Choosing an acoustic piano for grades 7/8

[PianoMuddle]

Hi does anyone have any advice? Looking to upgrade from a basic compact upright. DC starting grade 7 and needs something less ‘heavy’ on the keys, and just all-round better really.
Budget up to £4-5k max but ideally more around £3k. Teacher has advised which manufacturers but beyond that we have just been trying out a range. The Yamaha B series are within budget new but are these good enough? Piano shop advised U1 or 3 better but they are £++ even reconditioned and also quite large! It’s not like she is going to be performing on it, but equally it needs to be nice to play and suitable for getting the dynamics etc right in practice. Anyone? I am not musical so out of my depth!

If you can go up to £4-5k do, as with everything they’ve shot up in price recently. I’ve had a few students with Yamaha B and they’ve been absolutely fine. The reason the U1 is better is it is taller so has longer strings which means a better sound. But your budget and space restrictions are more important.

Your best bet is to go a shop and see which you’re drawn to within your budget. If you’re anywhere near Bristol I usually direct my families to Mickleburgh, they are really helpful there.

Thanks @Billybagpuss that’s helpful.
Can I ask, whilst I’m not too fussed about the improvement in sound of the U1 (as they all
sounded amazing compared to what we have!), the piano shop man said the keys are longer which makes it easier to play more advanced pieces. Is that something to worry about or is the difference only marginal? Thanks

I recently had to sell my U1 😥 (moved to 2nd floor flat with narrow entrance - yes I did investigate having it craned in!) but I sold it back to the shop I bought it from. If you’re anywhere near London I highly recommend J. Reid in St. Ann’s Road, Tottenham. We had the U1 for nearly 20 years, it’s a fantastic piano, ours had the silent system which is a bonus.

We had an overstrung I think it’s called second hand (Edwardian) piano, free off Freecycle, than got dd through grade 8, two broken strings too! An amazing piano at home will sound better when you hear practice but it’s not going to make a difference to their grade because the piano at the test centre varies, cheap and nasty out of tune for one of DD’s (only exam she failed and over half the dc failed at that centre including non piano students who got put off by the piano being not in tune) and we got a refund and an apology. Choose your test centre wisely.

Can’t it be electric?
We bought a Yamaha Clavinova years ago.
weighted keys, full octave range, different voices, record and playback.

Wow I never realised that about exams! Where was that? Mine were at the music school of Christ’s Hospital, just assumed they’d all be in suitable places!

Oh yes - we had one of these too, inherited it. My eldest loved it, their Head of Music really rated them. Can be picked up quite cheaply as they have a limited lifespan - they change the spec every few years and become obsolete once parts aren’t available (apparently) but while they’re going strong they’re superb!

DC’s teacher is adamant about it being an acoustic so although she started with a digital we quite quickly moved to a cheap upright once she got the first few grades. I know there are two camps on this, but as we already have one and not likely to move for some years I’ll stick to acoustic!

@tutugogo she’s been doing the video exams rather than in-person since covid, so records then on her teacher’s lovely piano. That’s shocking about the standard of piano being so low at an exam centre!
Fair point though about getting through on whatever you’ve got. I think I’ve just got sucked in to wanting a really gorgeous instrument. When we started looking I had said no more than 2k 🫣

@Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit thanks for the recommendation, we’re not a million miles away. Yes when I think about how long I/she might have it then I err towards spending more and getting a really good one. Did you get a good price for yours, I have heard they hold their value pretty well (poor consolation for saying goodbye, I realise)?

Unfortunately not, but tbf I’m rubbish at haggling! Do book a visit, J. Reid is a maze of rooms with so many different pianos - although just googled and I think they’ve moved to Loughton.