Has anyone any experience of a Knight k10 piano, what are they like to live with any bad points I have seen on in my local piano shop, on inspection it looks top quality, and sounds fantasic, though they are asking alot for it. I have a samick su112 that I bought new 15 years ago, and it sounds positively dull compared to the knight.
I am trying to justify the change to myself, and would I be upgrading by getting a piano twice the age of my current one. Or should I look at at Yamaha u3 as a replacement (second hand of course)

ndy

One of my pupils has a second-hand Knight, purchased privately about three years ago. I don't know which model they have though. I played it when they were considering buying it, and the sound was good: as far as I know it is playing well . I think in general they have quite a good reputation
(ed - Knight pianos,that is, not my pupil's family, although I'm sure they do too : D).

A quick google on the make and model number turns up prices of between 1200 and 2500. Maybe someone else can be a bit more specific!

I have a Knight Piano and after two generations of children learning to play on it (in my opinion) it still sounds good.

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I really do not like the Knights I have played. I find them quite harsh in tone. Many of the schools round here have them, and theyre OK in School halls and the like, but I wouldnt want one at home in a smaller room. Having said that I am generalising a bit and dont know the particular model you mention.
I find Kembles to be a good domestic piano , at a reasonable price (although mine's not a Kemble)

If you can find a second-hand Knight from the 1960s/70s which has been well looked-after and well maintained/regularly tuned, it will almost certainly still be a top quality instrument.
My own Knight is the only piano I bought new and after 40+ years of playing and teaching on it, it is still a piano I will not sell. Both my son and daughter prefer it to my Broadwood Grand, and I myself prefer its treble tone to that of the Grand.
Knights had the reputation of being the finest British piano and were much sought after in the 1960s/70s. When I bought mine there was a three months' waiting list. However, after Alfred Knight discontinued business, the firm was taken over and I think it has changed hands once or twice. The sound quality of Knight pianos has changed and modern Knights are not, in my opinion, of the same high quality as my own.
If you wish to buy a modern piano (one built in the last 10/20 years) at a competitive price perhaps you should go for a Yamaha.

Thanks for the quick replies, the one that I have seen is a mid 70's model, and the build inside just looks so superior.

I think the one my pupil has is probably from the 70s too - although I stress I'm not certain it is k10.

I found the tone very pleasant indeed - (unlike some Yamahas I have played which I find much too bright).

'Over brightness' has been my one objection to Yamaha pianos, but I recognise that they are high quality and hard wearing instruments.

Yes, I would certainly agree with you on that.

I don't know about the pianos, but I would agree that Yamahas are very bright. Although you might find one that would suit your tastes, but it depends on how much time you have to go around looking.

When thinking about the sound of pianos, remember that the shape, sound and acoustic of your room at home will almost certainly be very different from a saleroom. Many pianos will sound louder and brighter at home simply because rooms in houses are generally smaller - although variables like whether you have carpet or solid flooring , wallpaper or painted plaster and amount of soft furnishings in your room will also make a huge difference to the sound that you can experience.

I have a Yamaha U3 which I had from new about 20 years ago and is still just as good as the day it arrived - even after intensive teaching, accompanying and my own childrens' piano practice. It is probably a bit too loud and bright for the room that it is in but I have an ikea fleece blanket between it and the solid stone wall (with an echo-ey open chimneybreast) behind which has made a big difference to getting the balance of the sound right in that particular room.