Kawai Pianos

[Estrangable]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm starting on my piano lessons and i have been trying to get a piano. Been going to different piano stores and the feeling is like buying a car all over again.

 

There are so many different brands like Yamaha, Kawai, chinese brands, european brands...

and there are digital pianos to choose from.

 

Initally wanted to get a digital but the sound and feel is really poor compared to an acoustic pianos.

 

My teacher has recommended me to get either a yamaha or kawai. After trying the kawai models, i'm leaning towards a kawai....Will appreciate if the pianists in this forum can give me some advices or take on kawai pianos...

 

I have a budget of ard 8 to 10k and i was told that i can actually get an excellent used upright with such an amount.

 

Thanks

[Comfy]

some digital pianos now is really good.. they are now built to feel and sound like a acoustic piano.. a 8 to 10k can get a really good 1st hand piano..

[Linusloh]

Hi,

wow! 8-10k for a new piano! TT's a rather big budget!

Actually, u can get a very good piano for less than tt, if u dun mind a 2nd hand one.

Unless u must get a brand new one lah.

I spent more than 1 year looking around till I stumbled upon one which I like...

I got for myself an excellent yamaha yua model for abt 5k+, although it's abt 20yrs old, it looks and feels almost new, and hardly used! Superb sound for the price.

Personally, i do not like the Kawai sound. even their upright grands.

Not tt I like yamaha v much, but they do sound a tad more natural cf to kawai.

Of cos, the best sound come from the germans, but tt would be well... ex

So for 8-10k, I think u won't go wrong with a used Yamaha U3 or better model.

For brand new, u can only get the U1, which cannot beat a used u3. Try it and u'll know.

If u do not feel any diff...then...

I think u do not need to spend so much on a piano yet... to be honest.

Many factors to look out for...less than cars , but still...

Let me know if u want to know more...

[Linusloh]

Digital pianos have now become pretty good.

But still lag miles away, when it comes to sound, feel, dynamics and well...hard to describe, it's not tt much a real piano. however they try to imitate one.

but then again, it's much more fun! Can record, do diff sounds, almost like a syn.

well, to each his own, since, i'm old already...pref real piano.

when younger, would certainly pref a digital one

[Watwheels]

I would suggest to get a 2nd hand one lah. Less ex and bcos as u progress, u won't know how far u'll go and things like that.

 

Later on when u feel that u are pretty good at it, u can always trade in for a better one just like cars.

 

As for brands, the ones u had suggested are ok, can't go wrong ones.

 

Opt for the beginner's model or exam model. Less ex than upright models and slightly compact which occupies less space.

 

I own a Yamaha upright piano(10 years) which cost me around 7k at that time. I find it kind of ex cos b4 that I had one dunno what brand around 2~3k(in the 80's it's not exactly cheap ). Had it with me since young when I started learning. Which was very good and had no problems with it.

 

Stick to conventional pianos. Electronic stuff has a shorter lifspan.

Edited October 8, 2007 by Watwheels

[Comfy]

yes i still young that's why i like the digital piano... i do a little bits of MIDI at times.. something that i can sync with my laptop..

[Rayleigh]

SInce you mentioned that you just started on piano lesson. My suggestion is to get an entry level piano first. I got a 2nd hand entry piano (Yamaha) for my girl at only $1000 (excluding delivery and tuning). The model is equivalent to the current JX series. The condition is superb and according to the yamaha service guy, should be able to last till grade 4 or 5. He added also, if the piano condition maintains status quo in 5 years time, I can still sell it off at the same $1000 or more.

 

In addition, make a scan at Yahoo or Ebay auction, you will realise that Yamaha piano (due to the branding) is easier to dispose off than other brands.

 

 

Hence that is all have to say. Good Day!

Edited October 8, 2007 by Rayleigh

[Estrangable]

Hi everyone,

 

thanks for the prompt replies! My intial budget was ard 3k....to get a new digital but the feel is really poor and for those digital with superb touch and feel, the costs are ard 4k plus and to me, it doesnt really make sense to pay so much for a digital.

 

I was thinking might as well top up a little and buy a good used piano.

 

A brand new U1 cost 9k and a u3 is ard 11k! A brand new made-in-china pianos cost around 5 but my teacher is telling me to skip those chinese brands and instead go for a japanaese-made.

 

I have actually set my eyes on a used kawai which costs 5 plus and it's in a superb condition with 5 years warranty and 3 free tunings...but not sure if i shd pay 5 plus for a 15 years old piano..

 

cheers

[Estrangable]

Thanks for the advice! Yup, i think getting an used piano will be a better option too.

 

Has always been a childhood dream to learn the piano...that's why i'm willing to spend more on buying a good one

[Linusloh]

Well, then go with ur heart lor...

used piano with 5 yr warranty is pretty good, I mean the warranty period is pretty good. heh...

I presume it's an upright grand, for tt price? Local set? or PI? how old?

U should open and check the insides too, esp the heads of the hammers, the condition of the strings (no rust). Look inside and outside too, check for scratches and knocks (like car!)

When the guy comes for tuning after delivery, test every note. make sure sound the same quality, no vibrations.

Check the pedals too, no squeaking

Many things haha...

[Estrangable]

thanks. It's an upright grand from japan. ...have checked the condition and it's good...brought my teacher along and he told me to go ahead..but still holding back cos i'm still looking ard.

 

cheers

[Watwheels]

I hope that u won't give up easily. I say this cos to learn at an adult age is tough.

 

Sometimes due work commitments u dun really have much time to practice and compared to kids and teens our fingers are less nimble. Maybe I old already.

 

The best of luck to u.

[Strawberrypink]

both kawai and yamaha are good brands.

i'm using yamaha u series silent piano and my teacher uses kawai. the thing about the 2 brands is they are the most popular brands used as exam model.

since u have gotten the 2 brands in hand, follow ur likings as in the touch and the sound of piano.its very personal coz some like softer delicate touch others prefer the harder tone.

 

but den, after getting ur piano, have it tuned best 6 months once to keep it in best shape.

 

yeap 8k - 10k u can get pretty good piano ranges.

 

if u want more choices, u can try looking at the silent piano ranges, comes with head phones.

so u can play at nite and no one will care. hahaha

 

if u want really really good ones, get the german brands!

 

have fun learning it.

Edited October 8, 2007 by Strawberrypink

[Adawang]

Yamaha U series are good,

or european pianos.

[Nitrous]

My parents bought one like 3 to 4 years ago, to replace my sister's old hand me down russian piano.

 

10K is an average budget and I think you should have many models to choose from.

 

Yamaha is ok, but Kawai...ermm...no comments. Perhaps u should look into the construction of the piano, and a piano has to be an all wood thing, in order to generate the best acoustics...not using plastic. Enuff said on this, juz go observe.

 

Yamaha is popular and mebbe a lil overpriced as more schools/teachers use them, and they are known to be the exam grade kind.

 

The european brands are good and not all of them ask for the sky. In fact, we ended up with a brand new Steinway...for abt 7 to 8k i think.

 

If u going for second hand, go for Japan imports as the humiditiy and temperature there are kinder to the wood, so even a 10year old one would look pretty new.

 

Happy Piano Shopping!

[Estrangable]

thanks! Ya, my working hours are crazy and i'm really worried abt my old rusty fingers....nonetheless, it's a childhood dream of mine and i really hope that i can learn and persist on!

 

cheers

[Silver_blade]

I agree with some of the suggestion here. I would go for a good digital piano. I used to believe that I should buy only the 'exam' model. But later found that it is not necessary at all. Traditional piano can be rather ex to maintain...eg. tuning and heating.

[Shull]

er..you just starting your piano lessons right?

 

get a brand new upright which cost abt 3-4k enough liao..

 

my yamaha piano cost abt 3.5k in yr 2000..up til now still going strong..acoustics still damn good..