Hi! I'm new to the forums. I am in the market for a used piano. I play a little (and may consider taking lessons again), but am mainly looking for a piano for my kids. They are 10 and 7 1/2 and have been taking lessons for 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 years respectively. They are learning on one of those Yamaha 88 key (weighted) digital pianos and their teacher is reminding us that they'd benefit from a "real" instrument. We are in the early stages of looking and while looking through some of the threads here I've become even more confused. Ha! So many opinions and so much info!

Anyway....I have a few questions.....

What are the pros and cons to satin vs. polished finish?

Assuming all these are within about $1000 of each other and being sold by a reputable dealer who also does restorations, which is the best deal?

1. Knabe 5'2" 1941 Restored & refinished in the 1990's. The pinblock, strings, tuning pins, key tops, action & damper felts, key bushings and hammers were replaced.

2. Young Chang G-150 4'11" 1994

3. Bergmann TG-150 4'11" 2002


Also, is a Kohler & Campbell KIG-47 4'7" 2003 at about $700-$1800 less than the 3 above worth considering? From what I've read many of you feel pretty strongly that these little pianos aren't "real" pianos!

Thanks for your input! When we go out and look/try I will try to take their piano teacher with us, but I am just getting started here.

Welcome to the forum.
Is the size constraint with these pianos due to budget or room restrictions? You may be able to find more musically satisfying instruments in larger sizes used, but we don't know what you're trying to spend.

Also, you may get a better answer from us if you specify what difficulty of repertoire your kids are working on at this point, and how much time they spend practicing.

Satin or polished finish is totally in the eye of the beholder. One is not necessarily better than the other. I myself prefer a satin wood grain finish versus a glossy black. But if the piano sounds and plays fabulous it could be green and I would like it. I would just have to close my eyes while I played it. However size-wise, everything matters and is of the utmost importance. Don't waste your time on a spinet of any brand at least go for a console in size, they may be slightly more but you will be so much more satisfied in the end and so will your children and their teacher.

Like Terminaldegree said, larger pianos will usually sound much better, if you have the room go larger. Consider getting at least about a 6 foot grand piano, and the larger the better factoring in the quality of the manufacturer/model, condition, and price. 14 years ago I had a Bush and Gerts baby grand my grandmother gave me and went from it to a Yamaha C7; night and day is not an adequate comparison in the playability and tone between them. I think large quality uprights are better than baby grands as a musical instrument, but the baby grands do look better as furniture.

The three things about piano's I have learned to consider are (in this order):

1. Sound (which is influenced by the size and quality of the piano)

2. Touch or feel (which can be adjusted to some extent, but also a matter of quality, in your case, your children need to tell you what feels good)

3. Appearance (which is the most negligable of the three).

Beware of rebuilts or any used piano with a tech. looking at it.

Also, what was eluded to, a large counsol is usually far superior to a little grand. Grands that are much under 6' tend to not sound "very grand".

Happy hunting.

The 1941 Knabe potentially is the best piano of your three choices. Of course, that is strictly contingent on the quality level of the so called restoration. If the restoration level borders on substandard than your choices fall into the best of three evils.

The Knabe would probably prevail in that your other 2 options are not recommended at any price. The YC G150 had a major factory recall due to the expanding action brackets in the nineties.Very strange! As far as the Bergman is concerned...no comment. I'd look a bit more. A tech assessment is mandatory as for the Knabe Good luck!

IMO all three are poor choices for children learning. Are you philosophically opposed to a new piano or does your budget preclude it?

To follow turandot, for children learning, I would really recommend a solid new or used studio upright over those grands. If a grand is too small/too cheap, it's just not that good of an idea. The Knabe is a total unknown with a 15-20 year old partial rebuild. Even with a good review, with the age of the action parts, I believe it is more suitable for an adult with a piano hobby than for your children.

I have a similar piano we took in trade and I wouldn't sell it to someone in your situation, but it certainly will make the right person happy.

Ya know I was thinking of this statment in your post, thus the impetus of your search:

"They are learning on one of those Yamaha 88 key (weighted) digital pianos and their teacher is reminding us that they'd benefit from a "real" instrument."

Now I'm not familier with this instrument, but what isen't "real" about it. I take my leasons on an electronic piano which is not 88 keys, but the keys are weighted and it is a "real instrument".

Don't really understand this reasoning.

If you also had a real acoustic piano at home you would definitely understand the reasoning.