I wish I had found these forums a week ago. My wife and I recently decided to purchase a new acoustic piano. We been using a 10-15 year old Casio digital keyboard that I just can't stand anymore. I hate not having weighted keys, and it doesn't matter how real a digital sounds, it's still a digital, and to me doesn't feel real.

We went out last week to just about ever local piano dealer with a budget of about $2000. I didn't know about the Chinese stencils or anything of the sort at the time, and was just trying to broaden my knowledge and find a piano I loved. After visiting every dealer we could find, we realized that unless we wanted another digital (neither of us did) we would have to stretch our budget out farther. We narrowed our choices down to 2 pianos. I wish I had known more about model numbers then but it didn't even cross my mind. Our choices came down to:

45" Yamaha studio polished ebony. I'm uncertain if it was a T116 or a Cable Nelson CN116. It had the Yamaha name across the front, but I heard it referred to as both a Yamaha and a Cable Nelson, so I'm unsure as to which it was. The floor model was already sold, but he had more in the back.

The second one was a Story & Clark. I'm not certain of the height, but it looked nice and played nice, and has a USB port for connecting to a computer and midi sensors beneath the keys. I liked that idea, thinking that I would still be able to maintain some digital type usage while still having an acoustic. It also had some nicer cabinet features like a softfall fall board.

The Yamaha was offered to us at a price of $2695. The Story & Clark was $3295. We opted for the Yamaha based on it's sound. I thought my parent's old Kawai sounded good, until I heard this play. So we placed the order on Saturday, and it's being delivered tomorrow. I can't wait. Anyway, my whole point in this, was to ask did we make a good decision to purchase the Yamaha? Should I have been more informed? Thanks, Nathan

since the transaction already finished, not much could be said besides :
Yammies are well built instruments.
"you did good" and that Yammie will bring much joy to you and your family.

Gratz!

Thanks, I know that there's not much that could be done considering the transaction is finished. I guess I was looking for a bit of moral support to let me know that I made a good choice for an affordable piano.

Cable Nelson models say "Cable Nelson" across the front. More likely a T116 if actually 45" tall. Congratulations on your new piano. Enjoy!

Yes, sounds to me like you did well! You acted in a rational and reasonable way based on basic information, you chose a piano whose sound you like, you played all the available pianos in your budget.

Congratulations on getting your new piano. Sounds like you found a nice acoustic piano to replace that keyboard. Have fun with it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. It's good to know that the Yamaha's are highly regarded. The only thing I would change if I could would be to get a grand over the upright. However, that isn't feasible considering the small living space we live in. It's nice to know I have the life-time trade-in policy. Maybe when we have a house.

Anyway, I'm counting the hours away until work is over. Our new piano's being delivered tonight. Waiting for this piano to be delivered feels much like waiting for Christmas morning as a child.

Again, thanks guys.

Nathan

Congrats Nathan on your upgrade! Most of us know that feeling of anxiousness waiting on our new babies to arrive! Enjoy it!

Of course,we all love to see pictures!


Be well,
Terry C.


B

yamahas are excellent!

It arrived yesterday, and it is the CN116. I don't really care though. It's beautiful. It sounds great but is a bit out of tune, possibly due to transit. But the tuner will come by in about 3 weeks or so, after the piano has acclimated. It sounds beautiful. And all night I wondered why it took me so long to ditch the digital. Pictures to come, but not until later. I'm currently at work. (Although I'd much rather be playing my piano.)