Guide to buying a new/used piano

Upgrading upright piano

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Started by

Gigi74

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Opening post by Gigi74

Posts
6
City
Cagliari

Hello,

I am Gino, I am 40 years old.

In 2008 and 2009 I took lessons for two years, then I stopped completely for 5 years. Since November 2015 I have resumed and I try to dedicate 1.5 - 2 hours a day five days a week. I study as a hobby in my free time.

I have a Siheko upright piano, 107 cm tall, which was bought 30 years ago when my wife started studying (she took 10 years of lessons but then stopped and plays rarely).

This piano has a sound that I like (at least compared to a few other pianos I have tried in shops. I remember, for example, that I didn't like the sound of some Yamahas and Kawais. When my wife plays it, I cannot say that it doesn't have an important "sound volume". It was valued by our trusted tuner as new at approximately €4000 - max €5000.

Thowever, I wonder what it would be like if the same piano had longer strings and a larger soundboard, say 130-135 cm tall...

For this reason, I have looked online at some models that piqued my curiosity (even though I cannot try them easily because I live in Cagliari and the piano selection is not as wide as in Rome) with the idea that if I continue studying, I would consider purchasing one next year:

Petrof P 135 K1; http://www.petrof.com/pianino-p-135-k1.html

W.HOFFMANN VISION V131 BLACK POLYESTER http://www.intermusic.com/products/acoustic-pianos/hoffmann/HOFV131BP

I should add that I also like tall upright pianos aesthetically.

I found these pianos in Rome for about 10K Euro... which is a very significant amount for me...

Assuming they have a sound that I like, what pleasure could I derive from them, would you recommend purchasing them? Would you alternatively recommend other pianos in the same price range or slightly more?

My wife, mindful of my abandonment of study 5 years ago, tells me it would be better to wait a few years until I am, eventually, more capable of consciously evaluating the purchase...

http://www.petrof.com/pianino-p-135-k1.htmlhttp://www.intermusic.com/products/acoustic-pianos/hoffmann/HOFV131BP

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Reply 2 by giovannip

Posts
553

Hi Gigi74, welcome, I'm glad you want to start playing the piano again. Personally, I own a Yamaha "U3" which is just the height you desire (alt. 131) and I am happy with it (to be honest, I would like to switch to a grand); I don't know how the pianos you saw sound, but they cost a fortune; with 10,000 euros you can buy a grand in good condition, and with half that money you can buy an almost new upright. If I were you, I would listen to your wife (wives, after all, are always right); wait a little bit so you can see if it is true love or just a crush.

P.s. you say that you like the sound of your piano, so why change then?

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Reply 3 by Gigi74

Posts
6
City
Cagliari

Hello and thank you for the response.

I like the sound of my piano, but I would be curious to hear the same piano with longer strings and a larger soundboard...

For this reason, even though it is not easy living in Cagliari, I would like to try upright pianos of more significant dimensions (my Shieko is 107 cm tall).

Staying with uprights, I don't know if spending more is worth it, in terms of sound quality and keyboard "precision"..

Is the abyss with a small grand so large? For a small grand, I would have to enlarge the living room; it is feasible, but for now my wife does not agree...

Perhaps I could continue studying, save my money, and try to convince her in the coming years...

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