Dear Choir Director,

The Yamaha Conservatory Series (C-series) is an extremely stable, reliable, and well-built instrument. I have never encountered a string breakage problem with the C-series and I've seen a lot of them! One of my smaller venues seats 250, and purchased a C1; partly on budget, partly on size. That piano is a jewel. Performers love it, and the tuning stays solid as rock.

The district wants the warranty that comes with a new instrument otherwise I'd be looking at a used instrument as you can get a much better instrument for the money.

I am well aware of the problems with the size, I'm trying to make the best possible decision based on what I'm being allowed to do. Our budget is based on those sizes. We got a quote on a C1 at $16449.00 and that is the highest priced instrument I'm being allowed to look at.

Sometimes the sharp pencil folk need to be told that a given decision isn't appropriate. In this case you are about to waste $16,000. Loudness doesn't substitute for volume. You just overdrive the instrument in the attempt to use it and still wind up dissatisfied while it proceeds to an untimely demise.

Not sure what image is best for your area, but here we have a large river and people understand that even though the water from a garden hose (or even fire hose, for that matter) can go faster than the river, the river has much more power due to its volume of flow.

It's not only that you have no bass to give support to the musical uses you propose. The soundboard area is simply incapable of moving an adequate amount of air to appropriately couple the string energy to the air in the space.

It is understandable that the school wouldn't want to just pick up a piano from a private party. However, a used piano from a reputable dealer represents a minimum of risk -- not only because the dealer will have inspected the piano and will be motivated to make sure it is satisfactory, especially in a high-visibility venue, but also because you now have certitude rather than assurance: the piano has survived a number of years without any original manufacturing defects showing up and so, in a sense, doesn't need the same warranty as a new instrument that hasn't yet proved itself.

You will be doing your school a favor to reconsider the present purchasing proposal. Good luck!!

Hi NMChoirDirector

Pianolance: I agree that C series have the edge over G but to recommend a 'freshly rebuilt G series' would need to be qualified with who rebuilt it and with what components.