Hi there!
I plan on buying a Disklavier piano. I'm a classically-trained pianist/composer interested in adding computer player-piano and MIDI/synthesizer techniques to my repertoire. After a weekend's Googling it looks like a Yamaha DU1A Disklavier Mark III upright (or similar) would probably suit me.
What are the benefits of a new system compared to a reconditioned instrument? Are the reconditioned pianos (eg U1s U3s etc) better value than forking out for a new one? Prices seem to be about £3000 for reconditioned instruments and about £7000 for new? I haven't seen any of the dealers offering Disklaviers for hire but presumably that's also an option?
And where should I buy? Ebay seems like a bit of a lottery, and I can't see myself travelling around the country deciding on the relative merits of second-hand pianos but if I buy a Yamaha from a reputable dealer I should be OK without trying out the instrument?
Advice/opinions welcomed!
New versus reconditioned Yamaha Disklavier uprights?
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Hanonymouse
- Junior Poster
- Posts: 17
- Joined: 30 Mar 2008, 00:14
- Location: Chichester UK
FFS don't buy a piano without trying it first, and don't trust internet dealers nor any other dealer that encourages you to try one piano then delivers another fresh out of the box. Buy from eBay only if you want a pig in a poke or can afford to make mistakes. There's a regular eBay vendor who sells imported Disklaviers with Japanese configured electronics from his house in leafy Hertfordshire with a Porsche on the drive. These may be cheap initially, but will have no chance of tech support from Yamaha UK. I would only buy a new Disklavier not a second hand one. There's no such thing as a 'reconditioned' Disklavier, just old ones.
Read a few posts on this forum about buying a piano, then consider the fact that electronics don't last as long as the mechanics of a piano, and try not to do anything on the cheap because it'll end in tears. Start by going in person to your nearest Disklavier stockist then go from there. No dealer is reputable if he allows you to buy blind without trying to talk you into trying the piano first.
Read a few posts on this forum about buying a piano, then consider the fact that electronics don't last as long as the mechanics of a piano, and try not to do anything on the cheap because it'll end in tears. Start by going in person to your nearest Disklavier stockist then go from there. No dealer is reputable if he allows you to buy blind without trying to talk you into trying the piano first.
When buying a Disklavier secondhand, you need to bear in mind that the mechanical side of the Disklavier system can wear out (although there are some Disklaviers which have been going happily for 20 years). This is particularly an issue if you don't know the history of the piano, as it could have spent years in a hotel lobby playing non-stop for 12 hours a day.
While parts for most models are still available (parts for the Mark I are just starting to run out), it will become more and more difficult to get parts for older models. Compared to the piano itself, the electronics have a fairly limited lifespan as far as repairability is concerned, so the newer the piano, the longer support will be avaiable for it.
While parts for most models are still available (parts for the Mark I are just starting to run out), it will become more and more difficult to get parts for older models. Compared to the piano itself, the electronics have a fairly limited lifespan as far as repairability is concerned, so the newer the piano, the longer support will be avaiable for it.