What is the best piano to buy on a budget?

Skittles15 · Post by **Skittles15** » 02 Jul 2008, 16:31

i am currently looking to buy a piano that will take me up to grade 8. I've not had piano lessons before but i can play the organ up to about grade 6/7.

my budget is about 1500 ish.
i was told you can't buy a piano that will take you to grade 8 for less than 1500, does this sound right?

also how do these pianos sound:

-Bently = last genuine British piano around, model is from the 70's and am told should last about 40-50 years. (quite attractive piano, good condition)

-Fazer = Finnish made instrument (circa mid 80’s)after which it was taken over by Hellas. Similar to Kemble’s and Yamaha’s in terms of quality, they also have Japanese actions. (quite an ugly piano, not great condition)

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 02 Jul 2008, 18:39

my advice would be to have any piano you are considering purchasing checked out by a technician and, if possible, have someone who already plays at the level you are aspiring to, play the instrument to determine whether it will be fine for the planned repertoire etc.

Ultimately buy the best piano you can afford!

Happy hunting!

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 02 Jul 2008, 23:06

On that budget I would look around locally for used uprights BUT get a tuner to check it out for you, or buy a new Yamaha B1 from a dealer who gives a Love and will set it up nicely for you.

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 02 Jul 2008, 23:07

why, when i type sh*t do i get the word 'love? it's sh*t and I don't Love it.

Skittles15 · Post by **Skittles15** » 03 Jul 2008, 10:17

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately i don't know anyone who could come along with me and knows all about pianos and can play well. The only people who have played the pianos to me are the people in shop who are selling them. I'm just worried i'm gonna end up buying a piano that isn't that great or the best for the money i've got. I didn't know how hard it was going to be! and wish i knew a bit more about pianos of course.

Are Yamaha B1's quite common? e.g. would you find one in a shop in London somewhere?

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 03 Jul 2008, 20:29

Fazers were great little pianos, but £1000 to £1200 is enough to pay retail, inclusive of margin VAT, delivery and tuning.

Bentleys were mostly poor, but a mid 1980s one with Schwander action would be a little gem. Avoid the last Whelpdale ones circa 2000 model year and later Woodchester built ones to 2003 because build quality was variable from half decent to total shite. Also avoid earlier models with the plastic flange action which could be labelled either "Richard Harley" or "Bentley Check Action". Nasty indeed and many becoming problematic. Sounds like you're being offered one of these here......

The b1 is nicely designed, but not as well made as a Japanese Yamaha. If you find a dealer flogging them for £1500 they'll be straight out the box with no preparation, whatever he may claim.

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 04 Jul 2008, 08:51

Hi Skittles,
Don't worry if you don't already have a friend who knows about pianos to check one for you - you have a new friend in waiting that you have yet to meet - your piano tuner!

Look at the tuner listings here, in yellow pages etc, and find your local piano tuner. Contact them and tell them that you are considering a piano purchase and ask if they can come and check the instrument prior to you buying it. Most tuners are happy to inspect pianos for a very reasonable fee - better to spend some money before spending lots - and the tuner then has an extra piano on their round which is hopefully good for their business as well.

Skittles15 · Post by **Skittles15** » 04 Jul 2008, 10:37

That's really useful advice thank you. I'm not sure exactly what sort of Bentley it is, the lady didn't have much information on it i'm afraid but i think i might be able to visit the shop this afternoon and find out.

Sounds like the Fazer is over priced then, that doesn't surprise me from the type of saleman that was in the shop.

I didn't realise you could get advice from the tuners. It would definitely be very useful for a tuner to check out a piano for me before i buy it as of course they will be unbiased. My neighbour said i could phone up hers and also chat with her piano teacher which will be really good.

A Japanese Yamaha sounds amazing though i'm guessing there generally high in price?

mdw · Post by **mdw** » 04 Jul 2008, 10:56

Skittles15 wrote:Sounds like the Fazer is over priced then, that doesn't surprise me from the type of saleman that was in the shop.

It realy depends onthe condition of the individual piano. I recently sold a Fazer for £1600 and it was worth every bit of the money. It looked like it had come out of the factory that afternoon. It had had no use at all and was in A1 nick. It would hold its value and was a great piano. Buy the £1500 B range Yam and the moment its home its worth £1000 as you take the deprection plus its going to be yet another Yam B1 when you come to sell. Lots of supply and not much demand etc.

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 04 Jul 2008, 13:18

mdw wrote: It realy depends onthe condition of the individual piano. I recently sold a Fazer for £1600 and it was worth every bit of the money. It looked like it had come out of the factory that afternoon. It had had no use at all and was in A1 nick. It would hold its value and was a great piano. Buy the £1500 B range Yam and the moment its home its worth £1000 as you take the deprection plus its going to be yet another Yam B1 when you come to sell. Lots of supply and not much demand etc.

Broadly agreed, and yes, a Fazer in that condition is worth £1600 retail (including VAT, delivery, warranty, tuning etc.) but start using it and it will depreciate as much as any other piano! It's certainly a better bit of kit and better value than "just another" b1!