Okay, I haven't been playing piano for years, but I want to get back into it. My husband and I live in Germany, so buying a digital keyboard from the USA is a possibility, but pianos in Germany seem to cost upwards of 3000 euro (about $4k).

I really want a piano, but we're going to be moving in June and shipping pianos makes me wince (it's free courtesy of the Army, but I'd have to have it tuned of course), but I've never played on a keyboard that I truly approved of. If I lived in the States still, I would be happy picking up a used piano in good shape, but my German isn't good enough to be comfortable doing that in Germany.

So my questions are these: I don't want to spend more than $1500-2000 on anything. Is this a reasonable price range? Is it going to buy me something high-end (where I could spend less but get something that works for my menial playing time), or is it still too low for something decent? Could anyone suggest brands/models for keyboards to look into, or perhaps websites with such info? I've been trying to find online reviews and whatnot, but nothing has been terribly helpful; even pricings range from a few hundred dollars to way too much. I don't know much about digital keyboards except that when I was playing back in the mid/late 90s, it was quite different from the feel of a real piano (as one would expect). Should I really try to find some local sales on pianos, or should I suck it up and buy something that's much more convenient?

Thanks in advance.

Oh, I failed to mention: my piano playing skills back in the day were very high-quality (I was really up-to-date on classical music), so I am a bit picky with what I play on (hence, my displeasure at probably having to settle for electronic). I'll have to suck it up and play on something less than grand (harhar). I'm intermediate-advanced and would like to have something to get back into playing with, but also something that plays/sounds well.

Quite frankly, you budget is set too low for something decent, with one possible exception..

You could wait until you return to the US and keep looking in the classifieds and craigslist. You might get lucky and stumble onto a deal.

From a dealership, the best you could expect would be a 10-20 year old Yamaha console or something similar, and even that usually goes for ~$2000.

Hmmmm, Steve,

And I was thinking how lucky she is to be in Europe where there should be plenty of those quality made European upright brands around. '-)

I agree though that your budget might be a tad low. But then, most of us start out with a budget lower than what we end up with! Some on PW suggest digital but it sounds like you would prefer an acoustic. Me too.

I heard that Craigslist went European. Try googling it. Check with local teachers, technicians, tuners, shcools. Put your name in with stores.

You mention not finding out much online. Have you used the SEARCH Feature above? Days and Days of reading material there.

Good luck. LL

I'd do electronic for now. Check the digital piano section of this board (e.g. Yamaha P-90).

Why? Several reasons - never need tuning - you can play without waking the whole world. Even if you have a Bosendorfer Imperial in your music room, you'll still want the digital for when the kids are sleeping. You can get a small enough digital so that you can bring it over to your parent's house to play holiday music. Best of all, it get's you started quickly. The money you save (you can get a p90 for $1000 or less) and no tunings) gives you a chance to get your savings for your "real" piano.

I agree with the digital solution while in transit. That's going to be within your budget, no problems with tuning, and you'll have a "beginner" instrument (that still feels/sounds like a real piano!) to get you back "in tune" and sort-of up to where you were before. (caveat: be VERY very patient with that and don't fall into the dreaded "why can't I play like I used to as a kid" trap!)

Another option would be to investigate renting an acoustic piano while you're in Germany, then buy when you get back here. Again, you'll have time to get your fingers/arms back in shape before you drop the serious bucks.

And should it not work out.... you're only missing a couple of months' rental payments, but I expect better! It's really like riding a bicycle. In high heels. Downhill. On ice.