Kawai 15E new or 70s U1/U3 or...

doolittle · Post by **doolittle** » 29 Dec 2007, 19:20

Looking for a piano for beginner.

Price range I had in mind will get:

1. A new Kawai K15E
2. An old (mid 70s to 84 at a stretch) Yamaha U1 or U3
3. Second hand Kawai K53F 1984
4. new Yamaha B1
5.

Coming under budget would be:

1. 1974 Kawai K8
2. mid 70s BL31 or BL12 or BL51

Well over budget would be a second hand 2001 Kawai K30 or 1990 B520

Would be buying second hand from dealer with 5yrs guarantee.

Was first thinking of U1 or U3, but as budget only stetches to syub 4millions serials thinking at the moment K15E and upgrade in a few years if all goes well?

Advice appreciated!

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 30 Dec 2007, 19:13

The best bet here would be the U3 provided it's not too old. The mods that make a 4 million series U1 more desirable occurred earlier in the U3.

The K15 and b1 lag behind the better offerings by their respective makers and old Kawais are very variable.

doolittle · Post by **doolittle** » 31 Dec 2007, 11:21

Thanks for the advice!

U3 in my budget are listed as U3H with serial numbers around the 2million mark from the late 70s. Or an early 80s UX or YUS

Also have found a shop selling new Brodmanns within budget. I understand these are chinese made, but quality is meant to be good. My one worry would be re-sale value, though if it was a reasonably good piano would probably be holding on to it for a while anyway, maybe more so than a K15?