Hi, we are looking to buy a NEW professional upright piano or a baby grand piano for 6 year old daughter who is playing at Level/Grade 5. Our budget is really around 9,000. We want to focus on a couple of popular and easily accessible brands like Yahama and Kawai, because my daughter has played on Yahama grand and Kawai upright at piano competitions. Today, I brought my daughter to try out a brand new Ebony Yamaha GB1K baby grand at a dealer in NJ, she likes the sound and the touch. It is priced at $9,990 with some room of negotiation. I am a bit disappointed by absence of underfelted hammer on this GB1K (I understand it is a entry level grand) although we like the sound of it ! My daughter didn't like the touch of U1 and U3. I was told that Yahama GB1K is assembled in Indonesia and parts are from Japan.
Now here comes the Kawai K-5 upright and GM12K, I want to know if they are better made than Yahama GB1K? Is the millennium III Action really a plus ? Are these they made from Japan factory? I know my daughter still have to try both to see if she like the touch and sound of these two Kawai. But are these two models better made than Yahama GB1K? Can anyone give me a bit of the comparison of these three pianos based on "inside" of the piano? Any opinions and advice you have will be greatly appreciated. I know nothing of pianos, just try to read as much as I can:((

Thanks.

No 6-year-old needs a grand piano, not even one playing at level 5. Your daughter may need a grand piano in 5 or 6 years, but if she did, a GB1K or GM12 would certainly not be good enough. So those pianos are unnecessary now and inadequate later. Get an upright, and save your money for a much better piano down the road. Pianos are easy to buy and difficult to sell. You don't want to be stuck with a small grand piano that you end up losing thousands in a few years when you need to upgrade.

Another angle is to ask yourself if your daughter quits, would you rather have a small grand piano or an upright that only serves as decoration in the house, and is the small grand worth several thousands more for that purpose. If she doesn't quit, you and she would invariably want something better.

Thank you for your advice

Hi hkginger - I have a K5 myself and absolutely love it. I went through the debate on upright vs. baby grand vs. small grand. I quickly ruled out baby grand because I have read from many people (piano technicians) that it's just a nice piece of furniture. they called it "picture frame piano" (i.e. for display). despite what they said, I played them myself and I didn't like the sound and action of it. I thought the sound is thin and doesn't have the volume I wanted.

I agreed with 4evrBeginR's point. Go with a nice and professional upright and get a grand when she's ready for it. I tried U1 and it's not for me. I was going for K3 but after i tried K5, I just fell in love with the sound and the volume of it. it's so big and powerful. the touch and action were excellent to me. i felt like my fingers were able to fly on the keyboard. I am usually the kind of shopper that i like to sleep on the decision if it's a big purchase. however, i pulled the trigger on the same evening I put my hands on my K5.

I absolutely love my piano but there's one thing that does bother me - the piano "desk". I realize sometimes my fingers would jsut hit it when i try to play bigger sound or faster action. There'd be my only complaint and only excuse to upgrade to a grand down the road

one more thing - i heard Kawai uusally has end of year sales. so make sure you're getting (or at least try to) a good price on the Kawai!

If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me too.

I evaluated the GB1K and didn't like it. I would either go with a better grand or a better built/sounding upright.

Thank you RileyBunny and J_D. I really appreciate your advice. I will bring my daughter to try out Kawai K5 and other Kawai models this Saturday.