Child's first piano - - advice please

eric5001 · Post by **eric5001** » 01 May 2006, 00:52

My daughter (aged eight) is about to go to a specialist music school as a woodwind player. She's keen to start learning the piano. We are *very* confused by the range of pianos on offer. We could go up to about Ł4K (but would rather spend less than Ł2K!). Should we buy new or secondhand? If we buy new and at the top of our price range, is there a better piano than the Yamaha U1? Would you say that a U1 is over the top for a young beginner?

All advice would be very welcome!

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 01 May 2006, 08:14

Normally I would say go for a new110 size new piano if buying new but since your daughter will be attending music school rather than mainstream school she must have talent. Therefore, a piano in the 121 range or larger would be a better long term option. A second-hand U3 would be in your price range 2500 + (depending on the retail outlet ) for a 70s piano and rising in price the younger they are. Always get a tuner to look at a second-hand piano but very much so on pre 90s Yamahas there are issues with spring cords which can be expensive to replace a full set

Barrie

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 01 May 2006, 09:55

A smaller piano won't cramp her style for a while, but a 121cm instrument would be better.

If you can't stretch to the 4k needed for a recent U1, then try some of the Chinese offerings which are really quite good these days, such as:

Wendl & Lung 122
Perzina
Gehr.Steinberg
Halle & Voight (Pearl River)
Yamaha-Pearl River UP125

All of which could be procured for less than 2.5K if you're careful.

As for second-hand U1s, try and go for one that has a serial number higher than 4 million (1986). 5 million is even better (1992). This will reduce the likelihood of finding one with the rotting loops problem outlined by Barrie.

eric5001 · Post by **eric5001** » 01 May 2006, 21:14

Thanks for all of your comments.

I've noticed that a new U1 would be just under Ł4K (I'm not sure whether the price might be discounted further). Would a new U1 be a better buy than a good secondhand U3? Also, do you think that a U1 is worth the extra Ł1,500 when compared to the Wendel & Lung 122?

Thanks again for your help.