This video is a master class in how do a an effective sales pitch. First off he knows his audience, and almost every point he makes, builds rapport with that audience. Each point is concise and tells a compelling story...but most importantly (in terms of maximizing the sale), with just about each and every point he focuses (like a laser) on the "benefits" of spending more money on a piano (in particular new pianos), not less. Beautifully done!
I would like to sincerely thank Stu and his Merriam Music videos that gave my wife and I confidence in selecting a new piano. Even though we are in Australia, we found your videos filled with knowledge and great tips and the comparisons between types and brands insightful and relevant. We made the final choice after my wife sat at that piano for half an hour playing her favourites.We settled on a new mahogany, Japanese made, Kawai K300 upright accoustic for its feel, its sound as well as its size and presentation. My wife is thrilled with the purchase. Thank you again for the help. Please know it has been greatly appreciated. What a tremendous service you provide.👍🙏
Stu I couldn't agree more with your last point. I was personally there. My non-piano playing very dominant spouse chose a digital piano over an acoustic one and it never ever resonated with me. After separating the first thing I did was that I sold that digital piano for the acoustic piano of my dreams. This was the best decision I have ever made.
There are some great digital pianos out there, but, for some players, an acoustic piano and the nuance of strings and wooden soundboards resonating is the only thing that will truly make them feel connected to the music they're playing.
A VERY important mistake is missing: "For beginners, an instrument that is as inexpensive as possible is sufficient (perhaps he will soon stop playing and the money will be gone...)" A beginner needs the best instrument he can afford, only then he will learn to enjoy the music experience!
I absolutely agree. I also made a mistake of buying a cheaper (digital) piano and a year later, a few “upgrades” (and some money lost), I finally bought something I will be happy with. It is more that three times the first purchase price.
As a beginner, for a year and a half, I had access to high-end concert grands late at night. Keep in mind I was incapable of unleashing even 15% of what these pianos could do. Didn't matter. It was glorious, like little kicks of adrenaline here and there. The feedback and precision of a good action and all that color cleaned up my playing, because I could feel every uneven passage or sloppy chord. And it felt exciting to play. This has proven to have expensive consequences later in life.
It's going to be hard to convince a non-piano buyer this. The assumption that beginners don't need an expensive piano when their capabilities are limited. I remember that was what my parents believed. But then again, pianos are expensive and most people don't have the budget to buy a decent one. They ended up buying a spinet and believed this was all I needed. We gave away the spinet a couple of months ago to a new family and I'm hoping to get a grand (or two) in return pending budget, space, and practice time.
When I was younger, I used to feel a little intimidated in a showroom. Instead of focusing entirely on the instruments, I worried about how my playing seemed to the salesmen. I play several different instruments (not just piano) and this happened with each of them. I'll bet that many customers feel shy and embarassed about playing/testing instruments. I suggest that to break the ice, we should get the salesman to demonstrate one or two models first. Then we can quickly see how short these demos are. Why? Well it's often because the salesman feels he doesn't need to learn the whole piece to demonstrate "x" aspect of a particular instrument's capabilities. Nor do we have to learn a whole piece perfectly to test an instrument. Usually, the salesman will disappear for a while. This is so we can continue trying the instruments without feeling too shy. Let's do that! We can bring sheet music if we like. Minuet in G? Basic boogie blues? Whatever! I remember trying an instrument in a very sober looking showroom, and feeling stupid because of the jazzy (non classical) thing I was playing. Then I realised that two of the salesmen were humming along with me. Let's enjoy the instruments and forget about who is listening, and lose ourselves in what really matters. PS If you're trying a digital piano, do bring your own headphones! That's so you can try the pianos without onboard speaker bias (part of the time) and without always being overheard, and you can test the clarity of the headphone signal, all with the headphones you know and trust. One Casio I tried was terrible through headphones. I can only imagine that it had developed a fault in the showroom. It was their last one. I'm glad I didn't buy it!
Really good point ! When I bought my first new piano over 50 years ago (as a 16 year old boy) i was terrified to try the pianos out while there were people milling about (especially accomplished players). Ended up buying partially on looks and based on what the piano sounded like when someone else played it. Ended up with a piano whose action I was never really satisfied with and a sound which seemed somehow "muffled" to me. The experience when I finally traded in that piano and bought a new one at Merriam was much better. I am still shy about my playing but no pressure or hard sell and the salesman actually vacated the room and let me try out several candidate pianos which fit my requirements and budget undisturbed. Came back a second time armed with a variety of music to check for various specific things (dynamic sensitivity, repetition speed, tone for loud thunderous pieces and mellow pieces etc.) , and thoroughly tried out the pianos I was interested in to make a final decision. Ended up with a piano nicely within my budget and whose action and sound I really love (a Hoffmann T122). Couldn't be happier :-)
I would add: if your headphones are not studio headphones, then ask the salesperson for one to test the digital piano. Consumer-grade headphones typically don't have a flat frequency response, and usually have accentuated bass and treble. Most people don't ever listen to music the way it sounds in the actual recording. If you have never heard a truly flat studio monitor before, you will need time to adapt your ears to what will sound weird at first. A little bit like Neo in "The Matrix", whose eyes hurt because he had never used them before. You can't place your trust in a pair of headphones that lie to you. Even studio headphones all sound different! Some studio headphones may have a little emphasis on the treble (like Beyerdynamics) or a little emphasis on the bass (like the Audio Technica ATH M50X), or not much treble definition (like the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO), and so on. So, the piano will sound different in all of them. You are left wondering: which is the TRUE piano sample inside my digital piano? One common assumption people will make is that what they hear is what "it is". Well, no. What you hear is what your headphones or speakers are telling you. Are they lying to you? They could be. Ideally, you want to have more than one pair of studio headphones, because they all sound different, and it would be wise to shop for the flattest ones in the widest frequency range possible.
@@Instrumental-Covers this reminds me of one of Vinheteiro's videos where he compares cheep and, expensive pianos. If you look in the comments there are people who say that there is no difference without even considering what was used to record the pianos. Some even say the law of diminishing returnes. I remember 1 commenter who said there's something rong with me when I recomended listening with headphones. The worst part is it wasn't even him/her who I replied to. I replied to another commenter then he/she butted in saying and, you'd know how? You've bin a round all these pianos?🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Yes, the internet is a rough place. There are too many people who want to compensate themselves using one upmanship, even in seemingly uncontroversial threads. I remember how polite you have always been here, so you deserve better treatment.
@@Instrumental-Covers I agree about testing with some flat studio monitors if possible, and that is particularly important if the shopper will be recording or gigging with his new DP/hybrid, but for practice we need whichever headphones make our DPs agreeable to us. And if the shopper wants a DP for practising exclusively with headphones, then whichever combination of phones and piano that gives a nice sound - that's a happy solution IMO. I particularly like your idea of testing with a couple of different sets.
The last one is very true. My wife nearly convinced me to get the wrong piano lol. She said just get "the "fancy 80k steinway, go big or go home." But she also ended up liking the Kawai I fell in love with, so it worked itself out 😄.
Absolutely! I am happy to hear that you ended up settling on an instrument that you truly connect with and are inspired by. That is always the most important thing at the end of the day. Thanks for tuning in and sharing! :)
Even if a piano isn't played it degrades which Stu is pointing out to a certain extent. Depending on the climate a lot of negative things can happend. Felt hammers tend to grow hard whether the climate is damp or dry. Termites can be an extreme problem that are not always obvious. Pianos also tend to go out of regulation even just sitting there. Digitals tend to go obsolete almost over night. Pianos become much louder when poorly played. Wong notes are extremely loud no matter how softly they are played.
Stu, you have helped me immensely. If you were closer I would have purchased from you. I ended up buying a Yamaha C2X as a result of one of your videos. I appreciate the 10 common mistakes and they are all so true. Thanks for being a great advisor to the piano community. BTW, you are a great pianist, I wish I could play as well and aspire to become better each day.
I'm glad I checked all these mistakes off when I was shopping for my first acoustic piano. Was hesitating between a Schimmel C121 (upright - 14.000€) or Estonia 168 (grand - 30.000€), eventually chose the Schimmel because it was more reasonable for my level. I loved the feeling and the sound of the Schimmel compared to even a Yamaha U1. It was so great to play on it. Now I'm waiting for the delivery... 3 months to go :(
Happy for your choice! I know the pain of waiting. Ordered an Instrument (not a piano) from a maker and i am currently waiting for 11 months and it may well take another 2-3 months to finish. Its hard to wait so long :D
@@HS-wp5vb Thanks for the heads up. Yes, lucky. 😊 I just had the piano tuned today and the tuner charged me less than his customary charge telling me that it holds it tuning so well he only has to do about half the work that he does with other uprights. Plus, he said, he just loves working on it.
With respect to the sound made by the piano propagating towards the rest of the house or the neighbors, it may be wise to recall that there are often possibilities to mitigate the problem through acoustic insulation work. Insulation may be rather expensive, so rather than spending the whole budget on the piano it may be wise to stay a little lower and keep aside something to improve the insulation (I am currently going through these considerations myself!)
As a drummer, bassist, and guitarist who is looking to get started in piano/keys, I was very happy to find your channel. This video resonates (hehe) on quite a few levels, and even though my upcoming purchase will be local and most likely a synthesizer, you have covered some very important points. Muchos gracias!
You're very welcome! We're happy to have helped. :) Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! We really appreciate it. All the best with your piano journey! I am confident that your musical background will make playing the piano far more accessible even in the early stages.
I am only in the market for a digital piano but watched this video in it's entirety and realized there are so much to consider when purchasing an acoustic piano 😮
Do you recommend silent pianos or rather hybrid ones? Id prefer the grandpiano action more but have no space nor the money for a real grand one and practice 80% with headphones. since 14 years on a korg sp-250 :-/
It really comes down to your particular circumstances. If space is a concern, but you're looking to have a grand piano touch, an option like the Kawai NV10S may be very appealing!
Always appreciate these videos, even if I am not currently shopping for a new piano. I never really realized how loud my piano gets until I tried to play without disturbing my family. When you're on playing at night while kids are asleep, you would swear the piano decides to scream, shout, and imitate a fire alarm, regardless of how quietly you try to play. This lead me to invest in a Roland FP30x (BTW thank you to Stu again for his videos on that instrument!) for night time playing. I know from watching your other videos you have said that a good upright can be better than a grand, but I was surprised to hear you say the price essentially doubles to go to a grand of equivalent quality. I need to get to a showroom to check this out. You have me very interested in learning more about uprights. Last comment, another person commented about being intimidated when going to a showroom to try a piano and feeling embarrassed about your playing ability. I admit this has kept me from just stopping in at the showroom near me to just sit down and listen for some of the really great things I have picked up from this channel
I have found an up-right Seiler Piano from 1974 build in Germany. It’s 112 cm only but sounds like it was way taller. So I agree that size does not always matter.
It’s great to hear a real pro give the exact same advice I’ve been giving myself for years! The thing about 6’ pianos being the cutoff comes from Steinway a long time ago; they said pianos aren’t really grand pianos until 6’ and longer. This has stuck in people’s minds. Whether or not that was accurate back then is moot as scale and soundboard designs have advanced quite a bit since then. That being said, getting too much shorter than 6’ still has quite a bearing on the sound. While I love my 5’8” PETROF, I definitely feel its shortness sometimes. But, my choices were limited on budget and space. And spot on about some uprights being better than grands. My Walter upright was better than a lot of grands, but I do like my PETROF grand a lot better (apples and oranges, I suppose).
Stu I am like 2 years from being able to buy a piano but I've watched so many of your tip videos because they are so well done and you have an AMAZING voice + you play piano rather well :)
Hi Craig! Brent from Merriam Music here! I'm very happy to hear that you've discovered our channel and Stu's wonderful review videos. Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! :)
I love how well spoken you are and personable Stu! You provide so much good info and all without any biases. I feel like you give me the information I need to make my own decision, so thank you very much for all the effort you put into these videos!
Another great video Stu! Pretty surprised to hear that a grand will be twice as much to achieve the same level of an upright, in a good way. I got an upright new, and from day one, the salesmen told me, it’s a good purchase to begin with but I will eventually want an grand one day! After this video I feel much better to pick an upright, and not feeling I am compromising
Hello Stu. Love watching your videos. Every person interested in buying a piano should be obligate to watch this. I would also make sure people understand the effects of humidity on a piano. I had a 1922 M&H A that was refurbished by Cunningham Piano in PA. I loved the piano. However, I lived in a very old house where the humidity fluctuated tremendously. Within 17 years, the piano was ruined. I was greatly saddened. I recently purchased a restored 1904 Steinway upright model V. (I moved so I didn't have room for a grand). I made sure that I a dampp-chaser installed to deal with fluctuations with humidity. It's going on 3 years since I've had the piano and no specific issues except having it tuned every 6 months. I cannot stress how important it is to have something that costs $500 to help alleviate the humidity issues as well as one's worry. In watching your videos you've also inspired me to get back to my own playing. Within the next few years I will probably purchase my last piano - it will be new and it will be an upright. I am thankful that I live in the northeast where there are dealers between NJ and CT that sell Bechstein, Bluthner, Steingraeber, M&H, Steinway, etc. so I can have the chance to play them all and fine what's right for me. I do miss the tone and bass resonance from the M&H I had. Keep doing what you are doing as it's invaluable to people.
Really sad to hear. Those Mason & Hamlins are really something special. A dry climate is always the enemy of the instrament. This is regardless of age. If you have a high end piano like a Mason I always recommend having a humidity system that is on par with the variance in humidity of your environment. In 80% of the US a damp chaser is perfectly adequate. But in some areas where the humidity fluctuates too much like in Massachusits or Montana, The dryness in the winter will literally destroy the piano damp chaser or not. The issue is that the water reserve in the damp chaser cannot keep up with a bone dry air and in those case you need a full room humidifier. For reference I really dry areas you may need to add 2-5 gallons of water to a day to keep the humidity in check for a small room. The damp chaser is generally trying its best, but there simply isn't enough water to keep up in those 20% areas where it just gets extremely dry.
As for loudness issue: for a grand, I often play with the lid down and the cover still on it (I keep the cover on all the time-cats). A rug underneath and a sound baffle against any adjacent walls can help the sound as well.
These are all excellent solutions! There is a company called Piattino that also makes specially designed castor cups that offer additional acoustic insulation. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! :)
Oh, ya, and speaking of volume, my Walter Studio put out 105dB when played hard with the lid open with the meter placed in the player’s position!!! That’s dangerous! My PETROF grand won’t even put out 85dB even if I beat in it. No complaints here, though, as I can play extremely softly, which is more of a testament to quality anyway.
Love your tips and reviews. Please do a video of advice on buying a digital or acoustic for those of us wearing hearing aids. I’m 75, started playing one year ago and have a Yamaha P121. I want to buy something much better.
Thank you for the kind words! We really appreciate it! Also, thank you for your suggestion. I will pass it along to our production team. We do our best to tackle as many requests as possible, but, with so many topics and models to cover, it is tough to get to them all.
I loved that you pointed out that a new piano pretty much always better than used one in the same category, and that uprights can be better than grands. I recently changed from a new upright (2018) to an old grand piano (1997), by the same brand (Kawai), and even though the grand is about 3 times more expensive than the upright, I still feel that the action of the much newer upright was better. Of course, the sound of the grand is much more open and it has a lot more dynamic range, which is what I was looking for. But, sometimes I miss the precision of the action in my ex-upright. There is nothing wrong with the grand I have now. It was carefully regulated and tuned, and it is really in great condition, but, it is nowhere near as good as a new piano of similar quality. So, like you said, you get what you pay for. People need to understand that in reality it is very hard to find a "hot deal" of a cheap used piano. In most cases, the piano stores are the ones getting those deals, and then, they re-sell the instrument to the consumer at the corrected price. I had some experience chasing cheap used piano deals, and in reality they were all terrible instruments. You really have this direct link between quality and price, but I think at the higher end products, the distinction is quality is more elusive. Kind of hard to justify the fact that a Steinway O costs about 3 times more than a Kawai GX-3, which has the same size. The quality of the Steinway is really 3 times better? I don't know, but I feel that the higher the price, the harder it is to really feel a proportional increase in quality and overall playing experience.
@@G91YS I moved to another country and I couldn't bring my piano. I've been wanting to upgrade to a grand for a while, so, since I needed another piano I looked for a grand that would fit my budget. I got a mid-size grand piano, a Kawai RX-2, which is superior to a small upright regarding dynamic range. I really wanted an extended dynamic range, which gives more "colors" to play with, so I was willing to sacrifice a bit of precision in the action to get that uprgrade.
@@FelipeCostaPiano Kawai RX-2 is a really nice Piano. I played one in store and it sounded better than the refurbished Steinway they had in the other room.
Your videos are fabulous and an excellent marketing tool. I dream of getting a grand piano and, when my wife inevitably succeeds in dragging me out of the semi-detached house in NDG (Montreal) that I love (but which is too small for a grand piano) into an apartment (which I may not love but will have the space), I plan to come to you, hopefully, for my purchase. (Assuming Meridiam deals with Montreal customers). Based on your videos, I can say that dealing with you personally, Stu, forms a not insignificant part of the enjoyment and satisfaction I anticipate deriving from this whole process!
Lots of great sounding digitals at least at the top of the product lines. CA-99 DG-30, LX-708. Not sure about the Yamahas, although I play a Yamaha DGX-670 combined with Pianoteq Pro. This instrument combination sounds very similar to the Roland LX-708.
The best way to choose a piano is with your ears and your fingers. Even two of the same piano in the showroom can sound subtly different from each other. I worked at a yamaha dealer and so often people would be more concerned with the aesthetics or the brand rather than the tonal quality or action.
As to mistake #6 about the sound of the mechanicals in a silent system. For sure, and that's a great point, particularly since the piano by its very nature is a percussive instrument. Even so-called "silent" drums, such as the Roland V-Drum line, are not truly silent; especially the "thwack" of drum stick on a cymbal or the rim of one of the pads. Those cymbals have sensors, and they're coated in rubber, but they are hard underneath, so hardly quiet, and the thwacking all night long can drive other humans up a wall. The rims have sensors too, but under the rubber rim is a metal rim. So that will produce another kind of a "thwack" sound.
So far Between portable Nord Roland Yamaha and External speakers and headphones.. I just don't feel the need of an acoustic.. Despite playing them in other venues few times a wk.
Volume is something newbies never think about. I recently started taking lessons, and for the last lesson this spring, we got to play on a 5 foot Yamaha grand. It was amazingly loud! Shouldn't have been been surprised. In spite of it's small size, these things are made to fill a concert hall. Easily filled a classroom with more than enough sound! Thanks for the sound advice on all these subjects!
Thank you very much for this kind of eye opening video. Did not expect that upright piano can be very similar to a twice as expensive grand piano. Interesting.
For sure! While the height and length will obviously determine the max length of the lowest bass strings, which, in turn, would impact the clarity and power of the bass register, there are other elements of the design that can contribute. A good example of this is the C. Bechstein L167. Despite its smaller size, it is an absolute powerhouse of a piano! :)
I live in Scotland, and I am excited to be deciding what piano I am going to buy next. Having said that, it's a major purchase decision to make and more daunting than i thought before doing some online research! My price range is probably about £8-9k. I am considering either the digital hybrid Avantgramd Nx1 or Kawaii NV10 but also seen that I could get a GL10 baby grand. Your video certainly brought my expectations back to down to earth in so far as the misconception that a grand will always be better playing and sounding than an upright, etc. I need to go try all of these and see how I feel... the aesthetics of a GP are very alluring, but after watching some videos, I think that the nv10 and its action may appeal better to my wants/needs. The NV10 is more expensive than the GL10 as well! I guess I need to just wait until I try all of them and carefully try to make the right decision. The action and sound are far more important to me despite the aesthetic appeal of the GP in the end. Your videos are helpful, thanks!
Hi there! Thanks for tuning in! It can certainly be difficult narrowing things down, especially when there are so many compelling models and instruments on the market. With that said, testing the instruments out in person is always the best way to determine which one is the right fit for you. Best of luck and happy playing! :)
My Yamaha U3 wasn't particularly cheap second hand but it was little used and in like new condition. At home it had some sound issues which the selling shop attributed to high humidity. Several techs looked at the piano and agreed that it was mechanically sound. Now I live in a dry climate and sure enough, the problems have disappeared! I haven't even had it tuned yet.
I am happy to hear that the issues disappeared! Given all of the organic wooden components in a piano, their performance can be heavily influenced by temperature and humidity as you've discovered. Thanks for writing in and happy playing! :)
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! The C. Bechstein Concert 6 and Concert 8 models are incredible pianos, arguably two of the best upright pianos on the planet right now. :)
Good video; very informative discussions. Have been through with what you talked about for many years. Bought a new Steinway D many years ago, sounded great in Steinway Hall but thoroughly disappointed in sound in my home. You need a large amount of space for the piano to " breathe " .
Thanks for the kind words! We appreciate it. This is a very good point. We appreciate you sharing the insight. While a home may physically accommodate a 7' to 9' piano, the design/layout of a home may not be able to fully-accommodate its musical output and sheer dynamic power. It is definitely something worth consideration when shopping for a piano in this size category.
Stu, I can't tell you how much your videos inspire, guide and excite me! I lost my Steinway B in a fire and am now navigating the replacement process. Phew. It's a journey and at times, super overwhelming. Thanks for sharing all this great information.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I am so sorry to hear about your Steinway Model B. I wish you all the best with your search for a replacement! Thank you for your kind words and for tuning into our channel. We sincerely appreciate it! :)
For reason #9 with Not Considering Uprights Under 48 Inches, the main problem that might have led to this myth is that short uprights have compromised actions. To have a proper piano, you need a full-blown action that connects directly to the keys. For short pianos, manufacturers either shorten the length of the hammers or move the action below the keys and connect them via a metal rod (called an indirect action) which either way don't give pianists the proper touch compared to a direct full-blown action. The Not Considering Grands Under 6 feet, this mostly ties into your reason #8 with Assuming All Grands Are Better Than Uprights. Tall uprights have comparable string lengths to 5 feet "Baby Grands" and the common advice is to just get the tall upright for half the price of a grand. Grands still have their advantage with their gravity-based actions and pedal work as opposed to being more spring-based in uprights.
These are all very excellent insights! Thank you for sharing! :) There is certainly something to be said about the perception (and realities in some cases) of compromised actions. The era of spinet and apartment pianos did not help this situation of course. With that said, there is a reason why companies continue to manufacture all of the current size categories. Thankfully, customers are becoming more well-educated these days and making decisions that suit their needs opposed to blindly following certainly market trends. Needless to say, tall uprights and long grands tend to offer amazing musical experiences, but that does not mean that shorter studio uprights or baby grands don't have their place and aren't the better choice in certain situations.
Love this. Enjoyed the honest and informative information. Very well presented, to where I am completely confident that I could take every piece of points/information presented to the bank. Thank you. Great share.
Great video and awesome that you mention the action noise on a silent piano. I’m upgrading from a Kawai K-200 ATX to probably a Kawai GL or GX or Yamaha CX silent piano but there is not much information how much louder a grand piano silent action will sound compared to a upright silent piano action. So i would really appreciate some kind of comparison 😄
with regards to MSRP, some brands just ask what they want, and people are buying it no matter what the cost. Even if it isn't value for money anymore. R&D costs need to be paid, and if you only sell a low qty of goods each year, then the price will be high. (Or you're a company called Apple, and you just charge whatever you want, as people are buying the stuff anyway, no matter the quantity). I bought my S&S Model B from 1906 for 20k$ from my piano technician, only minor cosmetic issues, technically in prestine condition. I have played many new piano's that feel and sound much worse then my 115 year old workhorse. And if I compare it with a brand new S&S model B which costs 6 times what I paid for mine, it is only fractionally better. So MSRP is one thing, value for money is a completely different thing.
There are three piano manufacturers in the U. S.: Steinway, Mason & Hamlin and Charles Walther. ( I wrote this when you said there were two, I got to the part where you correct that),
Great video. Is there a similar video re digital pianos? I made the mistake of buying a Yamaha P515 only to discover that instead of making music I had to connect iPad, Bluetooth etc. It was infuriating. Then I bought a Kawai Mp7se (from Merriam) and got back to being a musician instead of a tech nerd.
Thanks so much! We appreciate you tuning in and supporting our business with your MP7SE purchase! :) We do not currently have a video on this subject for digital pianos, but that is a great idea! I will certainly add it to the list and pass on the suggestion to our production team. Thanks for the idea!
Hi Stu. This one should resonate as buying advice pretty well, views should go up. Encapsulates all major points so clearly that my knowledge acquired from it qualifies me now for looking for the job as a dealer ( always compete with all features & values except price ;-)
Good afternoon I would like to purchase a new upright piano that has the following sound characteristics: warm, enveloping, slightly metallic, powerful, full, enveloping sound. What do you suggest between bechestein bösendorfers schimmel or bluthner ? I ask you because I don't have the possibility of finding a retailer where I can try them together and therefore I ask you for advice on which I can orient myself. Thank you in advance for your attention.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While tonal preference and interpretation is always a highly subjective matter, for me, I would recommend the C. Bechstein line based on what you're describing. The C. Bechstein Academy models in particular seem to have a rare combination of warmth and brilliance. This provides a robust, full tone with lots of attack. I think you would be very happy with a model like the C. Bechstein A6. :)
I love all of your Videos. This one is quite a must watch Video considering buying a piano. After 10 years of not having/playing a piano, I finally decided for a Kawai CA-99 and I truly like it. On the other - thanks to your Videos - I would love to change in a few years to a baby grand piano. Greetings from Germany.
Hello from Canada! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words and for tuning into our channel. We sincerely appreciate the support and we are so happy to hear that you've found it helpful. Enjoy your Kawai CA99! It is a wonderful digital piano and the warmth and nuance that the TwinDrive Soundboard system provides is something truly special. :)
Great Explanations! I like your series because you bring up informations which you can articulate very precise without judging anything. Great job! please keep going and thank you.
What about the opportunity to sample more than one piano once you have settled on make and model due to variability between individual pianos? I posed that question to a salesperson in a showroom for one of the premium piano brands in the world and she replied that trying out different pianos of the same model is more reserved for the discerning ears of concert-level pianists and shouldn't matter much to the home consumer.
Thanks, a really great and highly helpful video. I am in the process of choosing a new piano for the first time since I started playing as a child, and I very much enjoy and appreciate the content you are putting out.
I bought a piano at the end of the ivory key era. My piano is a high end brand. I was thinking of selling it, but have encountered reluctance to buy it because of the ivory. It was legal when I purchased it. I assume that many older used pianos have ivory keys. What is the reality?
Thank you for the question. That is a tricky one to address and I think there will be some differences based on geography as well. Here in Canada, there are no issues with purchasing older ivory key pianos as long as the piano is not moving over the US border. That gets a lot more complicated and, in most cases, to avoid any issues on that front, ivory key tops are often replaced with newer synthetic ones.
When it comes to the time of wear and tear, as well as the cost and ability to repair, how is it with digital pianos and parts like the Grand Feel III? Is it replaceable and repairable?
The most common issues that require repair for digitals pianos are usually related to the action. For instance, things like sensor strip and felt replacements are quite common after a certain amount of play. These are generally generic components that can be replaced and repaired even after a piano is out of warranty. :)
Not sure about the Canadian market, but here in my neck of the woods in the USA, my neighbor just bought a new extremely high-end European piano that had an MSRP of nearly $180,000 for just under $117,000. And he really didn’t even have to haggle too much about the price either. Seems a 34% discount still isn’t that unusual. At least not in the states.
There are some differences in pricing from market to market. Factors like amount of competition from other retailers, logistical costs in acquiring instruments from specific manufacturers, and overhead expenses all play their part.
Good points made but when I help students select pianos 1) I warn about a warehouse acoustic v. their home acoustic. 2) I often favor restored vintage Steinways over new ones. I know who the great rebuilders are--and we're talking knocking down 50% or more of what a new Steinway costs. I will never buy a new Steinway. 3) There can be aisles of Kawais or new Yamahas lined up , and maybe only one or two will have a great sythesis of tone and touch.. one must be discriminating. Finally, The silent systems affect the acoustic sound. Case in poinst YUS5 without a silent system, vs. one with.
There's even a lot of variation in digitals, particularly given the fact that there are many built in differences within a given product line. For example I like the Kawai DG-30, but the action in it is not as good as the one in the CA-99. The Roland actions which are said to be "very piano like" are actually sluggish at least when new. They have perhaps the best sounding digital on the market with the LX-708 model. It has their best action which doesn't seem to suffer the sluggish issue as far as I know. All this said, if you can already play, you can find really great values on the previously owned market, and you can almost always sell them for exactly what you paid a few years later. My advice when buying from a dealer is spend a lot of time making a decision and go to different dealers. For example I tried a several pianos at a big piano store recently but they have no Yamahas and even within their lines, they are out of stock on the most popular models. Finally it's a lot easier to buy a piano than sell one,
@@JoeLinux2000 All very true! And the "same" action (on a digital piano) may not be/seem the same on two different models by the same manufacturer. I had a very similar experience to you, one year ago in a leading showroom in Spain. There were plenty of Kawai and Roland pianos, but no Yamahas. I had travelled well over 100km, bit still no comparison was possible. Kawai and Yamaha (new digitals) seem to be mutually exclusive outside of showrooms in Japan. Also I phoned the Kawai distributor for Spain, and asked why my local music stores don't have their instruments. That isn't necessary they told me, autocratically. They cited two places where I could try their pianos, over 200km apart! I have heard the smaller music shops complain that to stock any Yamaha products, they are obliged to stock whatever Yamaha tells them to in trumpets, clarinets and so on. So often they go without any Yamaha products.
@@Zoco101 I'm playing a Yamaha now, and there are certain things that are good about it, but there are many things very conceptually wrong such as many voices that sustain with a key press do not sustain with the sustain pedal, and there is nothing you can do about it. Yamaha is so big it has failed to a certain extent. They have the know how, but they don't apply it.
It is not just super helpful but it is extremely helpful Stu. Thanks for the great effort and sharing your years of experience with us that are trying to make a decision. Respect.
Thank you for such a great insight for us piano buyers!!! If you allow me a question, could you share your opinion or advice on “installing” the silent system into an used piano to be purchased? Sometimes I hear people saying “if it does not come with with from factory, you should not do it” Thanks again Stu!!
My experience with friends who have bought older Yamahas and Kawais (30 yrs +) is that the actions are very worn out and the tonal quality is mediocre at best. It is very difficult to bring nuances into the play. Good enough for Honkey Tonk and Elton John pop songs, but that's about it. I "learnt" playing the piano on a low-quality South African instrument and the damage it did to my playing is difficult to mend. I would say for beginners to early intermediate players, the two worst mistakes are: (1) buying a piano without bringing a good friend who plays way better than you and can assess the action and tonal quality of the instrument; (2) buying at the first shop you happen to come across without checking out at least two others. When buying a used piano, the golden rule is to pay an independent piano technician to check out the piano. That will save a lot of money in the end! I now own my second piano (sold the first one to my brother) and I bough both pianos new straight from the manufacturer. I regretted neither purchase. That said, I think the worst mistake anybody can make is not buying a piano at all.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts/experiences! We appreciate it. :) It is never a bad idea to get the opinion of a more experienced player, particularly if you are buying a piano for the first time. As for going to multiple piano showrooms, it can be helpful, but, there are many regions with there may only be one showroom available to shop out of. I would also say that purchasing the right piano is not too dissimilar from finding a significant other. When you know it's right, you just know! I have seen my fair share of customers that fell in love with a piano on the first visit, but didn't pull the trigger because they convinced themselves that they needed to shop around and test out more instruments only to discover that the piano they fell in love with was claimed by another customer by time they finished their shopping process and returned to the showroom to purchase the initial piano they fell in love with.
@@MerriamPianos Oh if it is love at first sight then - why not! Provided the customer is experienced enough to understand what he/she is buying. But I think you point out something very, very important: when buying a piano, it is "the feel" of the keys/the action and "the sound" that is totally subjective. If the piano is in good shape, then "it's right when it feels right". I bought a new piano last year and in the end tested various instrument of the exact same model as the sound was quite different. Same brand, same model - one felt right.
I am happy to have a great room in a big house for a grand piano.... for the last point I would like even add... it's also a matter of the person who will play the piano/grand piano... if that person is talented all others will have some understanding. BUT if the person who wants to play hours and hours with mediocre talent it can become a big problem in that family... I even would say: choose the right instrument.... I also learn guitar playing since 2 years by my own... the more I play the acustic guitar and now starting the e-guitar - I even are more motivated in the guitar playing than piano... also when I see UA-cam pianists...for me I have often the feeling that the great world known pianists plays like they were in a competition with other pianists... it looks very stiff... missing joy .. maybe I am so what of wrong - but it is how I feel it...
The volume output is definitely an important consideration when you're living in a shared space with roommates or family members. That is a very good point! In terms of your commentary on some top-level piano players missing the joy, I think there is an element of that with some players. However, there are some amazing top-level players that look like they're having a blast when they play. Lang Lang is one of the first players that comes to mind that looks like he is loving every minute he is playing a piano. :)
I'm in the process of trying to fill the almost total void that is my piano knowledge. But I am highly skeptical about the first point, particularly as a musician who values playability greatly and aesthetics little. I drive an early 2000s Town Car that I got for $1700 4 years ago. My all-in cost is running something like $2,100, not counting oil changes and gas. A similar new car comes with a payment of around $1,000 a month. I love the car, the best I've ever owned. It's great in every way. It's also saved me about $50k just on payments alone, and that's just so far. It doesn't include the massive depreciation hit someone buying a new comp would take on the chin. The fact is, the value of the used asset in this case is staggering to such a degree that driving it has materially boosted my net worth, especially considering realized opportunities that would have been opportunity costs. My mind is open. But depreciation curves tend not to differ that much from one asset class to another, aside from perhaps real estate. I would like to hear how pianos defy the above pattern where so many other assets, given an astute and well-researched buyer, adhere to it.
Thank you for writing in with your comments. Naturally, value propositions and perceptions will always be a deeply subjective matter. With that said, when it comes to pianos, there are some things to consider when buying used over new. Warranties are typically always better on new instruments. The standard in our market is 10 year parts/labour for a new instrument and something along the lines of 5 or 10 year parts and 1 year labour for used instruments. Depending on the condition of the used instrument you purchase, it is possible that you will end up spending a lot of additional dollars for a tech's time to maintain the instrument, especially if you prioritize having the absolute best possible playability at all times. Specialized work like voicing/regulation often requires specialized technicians that charge a premium. Furthermore, the advantage of a new instrument is that you get to enjoy the best years of the instrument's life (which many piano aficionados deem to be between the 2 year to 5 year mark). Unlike a car, which many people purchase as a requirement to take them from point A to point B, part of what you're investing in with an instrument is inspiration. Buying a piano is easy, but becoming an extremely proficient player is quite difficult and requires a tremendous amount of practice and dedication. If it was possible to buy talent, all of the most affluent people in the world would be occupying all of the major concert halls and music venues in the world. If buying an instrument that is at the pinnacle of its musical output is going to lead to increased inspiration and more practice hours, it is difficult to put a value on that. Of course, it all comes down to a matter of personal opinion and subjectivity. There really is no right or wrong answer here. Every piano player/shopper will have to determine the best route for themselves based on their specific needs and circumstances.
@@MerriamPianos Thanks. Your point about inspiration is 100% accurate. There were times I was so broke I couldn't fix my digital piano with multiple broken keys and as a result went almost two years barely playing rather than slogging it out on a badly substandard instrument.
An important one is missing: Don't buy a piano at first sight or (worse) a piano that you haven't actually played! Brand doesn't say everything and there can be significant differences between piano's from the same brand. When I was looking to replace the 40 year old 104cm Schimmel on which I learned to play looooooong ago for something few levels up, I played a lot of instruments before I made my final buy decision. I had various positive and negative surprises. Two examples: 1) I played a 5 year old Steinway 125cm upright at an official dealer, which I didn't like at all. It sounded loud and shrill and the action was't specifically precise. I also played a Zimmerman of about a third of the price at the same shop, which gave great control and sounded simply wonderful, far better than I had expected! 2) I also considered a silent system, but my technician told me that it has impact on the action, also when silent system is switched off, as there needs to be slightly more space between the hammers and the strings. So I went to a large shop and played a nice Bechstein with silent system. At first I thought I couldn't notice the silence system and the action was quite OK. I didn't like the musical experience of silent mode though: completely inferior! Then I played the same model Bechstein without silent system and I immediately noticed the greater directness and precision compared to the one with silent system. The combination of the inferior musical experience in silent mode and the degraded directness made me decide to drop the silent piano's. I played the instruments on my final shortlist twice before I decided. It took me 3 months and quite some playing before I bought my Steingraeber & Söhne 130. By the way: I can also confirm from my own experience the remark that you need to spend about twice the budget on a grand piano for a same level experience compared to an upright. When I bought my Steingraeber 6 years ago, I didn't have room for a grand piano.Two years ago, we've moved and I have more space now. I've started considering to replace my Steingraeber for a grand piano, but found out that I'm quite spoiled. The instruments I played so far were either a step back in playing, or a huge step up in price!
Lots of very useful tips in this video. I'm thinking of buying a grand piano to replace my Kawai digital, but I'm a bit concerned about the sound level for me, the player. The room is about 40 m2 / 430 ft2, tiled floor. What length of grand should I be looking at so as not to be deafened? Are there any rules of thumb relating grand piano size to room size? I'd really appreciate any guidance. Thanks.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! We're glad that you found the video useful! In terms of what is an appropriate size of piano for your room based on appropriate volume, it is a difficult question to answer as every player and set of ears is different. What is considered to be "too loud" is quite subjective. With that said, keep in mind that there are a number of things that can be done to mitigate volume such as the addition of carpets, rugs or drapes that can absorb the sound. You can also play the piano with the lid down or at half-stick. Obviously, you may not be getting the most of what your piano offers musically, but these are steps that can be taken at times when you can't play the instrument full on. I think the questions you've asked would make for a wonderful video though! I will add it to the list of potential topics for upcoming videos.
@MerriamPianos Hi Brent, I really appreciate your going to the trouble of answering. In the end we splashed out and bought a Kawai Shigeru 2. It IS loud, but we've got used to the greater volume and it is such a satisfying instrument both to play and to listen to. We do keep the lid down, and we put a rug under the instrument as the floor is tiled. The digital Kawai CA95, which I loved when we bought it, is languishing almost untouched in another room. In the video the problem with humidity is mentioned. As we have underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove in the room where the piano is, the piano dealer installed a Dampp-Chaser piano lifesaver system. The main concern was to stop the sound board from becoming too dry in the low winter humidity. Idk if it helped with tuning stability. Our piano needed its first tuning about 6 months after delivery.
This video is a master class in how do a an effective sales pitch. First off he knows his audience, and almost every point he makes, builds rapport with that audience. Each point is concise and tells a compelling story...but most importantly (in terms of maximizing the sale), with just about each and every point he focuses (like a laser) on the "benefits" of spending more money on a piano (in particular new pianos), not less. Beautifully done!
Thanks so much for tuning in and for your kind words! We sincerely appreciate it. :)
I don't see that, in all these videos the emphasis is on getting the most appropriate instrument not the most expensive.
Stu is a great guy. I keep coming back to this channel because of his beautiful playing and his clean presentation of the content.
Hey Adam - just came across the comment, and it put a smile on my face. Thank you! -Stu
I would like to sincerely thank Stu and his Merriam Music videos that gave my wife and I confidence in selecting a new piano. Even though we are in Australia, we found your videos filled with knowledge and great tips and the comparisons between types and brands insightful and relevant. We made the final choice after my wife sat at that piano for half an hour playing her favourites.We settled on a new mahogany, Japanese made, Kawai K300 upright accoustic for its feel, its sound as well as its size and presentation. My wife is thrilled with the purchase. Thank you again for the help. Please know it has been greatly appreciated. What a tremendous service you provide.👍🙏
Stu I couldn't agree more with your last point. I was personally there. My non-piano playing very dominant spouse chose a digital piano over an acoustic one and it never ever resonated with me. After separating the first thing I did was that I sold that digital piano for the acoustic piano of my dreams. This was the best decision I have ever made.
There are some great digital pianos out there, but, for some players, an acoustic piano and the nuance of strings and wooden soundboards resonating is the only thing that will truly make them feel connected to the music they're playing.
those were two good decisions. ditching the wife and going with the acoustic
Every piano buyer should watch this video. This is the most honest video I have ever heard. Great video Stu!!
Great video! As a British person, I'm comforted by your interchangeable use of imperial and metric measurements.
Thank you so much! Haha we tend to use a little bit of both systems here in Canada given our British connection and close proximity to the U.S. ;)
A VERY important mistake is missing:
"For beginners, an instrument that is as inexpensive as possible is sufficient (perhaps he will soon stop playing and the money will be gone...)"
A beginner needs the best instrument he can afford, only then he will learn to enjoy the music experience!
I absolutely agree. I also made a mistake of buying a cheaper (digital) piano and a year later, a few “upgrades” (and some money lost), I finally bought something I will be happy with. It is more that three times the first purchase price.
As a beginner, for a year and a half, I had access to high-end concert grands late at night.
Keep in mind I was incapable of unleashing even 15% of what these pianos could do.
Didn't matter. It was glorious, like little kicks of adrenaline here and there. The feedback and precision of a good action and all that color cleaned up my playing, because I could feel every uneven passage or sloppy chord. And it felt exciting to play.
This has proven to have expensive consequences later in life.
It's going to be hard to convince a non-piano buyer this. The assumption that beginners don't need an expensive piano when their capabilities are limited. I remember that was what my parents believed. But then again, pianos are expensive and most people don't have the budget to buy a decent one. They ended up buying a spinet and believed this was all I needed.
We gave away the spinet a couple of months ago to a new family and I'm hoping to get a grand (or two) in return pending budget, space, and practice time.
Very useful advices!
The biggest mistake I made was trying out top-of-the-line pianos, and since then they have been the benchmark... 😆🤭😅
When I was younger, I used to feel a little intimidated in a showroom. Instead of focusing entirely on the instruments, I worried about how my playing seemed to the salesmen. I play several different instruments (not just piano) and this happened with each of them.
I'll bet that many customers feel shy and embarassed about playing/testing instruments. I suggest that to break the ice, we should get the salesman to demonstrate one or two models first. Then we can quickly see how short these demos are. Why? Well it's often because the salesman feels he doesn't need to learn the whole piece to demonstrate "x" aspect of a particular instrument's capabilities. Nor do we have to learn a whole piece perfectly to test an instrument. Usually, the salesman will disappear for a while. This is so we can continue trying the instruments without feeling too shy. Let's do that! We can bring sheet music if we like. Minuet in G? Basic boogie blues? Whatever!
I remember trying an instrument in a very sober looking showroom, and feeling stupid because of the jazzy (non classical) thing I was playing. Then I realised that two of the salesmen were humming along with me. Let's enjoy the instruments and forget about who is listening, and lose ourselves in what really matters.
PS If you're trying a digital piano, do bring your own headphones! That's so you can try the pianos without onboard speaker bias (part of the time) and without always being overheard, and you can test the clarity of the headphone signal, all with the headphones you know and trust. One Casio I tried was terrible through headphones. I can only imagine that it had developed a fault in the showroom. It was their last one. I'm glad I didn't buy it!
Really good point ! When I bought my first new piano over 50 years ago (as a 16 year old boy) i was terrified to try the pianos out while there were people milling about (especially accomplished players). Ended up buying partially on looks and based on what the piano sounded like when someone else played it. Ended up with a piano whose action I was never really satisfied with and a sound which seemed somehow "muffled" to me. The experience when I finally traded in that piano and bought a new one at Merriam was much better. I am still shy about my playing but no pressure or hard sell and the salesman actually vacated the room and let me try out several candidate pianos which fit my requirements and budget undisturbed. Came back a second time armed with a variety of music to check for various specific things (dynamic sensitivity, repetition speed, tone for loud thunderous pieces and mellow pieces etc.) , and thoroughly tried out the pianos I was interested in to make a final decision. Ended up with a piano nicely within my budget and whose action and sound I really love (a Hoffmann T122). Couldn't be happier :-)
I would add: if your headphones are not studio headphones, then ask the salesperson for one to test the digital piano. Consumer-grade headphones typically don't have a flat frequency response, and usually have accentuated bass and treble. Most people don't ever listen to music the way it sounds in the actual recording. If you have never heard a truly flat studio monitor before, you will need time to adapt your ears to what will sound weird at first. A little bit like Neo in "The Matrix", whose eyes hurt because he had never used them before. You can't place your trust in a pair of headphones that lie to you. Even studio headphones all sound different! Some studio headphones may have a little emphasis on the treble (like Beyerdynamics) or a little emphasis on the bass (like the Audio Technica ATH M50X), or not much treble definition (like the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO), and so on. So, the piano will sound different in all of them. You are left wondering: which is the TRUE piano sample inside my digital piano? One common assumption people will make is that what they hear is what "it is". Well, no. What you hear is what your headphones or speakers are telling you. Are they lying to you? They could be. Ideally, you want to have more than one pair of studio headphones, because they all sound different, and it would be wise to shop for the flattest ones in the widest frequency range possible.
@@Instrumental-Covers this reminds me of one of Vinheteiro's videos where he compares cheep and, expensive pianos. If you look in the comments there are people who say that there is no difference without even considering what was used to record the pianos. Some even say the law of diminishing returnes. I remember 1 commenter who said there's something rong with me when I recomended listening with headphones. The worst part is it wasn't even him/her who I replied to. I replied to another commenter then he/she butted in saying and, you'd know how? You've bin a round all these pianos?🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Yes, the internet is a rough place. There are too many people who want to compensate themselves using one upmanship, even in seemingly uncontroversial threads. I remember how polite you have always been here, so you deserve better treatment.
@@Instrumental-Covers I agree about testing with some flat studio monitors if possible, and that is particularly important if the shopper will be recording or gigging with his new DP/hybrid, but for practice we need whichever headphones make our DPs agreeable to us. And if the shopper wants a DP for practising exclusively with headphones, then whichever combination of phones and piano that gives a nice sound - that's a happy solution IMO. I particularly like your idea of testing with a couple of different sets.
The last one is very true. My wife nearly convinced me to get the wrong piano lol. She said just get "the "fancy 80k steinway, go big or go home." But she also ended up liking the Kawai I fell in love with, so it worked itself out 😄.
Absolutely! I am happy to hear that you ended up settling on an instrument that you truly connect with and are inspired by. That is always the most important thing at the end of the day. Thanks for tuning in and sharing! :)
Even if a piano isn't played it degrades which Stu is pointing out to a certain extent. Depending on the climate a lot of negative things can happend. Felt hammers tend to grow hard whether the climate is damp or dry. Termites can be an extreme problem that are not always obvious. Pianos also tend to go out of regulation even just sitting there. Digitals tend to go obsolete almost over night. Pianos become much louder when poorly played. Wong notes are extremely loud no matter how softly they are played.
Stu, you have helped me immensely. If you were closer I would have purchased from you. I ended up buying a Yamaha C2X as a result of one of your videos. I appreciate the 10 common mistakes and they are all so true. Thanks for being a great advisor to the piano community. BTW, you are a great pianist, I wish I could play as well and aspire to become better each day.
I love these videos. I just bought a Baldwin L 6’3” from the 1930s. I wanted American made and that big Baldwin sound. We absolutely love it.
I'm glad I checked all these mistakes off when I was shopping for my first acoustic piano. Was hesitating between a Schimmel C121 (upright - 14.000€) or Estonia 168 (grand - 30.000€), eventually chose the Schimmel because it was more reasonable for my level. I loved the feeling and the sound of the Schimmel compared to even a Yamaha U1. It was so great to play on it. Now I'm waiting for the delivery... 3 months to go :(
Happy for your choice! I know the pain of waiting. Ordered an Instrument (not a piano) from a maker and i am currently waiting for 11 months and it may well take another 2-3 months to finish. Its hard to wait so long :D
I have the same Schimmel upright. Love it. :)
@@ScottA2345 yes me too! I have the matte black finish, soooo beautiful. Don't like the glossy ahah
@@ScottA2345 Look at the 2023 price list and consider yourself lucky. 😁
@@HS-wp5vb Thanks for the heads up. Yes, lucky. 😊 I just had the piano tuned today and the tuner charged me less than his customary charge telling me that it holds it tuning so well he only has to do about half the work that he does with other uprights. Plus, he said, he just loves working on it.
With respect to the sound made by the piano propagating towards the rest of the house or the neighbors, it may be wise to recall that there are often possibilities to mitigate the problem through acoustic insulation work. Insulation may be rather expensive, so rather than spending the whole budget on the piano it may be wise to stay a little lower and keep aside something to improve the insulation (I am currently going through these considerations myself!)
Putting a rug under the piano or the wall, if you can.
Err... why not just plug your headphones in or turn down the volume of your piano?
@RafiGish One reason why I have both a digital and an acoustic. I'm careful when I play the professional upright because of the sound it puts out.
As a drummer, bassist, and guitarist who is looking to get started in piano/keys, I was very happy to find your channel. This video resonates (hehe) on quite a few levels, and even though my upcoming purchase will be local and most likely a synthesizer, you have covered some very important points.
Muchos gracias!
You're very welcome! We're happy to have helped. :)
Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! We really appreciate it. All the best with your piano journey! I am confident that your musical background will make playing the piano far more accessible even in the early stages.
I am only in the market for a digital piano but watched this video in it's entirety and realized there are so much to consider when purchasing an acoustic piano 😮
For sure! Choosing a piano is a big decision. But, it is also a very exciting process! :)
Do you recommend silent pianos or rather hybrid ones? Id prefer the grandpiano action more but have no space nor the money for a real grand one and practice 80% with headphones. since 14 years on a korg sp-250 :-/
It really comes down to your particular circumstances. If space is a concern, but you're looking to have a grand piano touch, an option like the Kawai NV10S may be very appealing!
Always appreciate these videos, even if I am not currently shopping for a new piano.
I never really realized how loud my piano gets until I tried to play without disturbing my family. When you're on playing at night while kids are asleep, you would swear the piano decides to scream, shout, and imitate a fire alarm, regardless of how quietly you try to play. This lead me to invest in a Roland FP30x (BTW thank you to Stu again for his videos on that instrument!) for night time playing.
I know from watching your other videos you have said that a good upright can be better than a grand, but I was surprised to hear you say the price essentially doubles to go to a grand of equivalent quality. I need to get to a showroom to check this out. You have me very interested in learning more about uprights.
Last comment, another person commented about being intimidated when going to a showroom to try a piano and feeling embarrassed about your playing ability. I admit this has kept me from just stopping in at the showroom near me to just sit down and listen for some of the really great things I have picked up from this channel
I have found an up-right Seiler Piano from 1974 build in Germany. It’s 112 cm only but sounds like it was way taller. So I agree that size does not always matter.
That's my piano too. A very powerful machine hahah I love it!
It’s great to hear a real pro give the exact same advice I’ve been giving myself for years! The thing about 6’ pianos being the cutoff comes from Steinway a long time ago; they said pianos aren’t really grand pianos until 6’ and longer. This has stuck in people’s minds. Whether or not that was accurate back then is moot as scale and soundboard designs have advanced quite a bit since then. That being said, getting too much shorter than 6’ still has quite a bearing on the sound. While I love my 5’8” PETROF, I definitely feel its shortness sometimes. But, my choices were limited on budget and space.
And spot on about some uprights being better than grands. My Walter upright was better than a lot of grands, but I do like my PETROF grand a lot better (apples and oranges, I suppose).
Stu I am like 2 years from being able to buy a piano but I've watched so many of your tip videos because they are so well done and you have an AMAZING voice + you play piano rather well :)
Hi! Brent here! I will be sure to pass along your kind words and support to Stu! Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)
I discovered Stu and his piano videos a week ago. He is fantastic and I love his reviews and his playing skill.
Hi Craig! Brent from Merriam Music here! I'm very happy to hear that you've discovered our channel and Stu's wonderful review videos. Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! :)
I love how well spoken you are and personable Stu! You provide so much good info and all without any biases. I feel like you give me the information I need to make my own decision, so thank you very much for all the effort you put into these videos!
Another great video Stu! Pretty surprised to hear that a grand will be twice as much to achieve the same level of an upright, in a good way. I got an upright new, and from day one, the salesmen told me, it’s a good purchase to begin with but I will eventually want an grand one day! After this video I feel much better to pick an upright, and not feeling I am compromising
Hello Stu. Love watching your videos. Every person interested in buying a piano should be obligate to watch this. I would also make sure people understand the effects of humidity on a piano. I had a 1922 M&H A that was refurbished by Cunningham Piano in PA. I loved the piano. However, I lived in a very old house where the humidity fluctuated tremendously. Within 17 years, the piano was ruined. I was greatly saddened. I recently purchased a restored 1904 Steinway upright model V. (I moved so I didn't have room for a grand). I made sure that I a dampp-chaser installed to deal with fluctuations with humidity. It's going on 3 years since I've had the piano and no specific issues except having it tuned every 6 months. I cannot stress how important it is to have something that costs $500 to help alleviate the humidity issues as well as one's worry.
In watching your videos you've also inspired me to get back to my own playing. Within the next few years I will probably purchase my last piano - it will be new and it will be an upright. I am thankful that I live in the northeast where there are dealers between NJ and CT that sell Bechstein, Bluthner, Steingraeber, M&H, Steinway, etc. so I can have the chance to play them all and fine what's right for me. I do miss the tone and bass resonance from the M&H I had. Keep doing what you are doing as it's invaluable to people.
Really sad to hear. Those Mason & Hamlins are really something special. A dry climate is always the enemy of the instrament. This is regardless of age. If you have a high end piano like a Mason I always recommend having a humidity system that is on par with the variance in humidity of your environment. In 80% of the US a damp chaser is perfectly adequate. But in some areas where the humidity fluctuates too much like in Massachusits or Montana, The dryness in the winter will literally destroy the piano damp chaser or not. The issue is that the water reserve in the damp chaser cannot keep up with a bone dry air and in those case you need a full room humidifier. For reference I really dry areas you may need to add 2-5 gallons of water to a day to keep the humidity in check for a small room. The damp chaser is generally trying its best, but there simply isn't enough water to keep up in those 20% areas where it just gets extremely dry.
As for loudness issue: for a grand, I often play with the lid down and the cover still on it (I keep the cover on all the time-cats). A rug underneath and a sound baffle against any adjacent walls can help the sound as well.
These are all excellent solutions! There is a company called Piattino that also makes specially designed castor cups that offer additional acoustic insulation. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! :)
Oh, ya, and speaking of volume, my Walter Studio put out 105dB when played hard with the lid open with the meter placed in the player’s position!!! That’s dangerous! My PETROF grand won’t even put out 85dB even if I beat in it. No complaints here, though, as I can play extremely softly, which is more of a testament to quality anyway.
Love your tips and reviews. Please do a video of advice on buying a digital or acoustic for those of us wearing hearing aids. I’m 75, started playing one year ago and have a Yamaha P121. I want to buy something much better.
Thank you for the kind words! We really appreciate it! Also, thank you for your suggestion. I will pass it along to our production team. We do our best to tackle as many requests as possible, but, with so many topics and models to cover, it is tough to get to them all.
Thank you, Stu. Agree with all your advice.
I love your videos. Just found them. Thanks
Thank you so much! We appreciate the support! :)
Terrific advise, most interesting, thank you!
I loved that you pointed out that a new piano pretty much always better than used one in the same category, and that uprights can be better than grands. I recently changed from a new upright (2018) to an old grand piano (1997), by the same brand (Kawai), and even though the grand is about 3 times more expensive than the upright, I still feel that the action of the much newer upright was better. Of course, the sound of the grand is much more open and it has a lot more dynamic range, which is what I was looking for. But, sometimes I miss the precision of the action in my ex-upright. There is nothing wrong with the grand I have now. It was carefully regulated and tuned, and it is really in great condition, but, it is nowhere near as good as a new piano of similar quality. So, like you said, you get what you pay for. People need to understand that in reality it is very hard to find a "hot deal" of a cheap used piano. In most cases, the piano stores are the ones getting those deals, and then, they re-sell the instrument to the consumer at the corrected price. I had some experience chasing cheap used piano deals, and in reality they were all terrible instruments.
You really have this direct link between quality and price, but I think at the higher end products, the distinction is quality is more elusive. Kind of hard to justify the fact that a Steinway O costs about 3 times more than a Kawai GX-3, which has the same size. The quality of the Steinway is really 3 times better? I don't know, but I feel that the higher the price, the harder it is to really feel a proportional increase in quality and overall playing experience.
But why did you change from the new upright to an old grand piano?
@@G91YS I moved to another country and I couldn't bring my piano. I've been wanting to upgrade to a grand for a while, so, since I needed another piano I looked for a grand that would fit my budget. I got a mid-size grand piano, a Kawai RX-2, which is superior to a small upright regarding dynamic range. I really wanted an extended dynamic range, which gives more "colors" to play with, so I was willing to sacrifice a bit of precision in the action to get that uprgrade.
@@FelipeCostaPiano Kawai RX-2 is a really nice Piano. I played one in store and it sounded better than the refurbished Steinway they had in the other room.
Thanks Stu for that very honest video. As always you nailed it.
Your videos are fabulous and an excellent marketing tool. I dream of getting a grand piano and, when my wife inevitably succeeds in dragging me out of the semi-detached house in NDG (Montreal) that I love (but which is too small for a grand piano) into an apartment (which I may not love but will have the space), I plan to come to you, hopefully, for my purchase. (Assuming Meridiam deals with Montreal customers). Based on your videos, I can say that dealing with you personally, Stu, forms a not insignificant part of the enjoyment and satisfaction I anticipate deriving from this whole process!
Lots of great sounding digitals at least at the top of the product lines. CA-99 DG-30, LX-708. Not sure about the Yamahas, although I play a Yamaha DGX-670 combined with Pianoteq Pro. This instrument combination sounds very similar to the Roland LX-708.
The best way to choose a piano is with your ears and your fingers. Even two of the same piano in the showroom can sound subtly different from each other. I worked at a yamaha dealer and so often people would be more concerned with the aesthetics or the brand rather than the tonal quality or action.
As to mistake #6 about the sound of the mechanicals in a silent system. For sure, and that's a great point, particularly since the piano by its very nature is a percussive instrument. Even so-called "silent" drums, such as the Roland V-Drum line, are not truly silent; especially the "thwack" of drum stick on a cymbal or the rim of one of the pads. Those cymbals have sensors, and they're coated in rubber, but they are hard underneath, so hardly quiet, and the thwacking all night long can drive other humans up a wall. The rims have sensors too, but under the rubber rim is a metal rim. So that will produce another kind of a "thwack" sound.
SO true and such lovely playing. Thank you!
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in! :)
So far
Between portable Nord Roland Yamaha and External speakers and headphones..
I just don't feel the need of an acoustic.. Despite playing them in other venues few times a wk.
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you!
You're very welcome! We're happy to hear that you found it helpful!
Volume is something newbies never think about. I recently started taking lessons, and for the last lesson this spring, we got to play on a 5 foot Yamaha grand. It was amazingly loud! Shouldn't have been been surprised. In spite of it's small size, these things are made to fill a concert hall. Easily filled a classroom with more than enough sound!
Thanks for the sound advice on all these subjects!
A 5 foot grand is not made to fill a concert hall lol
I want to add my gratitudine for Stu, I decided which piano to buy (a beautiful Kawai GL-30) in Rome, just watching its videos!
Thank you so much for sharing these invaluable tips.
You're very welcome! Thank you for watching! :)
Thank you very much for this kind of eye opening video. Did not expect that upright piano can be very similar to a twice as expensive grand piano. Interesting.
You're very welcome! We're glad you found the video helpful and informative. Thanks so much for tuning in! :)
Some useful information..
But I would feel more than the height and length...check and listen for the fundamental tone in the bass...
For sure! While the height and length will obviously determine the max length of the lowest bass strings, which, in turn, would impact the clarity and power of the bass register, there are other elements of the design that can contribute. A good example of this is the C. Bechstein L167. Despite its smaller size, it is an absolute powerhouse of a piano! :)
@@MerriamPianos I have to play that one I played their model B. It's was good ..I preferred the Concert 8 upright though.
especially the last . was important to speak up to, thanks Stu!
I live in Scotland, and I am excited to be deciding what piano I am going to buy next. Having said that, it's a major purchase decision to make and more daunting than i thought before doing some online research! My price range is probably about £8-9k. I am considering either the digital hybrid Avantgramd Nx1 or Kawaii NV10 but also seen that I could get a GL10 baby grand. Your video certainly brought my expectations back to down to earth in so far as the misconception that a grand will always be better playing and sounding than an upright, etc. I need to go try all of these and see how I feel... the aesthetics of a GP are very alluring, but after watching some videos, I think that the nv10 and its action may appeal better to my wants/needs. The NV10 is more expensive than the GL10 as well! I guess I need to just wait until I try all of them and carefully try to make the right decision. The action and sound are far more important to me despite the aesthetic appeal of the GP in the end. Your videos are helpful, thanks!
Hi there! Thanks for tuning in! It can certainly be difficult narrowing things down, especially when there are so many compelling models and instruments on the market. With that said, testing the instruments out in person is always the best way to determine which one is the right fit for you. Best of luck and happy playing! :)
My Yamaha U3 wasn't particularly cheap second hand but it was little used and in like new condition. At home it had some sound issues which the selling shop attributed to high humidity. Several techs looked at the piano and agreed that it was mechanically sound. Now I live in a dry climate and sure enough, the problems have disappeared! I haven't even had it tuned yet.
I am happy to hear that the issues disappeared! Given all of the organic wooden components in a piano, their performance can be heavily influenced by temperature and humidity as you've discovered. Thanks for writing in and happy playing! :)
Fantastic clarifying video! Thanks, Stu
Thank you so much for these very useful and relevant tips!
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! :)
my friend bought estonia concert grand for 15000 $ 25 years old. it was 20 years unused in concert hall. he only replaced the hammers.
Super helpful! Many thanks for this video!
You're very welcome! We're happy to hear that you found it useful! :)
Good morning
thank you for your suggestion; what do you think of the C 6 Concert model?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! The C. Bechstein Concert 6 and Concert 8 models are incredible pianos, arguably two of the best upright pianos on the planet right now. :)
Good video; very informative discussions. Have been through with what you talked about for many years. Bought a new Steinway D many years ago, sounded great in Steinway Hall but thoroughly disappointed in sound in my home. You need a large amount of space for the piano to " breathe " .
Thanks for the kind words! We appreciate it. This is a very good point. We appreciate you sharing the insight. While a home may physically accommodate a 7' to 9' piano, the design/layout of a home may not be able to fully-accommodate its musical output and sheer dynamic power. It is definitely something worth consideration when shopping for a piano in this size category.
Stu, I can't tell you how much your videos inspire, guide and excite me! I lost my Steinway B in a fire and am now navigating the replacement process. Phew. It's a journey and at times, super overwhelming. Thanks for sharing all this great information.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I am so sorry to hear about your Steinway Model B. I wish you all the best with your search for a replacement! Thank you for your kind words and for tuning into our channel. We sincerely appreciate it! :)
@@MerriamPianos
I just wish Stu would choose a piano for me! Ha! Right now, Fazioli 212, Estonia 210 and SK 5/7 are contenders.
Thanks for the timestamps! I can go to the mistakes than I may have made this way.
You're very welcome! :)
Merriam, make a top 10 mistakes when buying a digital piano? Or a digital keyboard?
Very helpful thanks. Could you also do a video on how to look after an acoustic piano - humidity etc? Many thanks.
Well done! This is super helpful information.
Thank you kindly! We're glad you found the info helpful! :)
Super helpful! Only wish I had such a shop in my area. Well done as usual 💕
Great and very helpful video!
Thank you for it.
You're very welcome! We appreciate that! :)
For reason #9 with Not Considering Uprights Under 48 Inches, the main problem that might have led to this myth is that short uprights have compromised actions. To have a proper piano, you need a full-blown action that connects directly to the keys. For short pianos, manufacturers either shorten the length of the hammers or move the action below the keys and connect them via a metal rod (called an indirect action) which either way don't give pianists the proper touch compared to a direct full-blown action.
The Not Considering Grands Under 6 feet, this mostly ties into your reason #8 with Assuming All Grands Are Better Than Uprights. Tall uprights have comparable string lengths to 5 feet "Baby Grands" and the common advice is to just get the tall upright for half the price of a grand. Grands still have their advantage with their gravity-based actions and pedal work as opposed to being more spring-based in uprights.
These are all very excellent insights! Thank you for sharing! :)
There is certainly something to be said about the perception (and realities in some cases) of compromised actions. The era of spinet and apartment pianos did not help this situation of course. With that said, there is a reason why companies continue to manufacture all of the current size categories. Thankfully, customers are becoming more well-educated these days and making decisions that suit their needs opposed to blindly following certainly market trends. Needless to say, tall uprights and long grands tend to offer amazing musical experiences, but that does not mean that shorter studio uprights or baby grands don't have their place and aren't the better choice in certain situations.
Love this. Enjoyed the honest and informative information. Very well presented, to where I am completely confident that I could take every piece of points/information presented to the bank. Thank you. Great share.
Thanks so much! We're very happy to hear that you found the insights helpful! :)
Great video and awesome that you mention the action noise on a silent piano. I’m upgrading from a Kawai K-200 ATX to probably a Kawai GL or GX or Yamaha CX silent piano but there is not much information how much louder a grand piano silent action will sound compared to a upright silent piano action. So i would really appreciate some kind of comparison 😄
Thanks for making quality content!
You're welcome! Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting! :)
with regards to MSRP, some brands just ask what they want, and people are buying it no matter what the cost. Even if it isn't value for money anymore. R&D costs need to be paid, and if you only sell a low qty of goods each year, then the price will be high. (Or you're a company called Apple, and you just charge whatever you want, as people are buying the stuff anyway, no matter the quantity). I bought my S&S Model B from 1906 for 20k$ from my piano technician, only minor cosmetic issues, technically in prestine condition. I have played many new piano's that feel and sound much worse then my 115 year old workhorse. And if I compare it with a brand new S&S model B which costs 6 times what I paid for mine, it is only fractionally better. So MSRP is one thing, value for money is a completely different thing.
There are three piano manufacturers in the U. S.: Steinway, Mason & Hamlin and Charles Walther. ( I wrote this when you said there were two, I got to the part where you correct that),
What a great set of tips, loads behind the rationale for each point.
Awesome playing also, as always!
Great video. Is there a similar video re digital pianos? I made the mistake of buying a Yamaha P515 only to discover that instead of making music I had to connect iPad, Bluetooth etc. It was infuriating. Then I bought a Kawai Mp7se (from Merriam) and got back to being a musician instead of a tech nerd.
Thanks so much! We appreciate you tuning in and supporting our business with your MP7SE purchase! :)
We do not currently have a video on this subject for digital pianos, but that is a great idea! I will certainly add it to the list and pass on the suggestion to our production team. Thanks for the idea!
Very helpful - Question will the Kawai MP11Se give me an authentic piano experience.
Regarding Japanese pianos, I have had it broken down where people say Yamaha's are bright and Kawai have a warmer sound
Hi Stu. This one should resonate as buying advice pretty well, views should go up. Encapsulates all major points so clearly that my knowledge acquired from it qualifies me now for looking for the job as a dealer ( always compete with all features & values except price ;-)
Great video! Thank you for advices, very reasonable.
Good afternoon
I would like to purchase a new upright piano that has the following sound characteristics: warm, enveloping, slightly metallic, powerful, full, enveloping sound.
What do you suggest between bechestein bösendorfers schimmel or bluthner ? I ask you because I don't have the possibility of finding a retailer where I can try them together and therefore I ask you for advice on which I can orient myself.
Thank you in advance for your attention.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While tonal preference and interpretation is always a highly subjective matter, for me, I would recommend the C. Bechstein line based on what you're describing. The C. Bechstein Academy models in particular seem to have a rare combination of warmth and brilliance. This provides a robust, full tone with lots of attack. I think you would be very happy with a model like the C. Bechstein A6. :)
I love all of your Videos. This one is quite a must watch Video considering buying a piano. After 10 years of not having/playing a piano, I finally decided for a Kawai CA-99 and I truly like it.
On the other - thanks to your Videos - I would love to change in a few years to a baby grand piano. Greetings from Germany.
Hello from Canada! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words and for tuning into our channel. We sincerely appreciate the support and we are so happy to hear that you've found it helpful. Enjoy your Kawai CA99! It is a wonderful digital piano and the warmth and nuance that the TwinDrive Soundboard system provides is something truly special. :)
Great Explanations! I like your series because you bring up informations which you can articulate very precise without judging anything. Great job! please keep going and thank you.
It would be interesting if you would test the Feurich model 123 made in Wienna. It's a 48 inch in size.
I really like your videos as they are very informative. Also I’m impressed with your playing. Great job subscribed!
What an amazing Channel!!!
Thank you so much! We appreciate that. :)
What about the opportunity to sample more than one piano once you have settled on make and model due to variability between individual pianos? I posed that question to a salesperson in a showroom for one of the premium piano brands in the world and she replied that trying out different pianos of the same model is more reserved for the discerning ears of concert-level pianists and shouldn't matter much to the home consumer.
Oh, I would have been fuming. A know a lot of home consumers who have more discerning ears than concert pianists!!
Great information
Thank you! We're glad you found it helpful.
Thanks, a really great and highly helpful video. I am in the process of choosing a new piano for the first time since I started playing as a child, and I very much enjoy and appreciate the content you are putting out.
You're very welcome! We're very happy to hear that you have been finding the videos helpful through your process! All the best and happy playing! :)
I bought a piano at the end of the ivory key era. My piano is a high end brand. I was thinking of selling it, but have encountered reluctance to buy it because of the ivory. It was legal when I purchased it. I assume that many older used pianos have ivory keys. What is the reality?
Thank you for the question. That is a tricky one to address and I think there will be some differences based on geography as well. Here in Canada, there are no issues with purchasing older ivory key pianos as long as the piano is not moving over the US border. That gets a lot more complicated and, in most cases, to avoid any issues on that front, ivory key tops are often replaced with newer synthetic ones.
When it comes to the time of wear and tear, as well as the cost and ability to repair, how is it with digital pianos and parts like the Grand Feel III? Is it replaceable and repairable?
The most common issues that require repair for digitals pianos are usually related to the action. For instance, things like sensor strip and felt replacements are quite common after a certain amount of play. These are generally generic components that can be replaced and repaired even after a piano is out of warranty. :)
Not sure about the Canadian market, but here in my neck of the woods in the USA, my neighbor just bought a new extremely high-end European piano that had an MSRP of nearly $180,000 for just under $117,000. And he really didn’t even have to haggle too much about the price either. Seems a 34% discount still isn’t that unusual. At least not in the states.
There are some differences in pricing from market to market. Factors like amount of competition from other retailers, logistical costs in acquiring instruments from specific manufacturers, and overhead expenses all play their part.
Good points made but when I help students select pianos 1) I warn about a warehouse acoustic v. their home acoustic. 2) I often favor restored vintage Steinways over new ones. I know who the great rebuilders are--and we're talking knocking down 50% or more of what a new Steinway costs. I will never buy a new Steinway. 3) There can be aisles of Kawais or new Yamahas lined up , and maybe only one or two will have a great sythesis of tone and touch.. one must be discriminating. Finally, The silent systems affect the acoustic sound. Case in poinst YUS5 without a silent system, vs. one with.
Could you tell me more about the great rebuilders, please?
There's even a lot of variation in digitals, particularly given the fact that there are many built in differences within a given product line. For example I like the Kawai DG-30, but the action in it is not as good as the one in the CA-99. The Roland actions which are said to be "very piano like" are actually sluggish at least when new. They have perhaps the best sounding digital on the market with the LX-708 model. It has their best action which doesn't seem to suffer the sluggish issue as far as I know. All this said, if you can already play, you can find really great values on the previously owned market, and you can almost always sell them for exactly what you paid a few years later. My advice when buying from a dealer is spend a lot of time making a decision and go to different dealers. For example I tried a several pianos at a big piano store recently but they have no Yamahas and even within their lines, they are out of stock on the most popular models. Finally it's a lot easier to buy a piano than sell one,
@@natalyahennings1085 In Denver CO one would be Bruce Johnson, but I'm not sure he's still alive.
@@JoeLinux2000 All very true! And the "same" action (on a digital piano) may not be/seem the same on two different models by the same manufacturer.
I had a very similar experience to you, one year ago in a leading showroom in Spain. There were plenty of Kawai and Roland pianos, but no Yamahas. I had travelled well over 100km, bit still no comparison was possible. Kawai and Yamaha (new digitals) seem to be mutually exclusive outside of showrooms in Japan.
Also I phoned the Kawai distributor for Spain, and asked why my local music stores don't have their instruments. That isn't necessary they told me, autocratically. They cited two places where I could try their pianos, over 200km apart! I have heard the smaller music shops complain that to stock any Yamaha products, they are obliged to stock whatever Yamaha tells them to in trumpets, clarinets and so on. So often they go without any Yamaha products.
@@Zoco101 I'm playing a Yamaha now, and there are certain things that are good about it, but there are many things very conceptually wrong such as many voices that sustain with a key press do not sustain with the sustain pedal, and there is nothing you can do about it. Yamaha is so big it has failed to a certain extent. They have the know how, but they don't apply it.
Thank you very much for this video, great presentation and great playing. Truly an inspiration!
Also cool hair
Thank you for the kind words and support! We really appreciate you taking the time to tune into this video and our channel as a whole. :)
It is not just super helpful but it is extremely helpful Stu. Thanks for the great effort and sharing your years of experience with us that are trying to make a decision. Respect.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your kind words. I will be sure to pass them onto Stu for you. :)
All great suggestions. But from a normal consumer point, the best suggestion: go with the common choices if you are not sure.
this is so helpful
We're so glad that you found it helpful! :)
Thank you for such a great insight for us piano buyers!!!
If you allow me a question, could you share your opinion or advice on “installing” the silent system into an used piano to be purchased? Sometimes I hear people saying “if it does not come with with from factory, you should not do it”
Thanks again Stu!!
Best discount I received was USD $1,065 + tax for a brand new Ritmüller UP110R2. The MSRP was USD $7,028.
That is quite the discount! Congrats! :)
My experience with friends who have bought older Yamahas and Kawais (30 yrs +) is that the actions are very worn out and the tonal quality is mediocre at best. It is very difficult to bring nuances into the play. Good enough for Honkey Tonk and Elton John pop songs, but that's about it. I "learnt" playing the piano on a low-quality South African instrument and the damage it did to my playing is difficult to mend.
I would say for beginners to early intermediate players, the two worst mistakes are:
(1) buying a piano without bringing a good friend who plays way better than you and can assess the action and tonal quality of the instrument;
(2) buying at the first shop you happen to come across without checking out at least two others.
When buying a used piano, the golden rule is to pay an independent piano technician to check out the piano. That will save a lot of money in the end! I now own my second piano (sold the first one to my brother) and I bough both pianos new straight from the manufacturer. I regretted neither purchase. That said, I think the worst mistake anybody can make is not buying a piano at all.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts/experiences! We appreciate it. :)
It is never a bad idea to get the opinion of a more experienced player, particularly if you are buying a piano for the first time. As for going to multiple piano showrooms, it can be helpful, but, there are many regions with there may only be one showroom available to shop out of. I would also say that purchasing the right piano is not too dissimilar from finding a significant other. When you know it's right, you just know! I have seen my fair share of customers that fell in love with a piano on the first visit, but didn't pull the trigger because they convinced themselves that they needed to shop around and test out more instruments only to discover that the piano they fell in love with was claimed by another customer by time they finished their shopping process and returned to the showroom to purchase the initial piano they fell in love with.
@@MerriamPianos Oh if it is love at first sight then - why not! Provided the customer is experienced enough to understand what he/she is buying. But I think you point out something very, very important: when buying a piano, it is "the feel" of the keys/the action and "the sound" that is totally subjective. If the piano is in good shape, then "it's right when it feels right". I bought a new piano last year and in the end tested various instrument of the exact same model as the sound was quite different. Same brand, same model - one felt right.
I am happy to have a great room in a big house for a grand piano.... for the last point I would like even add... it's also a matter of the person who will play the piano/grand piano... if that person is talented all others will have some understanding. BUT if the person who wants to play hours and hours with mediocre talent it can become a big problem in that family...
I even would say: choose the right instrument.... I also learn guitar playing since 2 years by my own... the more I play the acustic guitar and now starting the e-guitar - I even are more motivated in the guitar playing than piano... also when I see UA-cam pianists...for me I have often the feeling that the great world known pianists plays like they were in a competition with other pianists... it looks very stiff... missing joy .. maybe I am so what of wrong - but it is how I feel it...
The volume output is definitely an important consideration when you're living in a shared space with roommates or family members. That is a very good point! In terms of your commentary on some top-level piano players missing the joy, I think there is an element of that with some players. However, there are some amazing top-level players that look like they're having a blast when they play. Lang Lang is one of the first players that comes to mind that looks like he is loving every minute he is playing a piano. :)
What an amazing video 👏👏👏
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks and all the best!: )
Thank you thank you thank you
You're welcome! Thank you for tuning in! :)
What do you think about the guy in japan that adds extra springs on the keys to make a upright sound like a grand piano?
I'm in the process of trying to fill the almost total void that is my piano knowledge. But I am highly skeptical about the first point, particularly as a musician who values playability greatly and aesthetics little.
I drive an early 2000s Town Car that I got for $1700 4 years ago. My all-in cost is running something like $2,100, not counting oil changes and gas. A similar new car comes with a payment of around $1,000 a month. I love the car, the best I've ever owned. It's great in every way. It's also saved me about $50k just on payments alone, and that's just so far. It doesn't include the massive depreciation hit someone buying a new comp would take on the chin.
The fact is, the value of the used asset in this case is staggering to such a degree that driving it has materially boosted my net worth, especially considering realized opportunities that would have been opportunity costs.
My mind is open. But depreciation curves tend not to differ that much from one asset class to another, aside from perhaps real estate. I would like to hear how pianos defy the above pattern where so many other assets, given an astute and well-researched buyer, adhere to it.
Thank you for writing in with your comments. Naturally, value propositions and perceptions will always be a deeply subjective matter. With that said, when it comes to pianos, there are some things to consider when buying used over new.
Warranties are typically always better on new instruments. The standard in our market is 10 year parts/labour for a new instrument and something along the lines of 5 or 10 year parts and 1 year labour for used instruments. Depending on the condition of the used instrument you purchase, it is possible that you will end up spending a lot of additional dollars for a tech's time to maintain the instrument, especially if you prioritize having the absolute best possible playability at all times. Specialized work like voicing/regulation often requires specialized technicians that charge a premium. Furthermore, the advantage of a new instrument is that you get to enjoy the best years of the instrument's life (which many piano aficionados deem to be between the 2 year to 5 year mark).
Unlike a car, which many people purchase as a requirement to take them from point A to point B, part of what you're investing in with an instrument is inspiration. Buying a piano is easy, but becoming an extremely proficient player is quite difficult and requires a tremendous amount of practice and dedication. If it was possible to buy talent, all of the most affluent people in the world would be occupying all of the major concert halls and music venues in the world. If buying an instrument that is at the pinnacle of its musical output is going to lead to increased inspiration and more practice hours, it is difficult to put a value on that.
Of course, it all comes down to a matter of personal opinion and subjectivity. There really is no right or wrong answer here. Every piano player/shopper will have to determine the best route for themselves based on their specific needs and circumstances.
@@MerriamPianos Thanks. Your point about inspiration is 100% accurate. There were times I was so broke I couldn't fix my digital piano with multiple broken keys and as a result went almost two years barely playing rather than slogging it out on a badly substandard instrument.
An important one is missing: Don't buy a piano at first sight or (worse) a piano that you haven't actually played! Brand doesn't say everything and there can be significant differences between piano's from the same brand. When I was looking to replace the 40 year old 104cm Schimmel on which I learned to play looooooong ago for something few levels up, I played a lot of instruments before I made my final buy decision. I had various positive and negative surprises. Two examples:
1) I played a 5 year old Steinway 125cm upright at an official dealer, which I didn't like at all. It sounded loud and shrill and the action was't specifically precise. I also played a Zimmerman of about a third of the price at the same shop, which gave great control and sounded simply wonderful, far better than I had expected!
2) I also considered a silent system, but my technician told me that it has impact on the action, also when silent system is switched off, as there needs to be slightly more space between the hammers and the strings. So I went to a large shop and played a nice Bechstein with silent system. At first I thought I couldn't notice the silence system and the action was quite OK. I didn't like the musical experience of silent mode though: completely inferior! Then I played the same model Bechstein without silent system and I immediately noticed the greater directness and precision compared to the one with silent system. The combination of the inferior musical experience in silent mode and the degraded directness made me decide to drop the silent piano's.
I played the instruments on my final shortlist twice before I decided. It took me 3 months and quite some playing before I bought my Steingraeber & Söhne 130.
By the way: I can also confirm from my own experience the remark that you need to spend about twice the budget on a grand piano for a same level experience compared to an upright. When I bought my Steingraeber 6 years ago, I didn't have room for a grand piano.Two years ago, we've moved and I have more space now. I've started considering to replace my Steingraeber for a grand piano, but found out that I'm quite spoiled. The instruments I played so far were either a step back in playing, or a huge step up in price!
Lots of very useful tips in this video. I'm thinking of buying a grand piano to replace my Kawai digital, but I'm a bit concerned about the sound level for me, the player. The room is about 40 m2 / 430 ft2, tiled floor. What length of grand should I be looking at so as not to be deafened? Are there any rules of thumb relating grand piano size to room size? I'd really appreciate any guidance. Thanks.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! We're glad that you found the video useful! In terms of what is an appropriate size of piano for your room based on appropriate volume, it is a difficult question to answer as every player and set of ears is different. What is considered to be "too loud" is quite subjective. With that said, keep in mind that there are a number of things that can be done to mitigate volume such as the addition of carpets, rugs or drapes that can absorb the sound. You can also play the piano with the lid down or at half-stick. Obviously, you may not be getting the most of what your piano offers musically, but these are steps that can be taken at times when you can't play the instrument full on. I think the questions you've asked would make for a wonderful video though! I will add it to the list of potential topics for upcoming videos.
@MerriamPianos Hi Brent, I really appreciate your going to the trouble of answering. In the end we splashed out and bought a Kawai Shigeru 2. It IS loud, but we've got used to the greater volume and it is such a satisfying instrument both to play and to listen to. We do keep the lid down, and we put a rug under the instrument as the floor is tiled. The digital Kawai CA95, which I loved when we bought it, is languishing almost untouched in another room.
In the video the problem with humidity is mentioned. As we have underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove in the room where the piano is, the piano dealer installed a Dampp-Chaser piano lifesaver system. The main concern was to stop the sound board from becoming too dry in the low winter humidity. Idk if it helped with tuning stability. Our piano needed its first tuning about 6 months after delivery.