I saw this add on craigslist.
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/msg/960217421.html

My dream was to own a grand. But, I don't live in a grand sized aptartment and who know's when or if I will buy a place. I saw this while I was looking at grands on craigslist (I don't know why I torture myslef like that).

Since it is right in my neighborhood I thougt it can't hurt to check it out. Also, my stepfather will be in the area next week, he's been playing his whole life, and could maybe go with me to try it out...

Sometimes I wonder if I should just hold out for the grand-or would my dreams be too grand and more wishful thinking???

Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

a new U1 on the market would be around $5000-6000. if this is really that old U1, i wouldn't pay $4000 for it. it might worth no more than $2000.

The U1 is very nice, but 4K is way too much for a 50 year old upright in this market. Keep looking.

I just bought a new U1 last May 2008 and paid $5900 out the door including delivery and two tunings and a ten year warranty. I agree with the previous posts. $4K is too high for a 45 year old U1. Some say that older Yamaha's have a very bright sound. That is not my experience with my new U1. It has a very full and mellow tone that I absolutely love. If you are going to spend $4k, I'd save another $2K and buy a new one. I doubt you would regret it.

Thanks you so much!!!

I had no idea a new one would only be approx 2k more. It's definatley worth spending a little more and getting a new one with the warranties etc.

Around here, gray market U1s go for $2500, including delivery and a tuning. These pianos typically are 20 to 25 years old.

If you're looking for new pianos in $4000 range, I understand you can get a new Yamaha T118. If you'd consider some of the better Chinese pianos, I believe you'd find some good choices in there as well.

What are you playing now?

Thanks FormerFF.

I have a casio digital piano and wasn't necesarily going to purchase an accoustic right now. Maybe in a year or so when I have more $ saved and maybe a more suitable apt. I also have access to practice rooms with Steinways when I feel the need to play a real piano.

I just saw that ad on craigslist and wondered if it would be worth looking into.

If you're going to be moving around in the next few years, and get to a point where you feel that not having your own acoustic is holding you back, you might want to look into a used upright, as a starter piano.

My wife has always wanted a grand, but doesn't play often enough to justify it. We just bought one of those gray market pianos I mentioned (though ours is a Kawai). Assuming that one of us sticks with his or her lessons for the next three or four years, we just might wind up getting the grand. I understand that a 5' 6" - 6" grand from one of the better Chinese or Indonesian factories would sell for $7,000 - $12,000, and we might be able to swing that in four years or so.

If you're still at the point in your life where you are going to be moving around frequently, the grand may well be more of a handicap than a blessing. Plus, would you have room for one? We are at a point in our lives where we haven't moved in 10 years and probably won't for another 20, and we live in an area where the houses are unjustifiably large, so our situations are different, I suspect. You may want to wait until your life is more settled before buying that grand.

Sound advice FormerFF-Thank you.

I really like where I live now and would probably only move if I was going to buy...

"we live in an area where the houses are unjustifiably large, so our situations are different, I suspect"

Your so right- I live in an area were apts are unjustifiably small. Luckily I found a place that is a nice size.