Heh heh...no I'm not! Really really....

Shame on you for even thinking it!

And I'm sure you are enjoying every minute of the struggle!

As for myself, some people say its part of the mid-life crisis. :p But it has more to do with the fact that I really[/b] needed to get a better work/life balance. I decided to consider buying a piano after a I nearly quit my job because of a particularly heavy period on the road. (I use Singapore Airlines like a very expensive bus service!)

So I fished out some old sheet music and my old copy of Hanon. The first week with just the first 5 exercises in Hanon was filled with frustration and aching forearms! When I saw how much progress I was making I decided to bite the financial bullet and get a piano. So here I am 1.5 weeks later with a K-8 on the way, spending 2.5 times more than my initial budget for a used piano. :p

Actually I struggle a lot on the keyboard, because I have grand ambitions with the repertoire, but I am disadvantaged by small hands (for a pianist) and slim fingers. So I stopped taking exams after Grade 5, but continued with lessons up to about Grade 8 level, playing purely for pleasure.

There, end of grandmother story!

snoopycar, just PM'd you.

I think artemov is thinking of waiting until early next year when Pianoman brings in Brodmann pianos. I had considered waiting too, but the itch had grown too strong.

Spot on!

That's one reason that got me interested in Kawai, after I tried a 15 year-old BS-3A in Pianoman. Since this purchase is likely to last me a lifetime (unless I win the lottery!) I decided to stretch my budget for the best I could afford, with an action that is good and also able to better withstand the high humidity in Singapore. Yamaha also uses composites in their action, but I like the Kawai tone a lot more.

Spoken like a true Singaporean. Quick, before I pay up the balance!

Ya, cheaper leh... budget tight... the other shop selling 1k less leh... my friend introduce one leh, cheaper leh - i cash & carry, no need warranty, i tune myself... don't count GST leh..
Got installment boh? Courts also have leh.

Later he will ask me go fly kite!!

Wow carbon reinforce action - hi tech, cutting edge technology(faster repetition).. drool

Why can't they deliver sooner? 20th Nov a lucky day? hmmm is it your birthday present? Every boy thinks of a good reason to buy toys..

"Great" 8, GREAT!! lucky no. i'm striving for that too. my target is by 75 years old.

That right, we're here to enjoy piano music, for pleasure, leisure, entertainment(nope neigbour don't complaint), no need to stress. no need teacher, DIY.

Happy shopping guys

u mean besides robert piano, there someone else selling the k8?

They have a tie-in with Citibank's time payment scheme. There may be tie-ups with other credit card vendors as well.

20th November because I'm travelling on biz this week, test piano in showroom on 18th, deliver on 20th. 19th delivery not possible because of other personal commitments.

is there any discounts for showroom pieces?

For sure you'll get the discount off list price, but whether you'll get any more off for showroom units is something you'll have to ask Mr Chiu (if you are in the Millenia Walk showroom). All pricing decisions are referred back to him, as far as I can tell.

Apparently so. Probably a parallel imports with no manufacturer warranty. But that usually isn't a major factor because Kawai's QC levels are very high. I recall seeing an advertisement in Section 72 (Musical Instruments) of the ST Classifieds about a shop in IMM importing Yamaha, Kawai, etc.

One reason I bought from RP is Mr Chiu himself. He's a master tech with more years than my age (which is approaching the magical half-century mark).

Oh sorry, I was referring to RP about the instalment plan thing. I didn't see Mendo's question about the 'other' shop until now. :p

Hi Digitus, may I know the price of the Kawai K8 too? Thanks.

Hi Mendo,

I have no reference point for prices because I didn't have any until a week or two ago. So I can't comment on prices before and after availability of the new K series.

Yes, I was quoted a lower price for the K80E than the K-8. My assumption (which may be wrong) is that the K-8 has replaced the K80E at the price point that competes against the Yamaha U5 (and now YUS5).

jarjar, I have PM'd you.

Thanks Digitus for the PM.

Hope you all won't find my sense of humour irritating, .... Piano is seriously fun.
Just trying to inject some comedy and make the reading filled with laugther, that's if i got the frequency right with everyone...

EYE-M-M , huh? I can hear unison beating when i hear one. Will someone help to go down to press a few keys and verify, as a second opinion? I can't comment much. But please, someone go down and check it out and see if it's the same experience response i get. I wanted to say alot, but can't. I can't say good or bad. But it can be a very interesting one.

Me?? Thinking about what?? (innocent)
I have only 1 piano idol, she's in Juliet now.
Wonder how she's doing..... no update at the website... She inspired in to return to piano... oops my secret have been revealed..

Hi Digitus,
Thank you very much for your PM. It is a lot cheaper than in Malaysia!

Jarjar,

You are welcome! I can't believe that the K-8 is so costly in Malaysia! If you want something in the same class (but with differnet tone) as the K-8 then look at the Yanaha YUS5. If the YUS5 is similarly priced then you are out of luck.

ha, not even close to the k80 class.

hi snoopycar,

what's with imm?

Oooh.... But that's what the K-8 is positioned against in Singapore. I wonder if Kawai Malaysia mis-quoted jarjar on the K-8 price.

yeah, i was telling someone from RP that their kawais are already overpriced during the last GSS where yamaha prices are dropping like mad and continue until today.

10-30years ago, there around 10-20% premium on yamaha over kawai, and very soon you'll see the reverse.

personally i believe kawai not only have overtaken yamahas in action, sound texture and dynamics on their uprights, but also the concert grands.

but the fact that they spend so little on adverts means they should still keep price down as before and this is what irks me.

the nonchalant attitude at the shops didn't help either to some beginner buyers, like artemov.

For the past couple of years Norbert has been predicting a disruption in the market as the Chinese OEMs get better and better at making high-quality instruments. We've seen the Japanese and Taiwanese do it in the consumer electronics industry, for example.

It looks like Yamaha has already been reacting to this market movement. My guess is that Kawai has also seen the writing on the wall, if the pricing of the K-8 in Singapore is anything to go by. According to jarjar the price of the K-8 in Malaysia is about double that in Singapore, but it's probably just a matter of time before Kawai Malaysia has to adjust their pricing downwards signficantly.

I was briefly intrigued by the imminent arrival of Brodmann in Singapore next January. But my personal feeling is that the price premium of the Kawai K-8 over the Chinese-made Brodmann BU132 is worth paying for. I appreciate the way Kawai has used technology in making an upright with great tone and a fantastic action that is better able to withstand our tropical climate.

There is a great deal of subjectivity of course, because there is a strong emotional component in the way a person reacts to any particular instrument.

I try my best not to post unfavorable comments to any shops. I've joked about style of sales, enviroment, experience... but i better not joke about imm. .... aaaa are you from imm??

Aiya, go and look-see-look-see lah - wah alot of nice ebony polish...
Aiya, go and press-press-massage-massage the sound lah .....

I have ask, aa? how come like this?? It's not XXXX leh. It's like this one, after you buy, then we XXXX it lor. So cold.......

Can Mendo volentier to go imm to check it out? just for fun and learning experience?

which floor?
never see before even though have been there many times.

Mendo: you have to go to the "back lane" of 3rd flr. Semi warehouse-like area. Take the main wakalator, behind the swingdoor, beside the passenger lift. or see Sat classified ads for address. you gotta recky around man..... it's an jungle out there

you are saying they got brand new kawais or yamahas over there?

No.... Japan imports.

So are these re-conditioned pianos or new ones?

Haha ... I am not anxious lah.
Too busy these days with work.

Looks like I am the absolute beginner. Can't even play do-re-mi

Great to see that at least two Sg forummers have bought their pianos.

For me, might have to wait, but certainly not till next year! GST 7%!!!!

Got lobang to buy a used European piano Woohoo!

Oh, I forgot about the GST increase!!

So which piano have you got the lobang for? Are you going to take lessons, or are you going to DIY?

Have...
http://www.pianoforte-sg.com
They have nostalgical European used/recondition grands and upright. Give Mervin a e-mail, very nice and honest guy.