Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Kimball Consolette for a Baby Boomer

I'm a Baby Boomer having a midlife crisis - LOL.

Took lessons for 7 years as a kid & dragged my old upright thru several moves. 18 years ago we made a major move & had to leave my old piano behind. Then a few years later made a BIG mistake & dragged home a cheap piece of junk. After living with that dead monster in my living room for a couple of years, we ended up dismantling it in the dining room & dragging it's remains to the burn pile.

I am hankering for a used piano to fool around on - Xmas songs, oldies, etc. I am a bit limited in space & will need to do some major furniture moving to create a space for a piano. I don't want to repeat my mistake of the free/cheap piano again. So I've been surfing the net for places to shop locally.

I found a Kimball Consolette offered by a professional piano turner that has closed his retail store. Am hoping to go see it next week but I really need to go prepared with questions & what to look for - so will gladly accept any suggestions!

So far all I know is: it is a Kimball Consolette (forgot to ask the year), fully restored and refinished with a full 3 year warranty if in the service area (I think it will be, only about 40 miles), asking price of $650.

What exactly would a 'consolette' be? Closer to a spinet or a console in sound & action?

There is a retail store about 50 miles away that pictures two 60s Everetts, no prices & I haven't checked them out yet but could do that on the same day I go look at the Kimball.

Or should I instead start seriously looking at digitals?

Here is a pic of the Kimball:

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650 and a 3 yr. guarantee..

sounds good on paper.

it's adorable and probably quite a nice piano.

Thanks Apple.

I agree sounds good on paper & am thinking that a professional wouldn't bother with restoring & refinishing if the piano wasn't worth the effort. I just don't know what to check or what to ask when I go see it in person.

A Kimball Consolette is a spinet. I can find Artist Consoles, much better Kimballs without drop actions, very regularly for less than $650. Occasionally I can find Kimball Studios for less.

BDB, was afraid that it might be a spinet.

Not a lot to choose from in my location (45 mi N of Madison, WI).

Here are a couple of others I might check out: both from the 60s, a Baldwin Acrosonic & an Everett console.

Would either of these be better choices? Any idea of value?

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Here is a Kimball console for the same price.

The Everett might be worth considering. The Baldwin is an Acrosonic spinet. I would probably prefer the Everett.

$650 is a good price with the 3-year warranty. I paid $500 for a used Kimball consolette (different model) from a friend three years ago and I've been happy with it. Nice action, warm tone. Requires tuning at least twice a year though.

I'm a classical pianist. It will be my upright until I upgrade to a grand.

Thanks BDB!

I'd looked on Craigs List but really doubt myself on knowing what to look for (thinking that a retail store would help me out more) & then of course there is the problem of getting my Baby Boomer husband to agree to moving one from a private residence. After my fiasco of the dead upright, he claimed he would never move another piano.

Are Everetts considered a decent brand name? BTW, my dad's name was Everett - LOL

Schan, do you mean twice a year tuning because you are a classical pianist & demand more from your piano then I do? Or will even the casual player relearning to play (me) be upset with the tone every 6 months?

Hi WBD, It seems to have less to do with how often I play than seasonal changes in temperature in Seattle. I guess is the age of my piano -- the tuning pins may be loose. That's why a warranty would be worth the extra money. I've noticed when I play friends' pianos (grands) they stay in tune far longer.

I'm sorry...I must question the sanity of any technician who would 'fully restore and refinish' a "consolette"...and then offer it for $650...be thankful you've been steered away...

Hi WBD,

Welcome to the forum.

About the Acrosonic spinet. The techs consider them to be well built workhorses. They are known for holding a tuning. It is about the only "decent" spinet around. The used ones generally go for $500 in a private sale. It might be a very usable piano. They sell for about double that in a dealers shop, but you would most likely get a warranty, moving, and 1 or 2 tunings included. (It should have already been tuned in the store.)

May I make a suggestion? Check out Farley's House of Pianos on Seybold Rd., near West Towne Mall. Tim is a rebuilder and has a new/used showroom. He gets decent verticals as trade-ins. Tim won't sell junk, so you can trust that if it is on the floor, it has received a thorough going over, necessary repairs made, and you could buy with confidence.

hey wiscbirddog and Marty,

It seems those two you posted are shown on Farley's House of Pianos , the Acrosonic and the Everett.

Hi Supersport, yep the Acrosonic & Everett are at Farleys, the Kimball is either in Middleton or Richland Center - hoping to see all three next week.

Marty, thanks for the super recommendation about Farleys! Nice to know I'll be in good hands when I stop there.

So far I just been browsing on the internet & hoping to do some serious looking in person soon. . .winter not far away & I'd sure love to find "my" piano before then.

Thanks everyone for the tips & suggestions!