Posted by: eyes
Young Chang Pramberger Value/Age and other questions - 01/20/13 09:38 PM
Hi, pretty new to the forum here. Being doing a lot of reading but just finally getting to posting.
Anyways, we have recently been in the market for a "beginner" baby grand piano. I used to be a piano major in college before switching so I was spoiled on large Steinway's, Yamaha's, etc...
Haven't played except for keyboard at church, in a rock band, etc... in about 7 years. I really only have about $5k to spend. And I'm firm on my budget. So we have looked seriously at many pianos and I have been particularly interested in a lightly used 5'4" George Steck (pretty bright but big sound), a new 5' Schiller (Jim Laabs brand made by Irmler from what I can tell from info here in the forums), a new 4'10" Steinbach (bank seized so I believe it's new old stock from before it become Alex Steinbach), and a local Young Chang G-157 Pramberger Signature Series (5'2") being sold locally. I've played a LOT of pianos and particularly liked the sound of these 4 pianos. I like a medium to brighter sound. The YC, George Steck, Steinbach are all brighter pianos naturally from what I have researched, and the Schiller's seemed to vary greatly from one to the other but I found one that was brighter that I really like the sound of.
Young Chang Serial Number is YG0129119.
I would like to know from the serial number on the Young Chang 1) when it was made and 2) what would be a reasonable price to pay for it? I've read anywhere from $1,500-$6,000 depending on age. From what I can gather, the person bought it around the year 2000 - they claim brand new - and they are asking $4,400. It hasn't been tuned in many many years but has held it's tone pretty well considering. It may need some minor pedal work but there are no significant other problems. Obviously I would have a piano tuner/tech check it out before paying on the piano. But when I can get those other pianos listed above brand new for around $4,500 including delivery, tuning, and warranty, I can't really see paying $4,400 for a 13 year old YC Pramberger and then another $300 for moving and probably $200-400 for a couple of tunings (since it hasn't been tuned in forever) and maybe some minor setup/pedal work.
Thoughts, opinions? I don't know if I'm wayyy off on the Young Chang or if $4,400 is really fair or really unreasonable. I think I like the sound of it just marginally better than the other 3 pianos listed above but not so much that if one was $500-$1,000 on sale that I wouldn't seriously consider the other. I realize that I'm not going to get a Steinway or Yamaha sound or anything close to it at $5k and under but at this point I would rather be playing a decent piano than no piano at all. I can't bear to let my talent get any more rusty!
THANK YOU all in advance for your help.
Anyways, we have recently been in the market for a "beginner" baby grand piano. I used to be a piano major in college before switching so I was spoiled on large Steinway's, Yamaha's, etc...
Haven't played except for keyboard at church, in a rock band, etc... in about 7 years. I really only have about $5k to spend. And I'm firm on my budget. So we have looked seriously at many pianos and I have been particularly interested in a lightly used 5'4" George Steck (pretty bright but big sound), a new 5' Schiller (Jim Laabs brand made by Irmler from what I can tell from info here in the forums), a new 4'10" Steinbach (bank seized so I believe it's new old stock from before it become Alex Steinbach), and a local Young Chang G-157 Pramberger Signature Series (5'2") being sold locally. I've played a LOT of pianos and particularly liked the sound of these 4 pianos. I like a medium to brighter sound. The YC, George Steck, Steinbach are all brighter pianos naturally from what I have researched, and the Schiller's seemed to vary greatly from one to the other but I found one that was brighter that I really like the sound of.
Young Chang Serial Number is YG0129119.
I would like to know from the serial number on the Young Chang 1) when it was made and 2) what would be a reasonable price to pay for it? I've read anywhere from $1,500-$6,000 depending on age. From what I can gather, the person bought it around the year 2000 - they claim brand new - and they are asking $4,400. It hasn't been tuned in many many years but has held it's tone pretty well considering. It may need some minor pedal work but there are no significant other problems. Obviously I would have a piano tuner/tech check it out before paying on the piano. But when I can get those other pianos listed above brand new for around $4,500 including delivery, tuning, and warranty, I can't really see paying $4,400 for a 13 year old YC Pramberger and then another $300 for moving and probably $200-400 for a couple of tunings (since it hasn't been tuned in forever) and maybe some minor setup/pedal work.
Thoughts, opinions? I don't know if I'm wayyy off on the Young Chang or if $4,400 is really fair or really unreasonable. I think I like the sound of it just marginally better than the other 3 pianos listed above but not so much that if one was $500-$1,000 on sale that I wouldn't seriously consider the other. I realize that I'm not going to get a Steinway or Yamaha sound or anything close to it at $5k and under but at this point I would rather be playing a decent piano than no piano at all. I can't bear to let my talent get any more rusty!
THANK YOU all in advance for your help.