What do you think of this 2003 Steinway 1098 for $9,500 on http://www.countrypiano.com/showroom.html?

Background - I have been living in Connecicut and commuting to Manhattan for my work (tax lawyer) and have a 2006 Steinway O at the house. I recently bought a studio apartment in NYC because the commuting was becoming hazardous to my health. So my house in the CT suburbs now becomes my "house in the country." (I'm single with no children, so it's not like I'm abandoing my family! I do go to the house in CT on the weekends generally)

Anyway, I can't move my grand piano to the studio apartment due to lack of space but I do need a piano at the apartment so I can practice everyday. Since I have spent so much money on the 2006 O, the apartment and the renovation (and now two mortgages to pay), I have a fairly limited budget (around $5K). So what can I buy at this price point that will be satisfactory? Or should I increase my budget a bit so I will not need to upgrade soon?

(I tried a digital piano with a weighted action but it was unsatisfactory so I quickly sold it and now I'm searching for an acoustic upright.)

This 1098's price seems excellent to me since new ones are just a little over $20K. There is a Steinway Factory sale coming up this weekend in Queens, but from my past experience, the discount is usually no more than 15%, so the prices at the factory sale will not even come close.

I'm very aware of the poor price/value ratio of Steinway pianos, but I genuinely love the sound of this particular brand of pianos.

I know I probably will not get much sympathy from the forum members but your advice is greatly appreciated!!!

Personally, I am not a fan of the 1098 model. However, it is a good strong instrument with many S&S qualities and characteristics. This one is very recent and looks spotless. Likely a fair price for so recent a unit. Seems like a match for you.
New Piano Alternatives:
Yamaha U1 about $6k+
Knabe WKV121 about $6k+
Knabe WKV131 about $7k+

I'd look for a Yamaha Silent piano if you're living in an apartment - lets you play acoustic before 10:00 and digital after 10:00 - can practice 24/7 without having to hear from neighbors - has a "real" action - and the ability to play acoustic when you wish - but headphones and a digital sound when you're about to be evicted.

Price looks competitive, scanning craigslist and pianomart.com. I like the 1098 also. As compared with other uprights, it's got more of the Steinway sound (figures) that you're evidently after.

And for a take-no-prisoners playing style at 2 a.m., park yourself and your 1098 into one of these:

http://www.whisperroom.com/


I have no connection with the seller. I did wonder about one for myself, though, years ago when living in an apartment.

Thanks for your valuable advice. I will check out the brands/models mentioned.

It's always been my problem to have a champagne taste on a beer budget!

G#maj - very funny! From my informal survey with the doormen, apparently there are about 5 people in the builidng that have pianos at their apartments (2 are grand pianos) and noise apparently is not an issue with the thick floors and walls, etc. I still would not practice past 10 p.m. just to be on the safe side, though.

May be because of the executed piece or bad recording - the piano's sound was thin and boring... A piano for a Western Saloon?

Why a Steinway & Sons upright piano? Of course if it is that sort of music you will play and sound you really like, then it is O.K.

By the way - if you like that Steinway sound, and want to have the silent play option, the cheapest way is buying a new or second hand stage piano with good headphones.

The sound of the K-52 below it sounds fantastic, but 15k is a lot...

The 1098 is a very fine piano; I played on one for years, which my parents scrimped and saved to buy. I think folks on this forum sometimes lose sight of how mediocre to awful many pianos out there are, that people nonetheless learn on and enjoy enormously. I'd be quite happy with a 1098, or any of several other good uprights. In that vein, I imagine you could get one cheaper if you could accept its being older and not perhaps in perfect shape. But, begging your pardon, you don't sound like someone truly on a "beer" budget with two houses/apts. and potentially two pianos.

I agree with kluurs. Noise can always be a problem in apartments and if you are serious about the piano you might as well do it right.

Does the Yamaha silent piano sound like a typical Yamaha? I was at the Yamaha dealer about 2 weeks ago (Frank & Camilles, very helpful and professional people there, by the way) and tried a few regular Yamaha uprights there. Can't say I love the bright tone of this brand, though. Also tried 3 Petrof uprights. (I didn't ask about the pricing as I figured that Petrof's would be over my budget and they only had new pianos at the showroom so probably no bargains to be had there.)

Isn't it a strange thing that there is no Kawai dealer in Manhattan (according to Kawai's website)?

Re noise - I will investigate further but fortunately I have no neighbors on one side of the apartment and the neighbor on the other side only uses the apartment maybe one month a year top (according to the doormen). Talk about a champagne budget!

Yes, If you hate the U1's sound, you'll hate the sound of the Yamaha Silent - though you might like it it in the digital mode. Seiler also makes a silent piano though I haven't tried it. And to be fair, many folks would tell you to buy the acoustic upright you like - and a p90 or some such digital keyboard - gives you two pianos for the price of one.