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  • Piano Purchase

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    Hello people,

    I have been wanting to buy a piano for sometime now. All my instruments are virtual and I really feel like owning a real instrument. Since I play the piano/keyboard - I would like to buy an upright piano that really inspires me. Of course, I do not have big bucks to spend.

    I am also not a great piano player. I am self taught but would really like to own a real piano. I am sick on my S 90 ES sound. I used to play a grand back in school and a detuned piano in university but I think now it may be time to buy one - if I can get some money together.

    Here is the problem - There are hardly any good piano showrooms here in Mumbai, India. So it is not going to be possible for me to test a lot of pianos. There is a new Steinway showroom - which I am going to check out soon. I have played Steinway before and also Bechstein, Yamaha - in a rare chance for a few mins - a bosendorfer.

    I am looking for a softer sound - not like the Yamaha U series - which were crap when I tried those. I want an inspiring sound. Again, it can only be an upright and budget is tight. Somethign I can use to compose and also record obviously. 

    Any ideas where I can start?

    Thanks...

    Best,

    Tanuj. 
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    For such a major purchase, I would travel somewhere and play the actual instrument I'm going to buy.

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    I guess you talk about an upright pianoforte and not a Flügel.

    I remember that when pianos are exported to damp climate regions for privat use, they undergo some special treatment which make them more resistant against the higher humidity, The climate is rather dry all over Europe compared to other places. The manufacturer may even ask you for a humidity log for a whole year of your area.If you do not want that your piano loses the brilliance within short time, you better talk to the manufacturer about that.
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    I have worked 8 months in the Republic of Maldives as a piano player.

    Mumbay is in the sea as well. According to wikipedia:

    "The climate of the city, being in the tropical zone, and near the Arabian Sea, may be broadly classified into two main seasons — the humid season, and the dry season. The humid season, between March and October, is characterized by high humidity and temperatures of over 30 °C (86 °F). Between June and September, the monsoon rains lash the city supplying most of the city's annual rainfall of 2,200 millimetres (86.6 in). "

    With such a climate you need almost 2 visits a year of a technician to tune up the piano. But worse, you get all the strings rustied in a very few years.

    More on you can't text a piano in a country and then expect it sounds the same in another and every piano is different from the others.

    I would buy a good digital piano like a kawai mp8 or similar and some good speakers and forget the acoustic piano unless you go for a grandpiano and think about spending a ton for mantenance.

    Ciao

    Sergino
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    The proper temperature and humidity controlled room should solve this problem.

    Since you seem to be attracted by Steinway, an old German Steinway Klavier, also known as Flügelersatz and today sold as model K-132 is pretty good, and bought revised from a piano builder is even satisfactory for home recording and may cost 5000-10000 USD, however there are not many on the second hand market. The maintanance of personal owned grand piano for recording cost a rudiculous amount of money. Today I have a Schmidt-Flohr made in 1928, the tuning is at A=336Hz and therefor unusable for recordings in today orchestra pitch of 442Hz.
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     Dear Mr. Tanuj,

    Why dont you try one of the finest world's best japanese pianos 'Kawai' at juhu (Opposite to Amitabh Bacchan's old bunglow). Its an amazing place to check out the pianos and also you get a huge variety there. There are about 9 upright pianos to check and 2 Grands and about 6 digital pianos.

    So i would recommend you for any of the Kawai pianos as it's famous for its singing tone and good quality and Kawai pianos are tropicalized which doesnt get affect by the climatic conditions in mumbai and also doesnt require tunning frequently and also thier digital pianos sampling is done from Concert Grand pianos.

    Just try it out ...

    Amit 
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     Mr. Tanuj,

    <>  

    Well I m working here at Kawai showroom  as a Marketing Excecutive. Tanuj, What i just want is you to drop in once at our showroom and check out our new range of K- series pianos which has got an Millenium - 3 Action and is also to be known as the fastest responsive action and also fully tropicalized and we have got 2 baby grands with the same action ( New Range ) .

    <>You should try it out atleast once this new pianos..... !!!! These pianos are completely 'Made In Japan' and has got ABS action and also this pianos doesnt ask for tunning over a year.

    When had you come here last and whom did you meet (if you remember) ??? 

    Amit 
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    I bought a Yamaha YUS 5 last year - I´m quite happy with it, although of course it´s not a Grotrian-Steinweg (which I like best of all uprights) or a Steinway or a Boesendorfer. Boston could be an option (the grands are fantastic), but upgrading to a Steinway Upright... If You have the budget to buy a Steinway Upright, I would prefer a Boston Grand. I also thought of waiting for the upcoming Boesendorfer CEUSmaster, which is only a Masterkeyboard and will be "driven" by a sampled Boesendorfer Imperial. But of course "real" sound is more inspiring.
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    Mr. Tanuj

    Boston pianos are made by the Kawai factory in Japan but the Boston pianos do not have the  Kawai ABS Carbon jack action; thus you are getting the better piano option with Kawai at a very good price.

    And if you want we can also import Grortian piano for you from Germany.
    I would definately recommend that you take a look at these Kawai pianos specially Grands.

    Amit

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    Hi Tanuj Have you bought one now? I have one for sale. My brother played it all the time but is currently in Brussels, and plans on staying on there. It is a B Otto (German) stand up piano. Regards Pearl
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    Hi Tanuj, I hve a family heirloom i.e. a Broadwood English upright Piano which is need of tuning and some repairs - would u be interested to buy it on a "as is" basis - I can arrange a showing - cheers
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    Hi Pearl, May be late..I am looking to buy a used Upright Piano.(for my daughter) If u still have the piano ur brother used to play pl.reply in the new post... navin
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    Hi laba, I am looking to buy a used piano for my 7 yr old daughter. Please let me know if and when u can arrange a showing.Thanks... navin

    @laba said:

    Hi Tanuj, I hve a family heirloom i.e. a Broadwood English upright Piano which is need of tuning and some repairs - would u be interested to buy it on a "as is" basis - I can arrange a showing - cheers
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    Hey Navin, Why are you looking for an old piano ???  You will only keep repairing it and always look for a tuner. Old pianos require much of a tunning and much of 

    Maintenance
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    Hi Amit, Today i went to Furtados n checked B Steiner, Pearl River and Ritmuller which one u think is good ? Pearl River suits fine with my budget. What do u suggest ? navin
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    Good morning Navin,

    Noooooo ..... Dont go for Pearl river or B Steiners. Dont go for chinese or indonesian piano, rather go for 2nd hand then as these pianos are waste of money coz after some time specially in rainy season u'll find the sticking of keys, pianos goes off tune very often and you require allintment of the keys again n again.

    you can either go for Yamaha (Japanese Models) or any of the Kawai Pianos as these are tropicalized pianos. Why dont you try Kawai ?? you know thier new showroom in juhu ??
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    Hi Amit, What is the price range of Kawai pianos ? navin
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    Navin,

    There are different series with different prices with a huge range of Digital, upright & Grand Pianos. But there is one really good digital piano (CE-200) with Grand Piano wooden keys touch and it has won excellent reviews. You could consider trying that piano as well. Thier is vast wide range of pianos, why dont u visit Kawai showroom or else pls feel free to call me at +91 9820912138.

    Just for your information, There are some good discounts going on with Kawai these days.

    Amit.
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    Hi Amit, I finally purchased Pearl River from Furtados... navin

    @amit_theme said:

    Navin,

    There are different series with different prices with a huge range of Digital, upright & Grand Pianos. But there is one really good digital piano (CE-200) with Grand Piano wooden keys touch and it has won excellent reviews. You could consider trying that piano as well. Thier is vast wide range of pianos, why dont u visit Kawai showroom or else pls feel free to call me at +91 9820912138.

    Just for your information, There are some good discounts going on with Kawai these days.

    Amit.
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    Congrats on your purchase .... But u have made a big mistake by buying Pearl. Now get ready to invest a lot of money on repairing your piano every often, tunning every often. Anyways good luch with your piano.

    Amit