Hello everyone!
First of all, let me introduce myself: I am almost 40 years old and I play the piano, with many ups and downs, as a hobby since I was a child, although never at an excellent level. I have no ambitions of being a concert pianist, nor any desire to return to the Conservatory.
At my parents' house, I have always played a 110 cm Schimmel upright, which I am very happy with. Now having to get a piano of my own for my new home, where I am the only one playing, with a maximum budget of ā¬6,000, I am very torn between:
- A new Kawai K200 with the Any Time AX2 system from the factory;
- A used 155 cm Schimmel 1/4 grand from 1982, which I would buy from a private individual, a former Conservatory student.
The prices of the two instruments are equivalent, even if the conditions are certainly not the same (on the new one, I would have a 5-year warranty and 2 years on the silent system; 2 tunings and transport included; etc.).
I live in a semi-detached house in the countryside, with my husband and a baby on the way. This is also where the idea of choosing a silent piano comes from, so that perhaps I could play it while the baby is resting or in the evening after work. Unfortunately, a piano with a factory silent system forces me to choose between Yamaha and Kawai. While recognizing the technological superiority of the former (especially regarding the SH and TA systems), I prefer Kawai for its sweeter, more mysterious timbre and generally better suitability for my repertoire (Chopin, Schumann, Schubert, etc.).
A digital piano, excuse me, but I wouldn't even consider it...
I am trying to consider all the factors at play, such as potential resale value in the future, the prestige of the two brands, etc. So, let's get to my questions:
1. At the same price, what is your opinion on the two instruments, based on your experience, sound quality, and mechanical reliability?
2. Is it right in these cases, for such an "emotional" purchase as a piano, to also consider economic reasoning regarding the future depreciation of the instrument? That is, I buy the new Kawai today for ā¬6,000 and in a year it will be worth ā¬3,000; whereas the Schimmel, having already largely depreciated, I might be able to resell it one day for roughly the same amount I pay today. Is this correct?
3. I know the Schimmel well; however, is the Kawai K200 a reliable instrument? A dealer (Yamaha) I spoke with told me very bad things about the internal carbon parts instead of wood, and about the fact that no one can predict what will happen to the mechanics of these pianos in 10, 20, or 30 years... Is it true?
Thank you in advance for your answers and see you soon!
