I'm starting to think seriously now about what I need from my new piano, and since I only have a week to gather ideas, would appreciate any help that you can offer. My poor beautiful Schimmel is the only piano I have ever owned, so I feel rather apprehensive about choosing a new one. I really don't want to make a mistake!

I played a friend's piano yesterday (a Bentley - which I had never heard of) and found it almost impossible to get a good fortissimo on it, so that is one thing I will be looking for. I'd also quite like a similar colour to my Schimmel (light oak) but Loch Ness Pianos say that black is all the rage now. The action on the Schimmel tends to be quite heavy, so although I'd be happy to go with an equivalent Schimmel, could also go with an instrument with a lighter action. So for anyone who has a moment to spare, would you mind saying what make you own, and what you think about it?

Thanks so much in advance.

(Edit: It's just occurred to me that I should give a bit more detail. The Schimmel I have to replace is a 1125E, now no longer made. I'm looking in the ?7000 - ?9000 region for something of similar quality. Thanks!)

Mine is a Kemble upright. Don't know the model.
Didn't really have a choice when it came to replacing my old piano as it's in the kitchen extension and I found out when piano shopping that it was next to impossible to get a piano that was only 7 octaves. The space it goes is not wide enough to accommodate bigger.
It has a nice even touch and the sound is fine for where it is. Rather under your budget anyway.

We've got a secondhand Yamaha U1 and it's been lovely. We had a much, much lower budget than you've got, but there were still lots in the shop to try. There was a secondhand Steinway in our price range, but I just didn't like the sound as much. As I'm sure you know, it's totally personal preference, but I think you know the right one when you try it.

Thanks. I've looked at some Yamahas online, and haven't ruled them out. But as you say, I won't know until I try one. Re budget - I was very fortunate in that my father left me some money when he died. He'd always loved classical music, and I'd always wanted a piano. So there are sentimental reasons for being sad to see the Schimmel go, and wanting to replace it with something similar / equivalent if possible.

The Bentley is an old relatively cheap piano, often favoured by schools. Not nice.
At your price range I'd be thinking of Kawai, and I will be jealous if you get one. Note sure if its the K3 or K5 at that level.

Later edit, K3 is about ?7K and the K5 is about ?9K, see http://www.chamberlainmusic.com

Thanks for sending this link, fsharpminor. I quite like the sound (metaphorically) of these. I had in mind maybe another German piano, but - since everything is in the feel of it - will try out as wide a selection as possible. Why, oh why, do nearly all new pianos seem to be black?

(I notice they have a standard delivery charge; wonder if they would bring one up here for the same price?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

What make do you have?

I have a Yamaha U3 Silent upright which I paid around ?7,500 for about 5 years ago now (new) - it was tuned and set up to be less bright than it would be as standard. I deliberately wanted a piano with the silent mechanism so as not to disturb the neighbours too much, especially the basement flat below me!

A friend of mine owned a Kawai baby grand for a while which it was lovely to play and had a very mellow tone. She now has a Kawai upright which I also found comfortable to play with a good tone too.

In terms of sound, I would go for the tallest piano you can afford.

As an accompanist who can be faced with good, bad or indifferent pianos to play at a moment's notice I've always been grateful that my piano has quite a heavy action. I've had it since I was a child, and neither I nor my teacher chose it as it was a gift, so I was exceptionally lucky. It's reassuring to know that I'm unlikely to have to play an instrument on which it's harder to get a full range of dynamics, or which is more likely to tire me out when playing some of the "bigger" accompaniments. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

If none of that is relevant for you and the piano is for your enjoyment at home just go for something you really like. I sympathise with your preferring a light wood to all these shiny black objects that are around currently. Will you be looking at the quality second-hand market? I realise the distance may make that very difficult. Do you actually have to decide what to buy within a week? That sounds unpleasantly rushed when there's such a huge choice and it's part of your professional equipment.

Good luck with your search.

I have a George Rogers piano , made in Loughton (?), Essex in the mid seventies. I bought it new, then they were taken over by Yamaha and eventually closed down (This happened to several British piano makers , the last being Kemble) I chose the Rogers ahead of a Welmar and a Danemann at the time. I would like a new one soon but now retired so we have to be bit more careful with funds. Id probably go for a Kawai. Ones I have played , whether upright or Grand, have been excellent.

I'm very tempted by what you and fsharpminor say about the Kawai. Thanks for the tip about height; I hadn't ruled out the rather shorter pianos, but think I will now.


Yes, the distance does make it difficult, and that's why I need to decide in just one brief trip (a day in Manchester). I'm keen not to wait because if I go for a different finish to the one I see, it will take time to order it, during which time the house will hopefully be restored to a fit state, and the time without will be kept to a minimum.

I haven't ruled out the quality second-hand market; just slightly apprehensive about what the piano may have been through in previous ownerships.

I didn't know Kemble had gone out of business. Does the Kawai tend to have a heavy action?

We have a Kawai K6 and are very pleased with it. Everyone who has played it or heard it is very complimentary, although our tuner says Yamaha are better, but then he sells Yamaha so he would say that! We tried various makes including Yamaha and Kawai was the favourite. I had been told to go for the tallest possible for improved tone. Previous piano was a 1950 Bentley and although I was told that it was one of their better ones it had very poor dynamic range as you describe. I was a little dubious about black, but it has grown on me. The Bentley was a nice walnut finish, so relatively light in colour.

Why not buy another Schimmel? I have played a few May Berlin pianos, which are chosen by Schimmel and they are excellent. Have a look in Forsyths of Manchester if you can. Well worth traveling if you don't like too far away. Bechstein uprights are also very nice. Someone also mentioned the Yamaha U1 which is a lovely piano with a very bright tone. Go for a U3 if you want a louder sound as they are taller. Really nice pianos but try out as many ones as possible and see what "fits" you best.

Hi Misterioso,
I was very sorry to hear a few weeks ago about your home being flooded and I hope things are beginning to return to normality for you now. I know this may not be the best option as far as a time scale is concerned, but as opposed to buying a new piano, have you considered finding a slightly older one (a very good make) and having it restored to its original condition? You would be surprised what a fantastic restoration job can be done on a budget of ?9000.
I had my 1851 Erard concert grand piano fully restored at a cost of ?10500 and the piano originally only cost me ?70. It is now a very beautiful instrument and plays spectacularly with a fantastic smooth touch and a beautiful tone. I am now embarking on having a second piano restored, an 1840s Erard upright (which also cost me ?70) and I have been quoted ?6000-?8000 to have a complete restoration done it to the same standard as my grand.
This is perhaps something that you should think about, as not only would it leave you with an instrument that plays beautifully, but a beautiful piece of art work. My grand is finished in a beautifully polished rosewood veneer and the upright will be the same when the restoration is complete. I would really advise you to think about something like this. Perhaps you could set aside ?1000 from your budget to 'hire' a decent upright piano in the mean time if you were to go about doing something like this.
With best wishes,
Wurlitzer

Thanks for this suggestion, which I must confess had not occurred to me with all the trauma of the last two weeks. It is indeed worth considering, although hiring a piano in the meantime is no easy feat, given our location; it would have to be shipped over from Inverness or Glasgow (and presumably shipped back again afterwards) and that would eat into the budget more. I had thought of looking at pianos that are already restored / reconditioned, but fear I am too much of a layman to be able to tell beforehand what could be effectively restored and what may turn out not be worth it.

But I'm not writing off any ideas yet. It's good to have so many helpful suggestions.

Kembles are still available, but they are Yamahas brought in from Japan and marketed as Kembles, they are not the ones previously made in Gloucestershire