Hello everyone - I'm taking the piano again after a long.......break!!!
Mymost recent keyboard experience was some lessons on church organ in the late 80's preparing for grade 4, but had to stop because work moved abroad.More recently I played classical guitar and reached grade 8 with trinity (2005). But long for a piano again (had piano lessons from age 9-14 (60s) no grades taken).

I have a nice problem in that I've inherited a small amount of money which I've earmarked to buy a piano, looking at second hand u1 or maybe new p121, budget 3-5k the piano has to live upstairs to avoid upsetting the neighbours, a specialist removal firm (Piano Hospital) have been very helpful and did a check too see if enough access - no problem anything up to u1 (u3 a a squeeze). Any recommendations appreciated, I'm in Hove, Sussex so would welcome ideas on good showrooms to visit I like the idea of a silent version but that might beat my budget.

Sorry for long post on familiar topic but wanted to say hello!
Lotstolearn

hello lotstolearn, and welcome to the forums!

I wonder if this is any help ... they have a good stock and would be worth a look if not too far for you ...

http://www.pianoworkshop.co.uk/

Hello and welcome to the forums

If not upsetting the neighbours is important, you could think of a second hand U1S?

Hello lotstolearn


Can't help with any advice about Sussex but I just wanted to say Welcome and look forward to seeing you around

Help An update - narrowed choice down to new U1 vs Kawai K3, both nice but £1000 difference in price, K3 is mellow but action seems stiffer? U1 is great but is it too big for upstairs room 13'x9'? getting stressed don't want to make expensive mistake - any advise appreciated

Hi,

I've got a U3 in a slightly smaller room than that. The acoustic isn't ideal, but it sounds fine and you get used to it being a bit muffled. I wouldn't worry about the size - just go for the sound and touch that you like. Can you play them in quick succession to compare them? I found this to be the most useful way of chosing mine.

Try to get the choice right first time! I spent a year with a Kawai K6 that I ended up not liking very much. I would have saved a grand or so by just buying the U3 to start with ...

Dave.

Welcome lotstolearn,

how exciting, hope you find your dream piano soon

All I have to say is that the more I use Yamaha U1's and U3's the more I like them.

But not terribly fond of the the B series which have a rougher sound, a coarser feel to the action, and seem to go out of tune much more quickly than the U's.

Of course a lightly-used B might be a much nicer instrument. The pianos I play have a hard life - hammered every day for many hours by some very serious pianists. I think the U1s and U3s stand up to it a lot better than the B's.

UPDATE; If you go for the silent option make sure it is original-fit Yamaha system. Some older U1's have after-market silent systems fitted, and are advertised by unscrupulous dealers as U1S's - but the sound quality of many of these is nowhere near as good as the recent Yamaha silent system.

Welcome to the forums:

Your story is somewhat familiar. You might be surprised how many of us have a similar one. I was in a very similar position in February 2007 - grade 5 plus 34 years of rust but played guitar (and bass guitar) and sang occasionally in the interim. It took me about 3-4 months to get back to about grade 5 standard, then a year of lessons and practice to get to grade 8. I am now working towards a diploma, probably at the back end of next year: In the meantime I also had a piano problem - the one I had was elderly and quite simply was falling to bits. I solved it 2 ways: First with a digital (useful when the family and neighbours get fed up e.g. after 11 pm) and then with the lifetimes ambition - a grand piano.

Fun isn't it?

Still undecided!!! almost went for a ex demo U1 onb Sat, but still thinking of less expensive K3 option its over £1000 cheaper, have tried B series and P121 but wasn't impressed, U1 seem to sing better although lot of comments on web refer to over bright harsh sound - if I bought new from certain details they say they can grade? the tone to something more suitable for a small room. Dealers seem reluctant to discount or throw in delivery/tuning stool, I thought we were in a recession.

Hardly surprising if you have tried the nicer U1 and U3

A good piano technician will work on the felts of the hammers to get the mellower sound you are after. This is called "voicing" and is a very skillful operation

It is possible that they have already cut their profit to the minimum, and really can't afford to throw in a stool and/or delivery - both of which are quite expensive items to provide.