Hi guys, im new to this forum and wish to get pro and expert responses about selecting a new piano for myself. I started playing piano probably about 8 months ago and i've been palying on a casio keyboard ever since. I have finally decided to purchase an upright piano but my budget is limited to around 2500 US dollars.


In my dealer store, im currently looking at a George Steck US16 for about 2200 and a George Steck US19 for about 2400. I was also checking the CN116 cable nelson for sound and stuff and found that the cable nelson was a little better quality than the previous 2, but its a little over my budget, the CN116 currently is going for about 3k. I also looked at the Kawai K3 used for around 3500, which is a higher brand or price piano than what im looking for, but the tone is really amazing when comapred to the chinese ones. Can anyone post back comments about the quality, tone, and others about those pianos? How about Pearl River, i heard that that chinese brand is decent for starters as well; i really appreciate your advice. Have a wonderful day!!

Stretch for the K3 and you will be glad you did if you continue. The Pearl River doesn't impress me soundwise.

i was thinking of buying a less exphensive upright, then use the 10 year trade in value to switch for a grand later on; since the piano store is giving a 100% trade up value over a period of 10 years, is it better to purphase a less exphensive upright, and then if i actually make it over 3-5 years, then i could maybe choose to switch up to a grand???

The trade up option has no real value. Dealers have a profit margin in mind. The amount that you're given for the trade up will be reflected in the amount that you have to pay for the new instrument - and that assumes that you actually want to trade up to a piano carried by that same dealer.

Buy the piano that you really want, if possible. Don't buy anything that you don't really want. If you have to stretch the budget for a K3, at least you'll know that it's a piano that you'll want to play for years.

If your Casio has an unweighted keyboard, you could look around for used Yamaha digitals.

that K3 was sold at the store... i think it was pre owned, not sure of the year, but probably sold for like 4k, not sure...... Ummmmm idk.... there aren't really that many piano stores out here in phoenix arizona.

There will always be another good used car - or boat, or...

yea, i was looking at that brand new U1 from yamaha T_T_T_T_T..... it was like 7.5k it feels so nice and has a really ncie bass and bright tone

U1s are very nice pianos. We have had ours for 35 years and it is still a perfectly nice piano. It never has needed more than tunings. You can find these easily used for $2,500 to $3,500. One was advertised last week in our local paper for $1,900

brand new for 2k-3k or pre owned ones?