I play a Kemble Oxford that I purchased brand new a couple of years ago. I'm really pleased with it, ok so it's not a Bosendorfer, but it is so much better than my old piano. That was really old and had a terrrible tone and was always going out of tune. I think the Kemble is a very nice instrument with a good tone and nice action.

I would really like a grand piano but the cost is a bit of an issue here.

Does anybody out there own or had experience of playing a Schimmel? I've read some very good reports about their pianos but have never had the opportunity to play one.

I play on a Yamaha P-60 Stage Piano

I also have a Clavinova Electric Piano, but I don't use it. Back at the family home, we used to have a grand, but now have a Bechstein.

I have played on better instruments though.

I have a Kemble too.
Mine is jusy over 7 years old now... I had it from new.
Took me a couple of months to get used to it properly
But everyone who has played it loves it.

QUOTE (DavidMusic @ Apr 19 2004, 10:47 AM)

I also have a Clavinova Electric Piano,

Its Digital, honestly, its Digital. The words "Electric Piano" bring up "Patch number 8" on my Digital Piano which is Fender Rhodes "Suitcsase - or an Electric Piano simulation. Patch 1 (Acoustic Grand) is a simulation of a grand piano, electronically simulated on my Digital! - electric plugs powers it mind you, not a digital one...


I Play a Roland "Digital" KR577 Piano and a Kawai RX Grand Piano (LE)

AB

Hello,

I have a white young chang baby grand, i luv it It has such a powerful sound and is sooo nice to play. When i got it i had the chance either for that or a black upright bosendorfer. When i came to play them both i didnt like the bosendorfer, it didnt feel right, it didnt have the quality sound of the young chang.

Does anyone else feel that "top of the range" pianos like bosendorfer are not necessarily better?

Fae

Sheilz

I would love a grand piano!!! Me and my friend sometimes go around to music shops and sit playing on one of the grands some are lovely and make a beautiful sound but some of the really expensive stand up ones dont really make that great a sound they just look pretty. This has caused problems though when we have been asked to leave shops because of it and now we dont really dare go back!!! oops!!!
My piano at home is a very old third hand one that says F.W Beaumont and Co on it and has been in our family for a while. It keeps its tune really well though and is nice to play. The only complaint I have about it is that the pedal often creaks wich does detach somewat from the tune!!! Does anyone know what I cud do to remedy that?

xxx

PS Dont laugh coz you all have expensive pianos and I dont. I love my piano its my best friend. yes i am slightly MAD!!!!!!

Mine is old too, about a 100 years, and is a Archibald Ramsden.Very nice it is too!
Naomi xxxx

QUOTE

Dont laugh coz you all have expensive pianos and I dont. I love my piano

well in the grand scale of piano prices mine is not that expensive, its tatty, its battered, its over 100 years old Steinway, its a huge upright to the point that i have to take tape measures when i move house so i can be sure it gets in through the door, its got notes failing on me, desperate need of renovation and i absoloutely adore it. I fell in love with it on first touch, the power and gentleness of tone it has is quite incredible.

For me the name Steinway has been more than worth it, despite its problems I have not come across any piano in its price range that has the tone quality and touch that mine has

My dad has a beautiful black Bechstein concert grand that's been in the family since 1910 (made in 1904). It's so amazing!Unfortunately, I don't speak to him anymore, so I never even get to see that gorgeous piano!
To any of you who saw my post on the general forum a while ago asking about digital vs acoustic, well............... I got a really cheap acoustic piano from someone in the paper. It's a Challen and is about 50 years old. I really like it- so glad i have an old fashioned piano!

me too but i would like electric.no tuning bills!
Naomi xxxx

yes but when an electric goes wrong it costs an arm and a leg to repair, i ahd a digital a few years ago for gigging and within a year it was knackered, the touch had gone, would cost me more to repair that many years of tuning a piano

QUOTE (lynne @ Apr 19 2004, 08:17 PM)

i ahd a digital a few years ago for gigging and within a year it was knackered, the touch had gone, would cost me more to repair that many years of tuning a piano

My Brother has a Technics SX digital Piano that we passed on to him after we got the Roland Digital, the touch wasn't too bad at the time (mainstream lets say), but now, 5-6 years on, it's like playing on an Arranger/Synthesizer - the touch feel has gone altogether. He still practises on it though, and is learning quite well (he likes ballad stuff, Elton John, Phil Collins and the like - and Eschews most, if not all classical/styles domains of this nature.

The Piano has had some hammer though


AnthonyB

QUOTE (hgirl @ Apr 19 2004, 08:11 PM)

It's a Challen and is about 50 years old.

My teacher has a Challen wichis older than him (over 60yrs old )
It's a lovely sounding piano.

I first bought a cheap 5 or so octave digital Casio keyboard. I decided I was serious about piano and found a 1939 Collard and Collard upright for £120.

This was quite battered on the casing but was very well maintained mechanically. I just fell in love with the tone and feel of it.

One year later, I bought a new Kawai. Black polyester finish.

Absolutley gooooorrrrrgous !

I love it to bits !

Fiona

Mine was £90, I bought it myself.Call it a 16th birthday present to myself lol.Sounds great! Needs tuning right now though and decoration is going on so I'm gonna wait.
Naomi xxxx

Just thought I'd post again cos I'm so excited about my piano! It came this afternoon and when i came home from school it was there! I can't wait to get practising- but the only time I can fit it in is 5.30-6.30 am, so it'll be early nights from now on! (this is what comes of doing far too much music- all worth it though!)

Thats great about your piano! School for me tomorrow!
Naomi xxxx

i dunn have a grand at home.... but it doesn't matter...as my school has a lovely grand piano...i do hope that i've got the money to buy a steinway grand...

I have a Kawai CS-21AT at home... It's a hybrid piano (that means have a silent mode for evening practices). It is very good sounding, warm, rich tone. When I bought it brand new about 6 years ago, it sounded very mellow, confined, and along the years it gradually opens up its voice as I practise on it - making me feel very glad and rewarding!

I love my Kawai very much. After this year, I still consider it to be a young piano, and it's voice is not yet totally mature. But that needs more time... and my (and my wife's) practices on it.

I am also considering to buy a grand piano... I have tried very hard to empty a place at my very small home to accommodate it. I heard from many people that a more adaquate size of a grand should be 5'10" - which is extrordinary huge! However, I found that I'm more limited by the price tag - $$$$$!!

Hi Tannie,,

I love my Kawai too

It a KX15 model

It's just so nice to play and sounds beautiful.

I've got a middle pedal on mine to silence it for evenings etc. Is it the same thing as you were talking about ?

Fiona

Hi Fiona,

May be it is not exactly the same. My Kawai has a middle pedal to "weaken" the sound too.

Besides it also come with a digital part... which then I can completely "switch off" the accoustic part of my piano, and plug a headphone and play it as a digital piano - although I still have the touch same as an acoustic piano

But after all, I still prefer to play with it as an acoustic piano... although it's quite disturbing to others at night

Cheers,
Tannie

I have a Bechstein Boudoir Grand that is 104 years old. Presently out of tune! Would love to have it renovated and french polished. Any idea how much that would cost?
My late parents bought it second hand about 35 years ago. I spent most of my childhood playing it and spend as much time as I can now.
If the house was on fire I would carry it out !!!!!

I have an Atlas. Shortly after my parents bought it (19 years ago) the company went out of business and Beale took them over. Isn't funny how we grow so attached to an inanimate object! One day I would like to buy another piano, but I will still keep this one!

I bought a Yamaha U3 earlier this year. I had intended to spend less than half of what I bought it for, and tried very hard to convince myself I would be happier with a smaller one! However, after two hours of indecision and going round and round playing all the pianos in the shop, I knew it was the right one.

When I was younger, the family baby grand was sold to buy an upright, which now sits in the front hall and is not bearing well as a result. I've never forgiven my mother for selling it.

We have a Bentley!!! (not a flash old car btw ). It's a good old British made upright, c1930s. Very attractive to look at (with art deco pedal plate and bizarre rounded lid which opens into the body behind it), and sounds great. Also records well, which is important to me.
It's actually pretty small though - the usual length keyboard, but just lower and kind of 'squat' looking! Fell in love when I saw it...

I have a Yamaha CLP 170 digital piano which is very, very good.

I am interested to know how good the hybrids are though. I think they are definately the way to go providing the acoustic sound is good enough.

Any comments on how good they are?

Hi Jahmal,

My Kawai CS-21S AT's accoustic part is as good as its traditional counterpart - Kawai CS-21S ...and CS-21S is the Yamaha U1 "equivalent".

The AT (AnyTime) part is almost negligible, therefore it doesn't really affect the accoustic part at all! Except you need a seperate power chord, and a headphone to use it.

Now, Kawai also made available RX-2 AT, which is a 5'10" Grand piano with AnyTime capability - which is great!

To me, it's traditional part has nothing to be complained about. But the digital part has a lot to be improved a lot!

Cheers,
Tannie

I have a C. Steinbert at home. Seems like no one mentioned about this brand??? Is it a very rare brand or so? I bought it in 15 years ago...

I find the keys quite heavy, but that helps me develop my finger strength

But once it got out of tune really terribly!!! It was down a TONE, not a semitone!!!

I didn't realize it when i did my diploma and yet i manage to get the 'name the note' in my aural part all correct during my exam, can't believe that.

I realize something wrong with my piano tune after i learn violin, when i compare my violin tune with the piano.....even the tuner can't believe how seriously is my piano 'injured'

Hi...

I just got a new Technics PX-663 digital piano and it's really good.... It has good touch and sounds much better than a Yamaha digital piano!!!

Luv Teabag

xxx

I had a Steigerman (anyone heard of it? I only know of mine) piano which was around way before I was born. My parents got it when my mum was learning. I inherited it from her when I started. It always had a very loose touch, pretty thin/sharp sound and dynamics were pretty much impossible to do well on it but I loved it because it was my mum's (the sentimental factor) plus it got me through all but one grade. Unfortunately it got so bad that when I asked someone to take a look at it to fix up the various problems, the verdict was either a major major overhaul or an upgrade. My mum then said we might as well get a new one.

So as of Wednesday just past, I have a brand new black polished Yamaha P121 which I *love*. It was my favourite of all the ones I tested out (well, save the £20K Bechstein Concert 8 I was encouraged to play for fun in the shop). The touch is fabulous, it's very responsive and the tone is rich. I actually found it nicer to play on than three U1's (2nd hand) I tried. It looks utterly beautiful too, so much I nearly didn't want to touch it. But seriously, I find it hard to get off it once I start.

I have a Yamaha P-80 Digital piano - I LOVE it for contemporary and romantic stuff but the touch is a bit clumsy for classical stuff like bach!! Shame its not more portable cos its a great instrument.

We have a brand new yamaha grand piano at school and it is PERFECT in everyway!

Thanks Tannie

The piano I have the chance of getting is a Yamaha Disklavier which I think may be based on the U1.

The U1's I have played in shops (old one's (1970)) sound too bright and harsh for me. I was wondering if this one being only 4 years old, will be a bit warmer. Also I have read on the internet that you can have your piano voiced which will warm it up.

Decisions decisions!!

I used to play a vertical Steinway - Model Vertigrand. The piano was very old and it was built in 1906!!! (even older than my grandmum!!) It has ivory keys and the action and sensitivity was amazing!

Until 3 years ago, I bought a Boston (5"10) Grand and; on average the Boston's quality is better than the Vertical Steinway. Nevertheless, i am still missing the deep bass and the crystal-like treble sound of the old Steinway.

A Steinway is a Steinway that there is no other instrument can compare. It is a versatile instrument.

Just to check this with you before you buy it, how much are you paying for it? Chamberlain Music have thousands of pounds off the retail prices of Yamaha pianos; make sure you can't get a new one for less first!

Hi Thoman,

I am very interested in the Boston GP-178 (the current 5'10" grand piano) too! Would you let me know how much did you pay for it?

Thx,
Tannie