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I need help choosing a piano! A little background on me: I took piano lessons as a kid and can play a handle of (relatively easy) songs today. I want to get a piano so that my kids (ages 3 and 5) can start to learn how to play. I'd like to get an upright to save on both space and money. On the off chance either of my kids is a piano prodigy, I can always get something super nice later - but for now, I'm interested in not spending too much money, yet getting something with decent sound and that can last a while. Are there any suggestions out there, along with prices? Thank you in advance!

[video:youtube]tXpx21Uf7hs[/video]

Don't see what that movie clip had to do with the OP's question.

But, then I'm from out of "town".

(I guess.)


Charlie

The best answer is. Go out to a dealer and play a few piano's and see what you like.
New is safe. Chinese is no longer bad.

Hi Kraynor - Welcome to Piano World!

I think its great that you would like to provide an environment of music for your children, with the added plus that you get to revive your piano skills. We seem to live in an era of piano abbondanza and there are very decent pianos being offered at very good prices.

May I suggest that you start your search by doing a little reading of the "A&D Piano Buyer" by Larry Fine. It is considered to be the 'bible' for the piano shopper. You can find a link to the free online edition on the left side of this page. It will answer many of your questions and give you an idea of the current prices of what is available. If you are interested in the print edition, I would suggest that you wait a few weeks as the Spring Edition is expected to be out shortly.

Take your time. There's no need to rush. As was mentioned above, have some fun playing as many different pianos as you can. Keep reading the posts in this forum as various different pianos are discussed all the time.

What kind of budget did you have in mind?

Hello Kraynor! I should've mentioned in my reply above that I'm also a newbie here. I stopped lessons decades ago but have caught the "bug" again...

Anyways, I'm on the trail of an "affordable" upright ($10-12 thou TOPS) and have gotten some good direction from the folks here. In addition to Larry Fine's above mentioned work (I have the latest print edition but use the online updates to try to figure out the pianos which might work for me... I'm now mapping out an itinerary of piano dealers within 90 miles or so of my location to "try" out some of my choices), I find Marty and Jennifer Flinn's - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying a Piano - very informative. I use info gleaned from the above two works, check this forum for prior "threads", google the websites of makers and dealers ALL to better get a handle on the "business" of buying/selling a piano new or used!

Good Luck in your search, please report back on your experience(s) as this will help myself and other "searchers" as well!

Charlie

Thanks for your helpful replies! I'm not sure of my budget yet, and I'm even wondering if I should get a used piano. We don't normally by anything used - for example, we get new cars and then keep them for 12 years. But I might be able to get something nicer within my budget if it's used! I'll look into some of the sources above! I'm excited to piano shop!

@kraynor:
Do you have neighbors? Or do you want to have moments of quietness while other people in your household play the piano?

If yes, then I'd suggest a piano with a silent system. Not one where the silent system is built in afterwards; one where the silent system is built in from the beginning.
Yamaha makes good ones. Kawai and Young Chang also provide silent systems.
Also in the lower price range of pianos with silent system (German names, East-European or Chinese make): Wilhelm Schimmel TwinTone, W.Hoffmann Vario, Irmler Moontime.

Note: Not many dealers have pianos with silent systems in their showrooms. Maybe find out if you like the acoustic version of the piano. Then you may like the silent version as well.
But: If there is a piano with a silent system there: Try it, and find out if you notice a difference in the action.

The quote I was intending was when Clark asked the mechanic/sheriff how much for the repairs and the mechanic says "How much you got?" Similar to Steve's question about his budget.

By the way, did you say where you are located?

Gotcha now!

Charlie