30 year old piano vs brand new - looking for opinions!

[Nicola Bourke]

Hello

I am looking for a piano, did my grade 8 at school but have not played for 15 years now. I have been to a few shops and am trying to get my head around all the different models and prices! I have seen a 1977 Kawai BL-31 for sale at Ł2,000, reconditioned and appearing to be in very good condition, with a shop guarantee. I did like it but then yesterday I saw a Kemble Conservatoire on the market for almost twice the price which I liked a lot! The Kemble is more than I intended to spend but I am now wondering which is the better long term investment and which will give me more for my money. I appreciate that a lot of the decision is down to what I personally like and how much I will use it but does anyone have an opinion on which is the better piano to buy? Thanks for reading this!

[PianoGuy]

That Kemble is a stunner.

Buy one!

Old Kawais are nowhere near as good a new ones. Kawai quality has improved greatly in the last couple of years. I think you'll be disappointed with an old one.