Hey guys, first time poster here. I wanted some input on my current piano situation.

I recently moved into a private apartment setting and have been looking for an upright piano. I didn't like the sound of Yamaha or Kawai uprights so I went to look at Essex pianos. The EUP-111 in particular seemed like it had a nice sound and touch. I was quoted $6800 for a new one. With my trade-in (a 2007 Hardman & Peck baby grand) it would be a flat $3k.

I'm probably going to go through with this option if it doesn't seem like a rip off to anyone else. However, I really (REALLY) love the sound of Schimmel uprights but I'm afraid they're out of my price range, even with a trade in. The most I can stomach upfront is about $4k. Is it realistic to imagine getting the price on a Schimmel down to that amount with a trade in, or am I in la-la land?

Larry Fine's SMP for the cheapest Schimmel upright, a 45" model, is $17,580. At 30% off SMP that's $12,306.

The Essex seems to be priced right at the SMP. But you are getting what seems decent value on the trade-in.

Check out the Piano Buyer link to the left.

Why not keep the Hardman, Peck?

Hi Which Schimmel upright are you looking at? make sure you check out the Vogel by Schimmel, it has the identical soundboard, hammer and string (manufactured in Schimmel factory), then shipped to Poland Factory and assembled in Poland.
The tones are almost identical but 30% cheaper. Vogel V116 is my favorite piano below 10k (new).

Thanks for the replies so far. I unfortunately can't keep the baby grand due to its size. I'm also looking to get away from its unforgiving heavy action...it was great for strengthening my fingers though.

I haven't heard of Vogel pianos. Doing a quick search of dealers doesn't pull up anything that's in my area. What's the price range on these?

No, I don't think it sounds like a rip off.

Welcome to the forum!

Hi Ungles - Welcome to Piano World!

I would also recommend that you check out "A&D Piano Buyer" by Larry Fine. It has the current prices for all of the current brands and lots of other useful information.

It is available online in a free version or you can order a "real" copy. The link is on the left side of this page.

Most Schimmel dealers will stock Vogel as well. Also you should also consider preowned Schimmel / Vogel. It's not too hard to find a 5-10 yrs schimmel upright in US.

http://www.pianobuyer.com/fall12/247.html

V115 It's around 10k before bargaining

I'm wondering what other pianos you've compared to the Essex? My experience has been that Essex is a little over priced for its quality; But, I wouldn't tell someone not to buy one.

The particular Essex is a good-looking piano too even though it's just about the cheapest model in Steinway's lowest product line.

I'm curious why you want (need?) to dispose of the Hardman and Peck. I ask that for two reasons.

1) When a dealer offers you close to 60% of the supposed selling price of his new piano in trade-in value for yours, you have to at least ask yourself if you are paying him to trade you down.

2) A Hardman & Peck piano of 2005-2007 vintage in the range of 150 to 180 cm. need not be a bad piano at all. Most of the Chinese pianos of 5 to 10 years ago were delivered in what you might call an unfinished state. I have played Harmans of that era that were terrible and Hardmans that were astonishingly different, usually with the help of a good technician.

Unless it's a space problem, I'd encourage you to have a good technician look at your Hardman and estimate the cost of going through it to clean up what was left undone. You might be surprised. It's entirely possible that with under $1000 it would become a noticeably better piano than the one you're considering trading it for.

Schimmel is a high-end, high-performance piano. I'm afraid you are in La-la land, but there are definitely worse places to be!