a good quality piano. Currently DS is practicing on an advanced digital, but his teacher is adamant that we should switch it to an acoustic piano ASAP. Our budget is up to 5k, but would love not to spend over 3.5k if possible.

I really don’t have a clue about brands of pianos. I looked at some online, but a bit worried I will overpay if buying from a showroom or buy something unsuitable on Ebay. The teacher is not very helpful, I tried asking her for advice on this matter with no luck. Are there any trustworty showrooms in London? Do I bite the bullet and bid on eBay? What brand should I be looking for? We have a very awkward entrance, so ideally it should be as compact as possible...

OP posts:
Theworldisfullofgs · 13/04/2019 17:19

Have a look in the local paper. Lots of people get rid of pianos nowadays. Go and try it out - it's as much as about feel as of sound.
Often an old piano might be put of tune but perfectly ok after a couple of times tuning it. Second hand pianos are surprisingly cheap.
It might be worth asking a piano tuner for some advice or some leads. I'm a pianist but we dont really get taught about pianos in the same way violinists are taught about violins.
And I agree with the teacher, the best fake piano, doesn't have the same action under the fingers as a real piano, even the weighted ones.

Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 17:30

I agree about digital - DS is struggling on grand pianos, says it feels different, I am starting to understand why we were advised against buying the digital one in the first place...

OP posts:
Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 17:32

It’s just a bit unnerving - buying a piano from a stranger for several thousands of pounds without having a clue about what to look for. I don’t know any piano tuners and I expect I’ll have to pay for their expertise. I wish DS could continue on his digital...

OP posts:
Ilikethinkingupnewnames · 13/04/2019 17:35

They don't hold their price. I'd recommend paying a piano tuner to visit a few from Gumtree. They are so heavy to move most are cheap or free. If they have been tuned regularly then they are easy to tune when you get them home.

BikeRunSki · 13/04/2019 17:36

OP, out of interest, what age/grade is your DS? I’m asking because DD has been learning on a digital for a year and I am mindful we’ll need a real piano one day.

When I was learning piano (badly) my parents hired one, from a place in N London. Muswell Hill maybe? They were called Markson Pianos.

Wiifitmama · 13/04/2019 17:47

I disagree about digital ones. We have a yamaha digital that was around £900. We took advice before buying and were reassured that it would allow ds to go to grade 8 and beyond (he was doing grade 6 at the time). I also liked the idea that when he left home, he could take it with him as he is likely to do music at Uni and is not going to be in a position to buy a piano for thousands of pounds (and they are not exactly portable!).

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 13/04/2019 17:53

If you have a friendly tuner or teacher who is willing to spend time checking out second hand options then you can get a good deal. IIIRC 20 year old Yamaha U3s will go for within your budget - U3s are staples of university practice rooms and real workhorses. You can probably get new lower spec Yamaha and Kawaii for that kind of money.

New "European" marques for that kind of money will mostly be made in China - not necessarily a bad thing but jyou just need to know what you are paying for.

A good modern piano will have no problems in a centrally heated house. Knight, Welmar and Zimmerman are also makes that I would consider, but my own preferences would be Yamaha or Kawaii uprights for their sheer consistency and cost:price ratio. I'd also happily buy a good secondhand German made upright (Schimmel etc) but don't know enough about their history to know when they stopped being made in the EU.

Also, don't make the mistake of buying a piano too big for the room you want to put it in. Some uprights are bigger than small grands and can easily overwhelm the average sitting room.

Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 17:57

DS is 9 and “officially” grade 5, but plays pieces up to grade 8 in piano competitions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 17:59

NotAnotherJaffaCake, thank you for your advice! I was looking to busy a U3, but worried it won’t fit through the door! It is quite tall, and our entrance is very awkwardly shaped. I was looking for something slightly shorter.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 18:00

*to buy

OP posts:
NotAnotherJaffaCake · 13/04/2019 18:06

I have the YUS1, which is the pimped up U1. It was a choice between the YUS1 or the standard U3 for the same money and the YUS was slightly sweeter, and the U3 would have been too big for our room(and possibly our neighbors).

Also don't worry about it fitting, piano movers can bend the space time continuum to get pianos in. But there is no way I would use anything other than specialist piano movers.

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 13/04/2019 18:08

Also - budget for tuning every 6 -9 months at around £80-90 a pop.

PlumCakeChica · 13/04/2019 18:09

We went to a piano shop in the next town to us and bought a second hand starter piano, upright German one for around a £1000. It’s been amazing for my dc to learn on. We need to upgrade now as they progress through the grades but I would always visit a specialist shop. And I speak as someone who buys literally everything online!

Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 18:10

Thanks again! Will have a look now.

OP posts:
RomanyQueen1 · 13/04/2019 18:10

Don't buy second hand unless you take a tuner with you.
Some Pianos are untunable making them a false economy.
If it isn't already in tune with your tuner, don't risk it.
Also moving them can make them untunable too, so I just wouldn't bother.
Look at different providers in your nearest town/city ime

Atalune · 13/04/2019 18:11

I would go to a local independent piano store and ask for their advice. You may be able to get something second hand from them. At least you’d know it was reputable.

Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 18:12

Thank you PlumCake. I’d like to buy something that would not need an upgrade for the next few years. I am already traumatised by this piano buying business. It is so much harder than buying other string instruments.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notafootballmum · 13/04/2019 18:13

RomanyQeen, that’s was my main fear - buying something that will turn out a false economy.

OP posts:
folkmamma · 13/04/2019 21:00

We've got a Kemble and it's fantastic.

The Piano Gallery in Faringdon, Oxfordshire are brilliant and will deliver to a wide geographical area.

Trumpetdad · 14/04/2019 00:29

Have a look at Mark Goodwin Pianos for second hand Yamahas. Lots of info on their website on how to select a piano and very good value with fantastic service.

BackforGood · 14/04/2019 00:34

Another who would ask piano tuners. If your ds is playing in competitions, ask other parents. Each time we've upgraded, we've been lucky enough to get a piano either free, or for a small amount of money, by being "in a chain" of someone upgrading to a professional standard piano, and needing to get rid of theirs. Piano teacher and piano tuners are often asked if they know anyone who needs / is looking for a piano. If your ds is playing in competitions, you must come into contact with other people with pianos, and they will have tuners.
It is the same as getting a mechanic to come with you to look at a car. YOu'd be daft to go and give a stranger £4K for a car if you know nothing about cars, and in the same way, it would be a good investment to take an expert with you to look at a few pianos. Seriously, people give them away sometimes - you'd just have to arrange transportation.

Original poster
Notafootballmum · 14/04/2019 00:56

I am very grateful for all the advice I got on this thread, all very helpful! I am also going to look at brand new pianos at a showroom tomorrow, will take DS with me to try them out.

OP posts:
SpoonBlender · 14/04/2019 01:07

If you do end up considering an electric piano, the Roland ep880 was what we ended up with after much research and playing, and it sounds great and feels as good as middling range mechanical piano. They cost a couple of hundred quid second hand.

Original poster
Notafootballmum · 14/04/2019 01:38

We already own a very high quality electric piano, because we thought it would last, but unfortunately it’s not cutting it at this level of playing anymore :( DS is really feeling at disadvantage now when competing against children who practice daily for hours on grand pianos or professional uprights.

OP posts:
INeedNewShoes · 14/04/2019 02:10

Even buying second hand from a shop I would pay a piano tuner to go with you, or someone else who can really advise.

With even your lower budget you should be able to get something really good if you take your time over it.

I've had really good experiences with Yamaha and Kawaii uprights that will be available in within your budget. Even if the sound of many of the Yamahas isn't to my taste they are good reliable pianos.

Different pianos sound really quite different so in order to avoid being cornered into upgrading again at a later date your DS needs to play all contenders and be the one to make the choice.

Swipe left for the next trending thread