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Poststructural Pub
1

I’ve been searching for a couple of months for the replacement for my now 44 year old piano. Oh my, the sheer numbers of different names, types, etc. is mind boggling . I’ve been lurking on a piano forum and believe it or not, there are folks there that are very like us, on a much _Grand_er scale. … imagine having a piano in every room. :astonished:

I feel like I’m taking a crash course in piano and am frustrated at the lack of choice in my area. It seems that there are only a few dealers and they carry only a couple of makers(and most don’t have any of them on the floor) Grrrrr. I’m gonna go crazy with frustration, after reading about these great pianos and then not being able to try any… I want to play a German made piano, I want to play a Charles Walter American made,I want to try an older Mason&Hamlin upright :moreevil: heck I want to play something that’s not got the name Yamaha on it…(not that that’s a bad thing, I just would like to try something else ) and I’m gonna have to travel far and wide I suppose to hopefully find something… I’ve come to realize one of the few drawbacks to living in such an isolated area of the country.

End of Rant

2

Cowtime -

Fear Not! Your woes are over!

I have a loverly little mahogany mid-century modern Kimball Consolette that is yours for the taking. Tis not in bad shape (from an appearance standpoint) though short, it actually has a console type action as opposed to spinet action.

Well, at least it might make good firewood. I’ve been organs and the occasional piano for nearly 30 years, and i can’t get this baby in tune, and I’m not sure what i’d have once it pulled into tune! A good friend told me that no piano is better than mine… Insensitive, but true.

But free, should you want it!

Reg

3

When I decided I needed a piano, about 12 years ago, I located a man who rehabs old ones in a barn behind his house on a rural stretch about an hour’s drive away.
The one that struck my fancy was a 1926 small upright Cable with ivorine keys which he’d gotten into nice shape and sold to me for roughly 2K as I recall. We like it. I’m sorry that the dog tried out her teeth on one of the legs when she was a puppy. The gash is still there. Someday I will sand it out a bit and apply a little stain.

4

I was going to suggest trying a piano by mail order with a two week return guarantee. That way if you don’t like it you can mail it back. But. when I think about it, I don’t know whether this is such a good idea, or not.

I have had several upright pianos in the past, but, as an apartment renter, they always were a problem, especially when I needed to move. The neighbors also pounded on the walls when I played the same piece over and over again.

If you are not able to get into a city with a good-size piano store, I would follow ads on the internet. Perhaps you can find something in your area where it would not be too difficult to drive to try it out.

5

You might want to plan a road trip to a reputable dealer. Another possibility would be making a road trip to a moderate-sized city like Lexington or Knoxville (both of which have universities with music departments), where you might be able to try out several makes and types. Then you could either order from one of those dealers or from an online retailer. It’s quite possible that a piano would be shipped from the factory, so the shipping would be the same whether you ordered it locally or not.

6

I haven’t bought a real piano, but I was looking for piano parts for making UP reeds (long story). Anyways, what I discovered is that there are a lot of small shops that repair/restore old pianos, and they are located all over everywhere. I found some really obscure old keyboards in these shops that had been, or were about to be, restored to their former grandeur. If you don’t mind the drive, it would probably be very entertaining, if not profitable, if you were to get out the Yellow Pages for your area and take a bit of a spin to see what’s out there.

djm

7

just wondering why you want to replace your current piano?

I have the one my parents bought used in 1963. I’m not sure how much older it is. It’s a Wurlitzer “apartment” spinet with only 73 keys (instead of 88). I’ve had it moved 3 times, and every time I do, or have a new tuner come, they always say if I ever want to sell it, let them know, it’s worth a small fortune because it has a solid soundboard, and because there weren’t too many of these made (my parents paid $200 for it).
Yeah - it’s not a grand, but it’s MY piano. It still sounds good (when it’s tuned!). And since it’s the one I grew up with, it’s got the “touch” I like. It’s not beautiful wood - it’s just painted with a black enamel, and it badly needs repainting.

I know old pianos are either not worth their weight in firewood, or they are worth a lot - there seems to be no inbetween.

8

Good input folks. :slight_smile:

rhulsey thanks for your kind offer? but I’ll continue my search. I want a tall upright, but might settle for a smaller grand if I have to. I can’t tell you how many folks have offered to sell me their pianos, just among folks I know. They have one they bought for their kids or some such, and now it’s never used. I’ve looked at a few, but all have been either short spinets or consoles in various degrees of neglect.

emmline- one of the dealers I checked out locally mainly has older rebuilt pianos. However, so far he’s had only grands and at prices that would buy a new one. Granted the Steinway is nice, but not on the pocketbook, and the only other one I’d consider is a way too big 20year old Kawai grand that he wants too much for. I’ll keep checking with him though. Em, your area has some highly recommended stores. I’ve threatened to visit my daughter up there, just to piano shop!

doug I am checking out ads for local used pianos just in case something turns up that’s interesting. I couldn’t buy a piano that I’d not had hold of. As I’m sure you know, since you play, each is too much an individual for me to do that. I know some people buy them long distance without having played them, but I just can’t.

missy I never thought to replace the Baldwin spinet that I’ve always played on. But, over the last two or three years it has begun to not hold tune. Within a week of tuning it is going out. I don’t mean out as in it doesn’t sound too good, I mean out as in, I play and look at the key thinking, “did I just miss that note? no, it is just that far out”. Really really awful to the point that I am only playing the minimal amount required to be able to play the organ each Sunday at church and not make a mess of it. I had the hammers/action redone about 9 years ago, but it’s just not worth what a complete rebuild would cost to do that on this piano. I like to play everyday, it’s my main instrument. I HAVE to have a piano to play. It’s not an option for me.I’ve done this for most of my life.

One thing I have noticed is that none of the new pianos I’ve seen so far can compare with the cabinet on my old one. Mine’s walnut is really beautiful. The new walnuts I’ve seen are just muddy dark brown wood. (I question whether they are really walnut). Granted I have not seen any top of the line new pianos yet, nor could I afford top of the line, but then my old piano was not top of the line when it was bought, but the woodwork is extremely nice.)

The big problem too that I’m finding, in addition to lack of selection in my area, is that I want to only buy one piano. I don’t want to trade up later, this next piano should last me the rest of my life, and hopefully someone beyond. Most that are easily available for me(other than Yamaha- and I’m not fond of the bright sound they have) now seem to be made in China(a fact dealers seem reluctant to reveal-but I’ve got “the Piano Book”, so I can look it up. They may or may not be good instruments. Most have too short a track record to know.

At the store I found today they actually had about 15 pianos on the floor. Most were smaller console sizes, but there were a few taller uprights. One upright, Perzina, I really like sound wise. (German name, now made, yep, you guessed it, in China) It had a darker, mellow sound that appeals to me. Unfortunately, it only came in a really shiny polished finish. Can’t take that mirror finish. Yuk, just not for me, I’m not a “shiny happy person” type. The other one that was nice was a Falcone( prestigeous American name, yep, again, made in China). This was a shorter grand, and while it looked wonderful, felt great, it did not have the “sound” of the upright.
Both, have no long term track record and that makes me a bit nervous.

So, the search continues…

9

Have you tried craigslist.org? There’s a lot of pianos (including uprights) listed on the Minneapolis version of the page. There’s got to be a craigslist near you.

.

10

Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about that. I’ll check and see if there’s anything remotely near.

11

You are certainly welcome for the offer, however I’m afraid it wouldn’t be worth the effort, were you even closer than you are! The Kimball is old and dry, and short, old strings are what they are - it has surely seen better days. I’ve had it completely apart, cleaned it, regulated the bad notes, and attempted tuning on more than one occasion just to end up with - well, what it really is I guess, and old dried-out short piano!

I, too, have pondered a new piano for a very long time. I’ve thought about getting an old upright and rebuilding as needed - I’ve done that before, and though lots of work - it’s fun and very rewarding.

I’ve also thought about a higher end digital piano - but I really am an acoustic instrument player - and they just aren’t to that point yet, IMHO. But I’m always keeping an eye out, and have a few people doing the same. If I run into anything in this area I think you might be interested in, I’ll certainly let you know. Please keep us posted on your search!

Reg

12

Wow, do keep your eyes and ears open to possible pianos. I’m like you re:digital. My brother said that’s the way I should go, and I said in that case why do you own upteen acoustic guitars? and not all electric?

My dream piano would be a big ole’ boomin’ upright from about 1920 that sounds dark(no bright pianos for me) and plays like a new one.
I said my dream piano. It ain’t gonna happen.

I’ve read and re-read Larry Fine’s Piano Book and got the supplement. Now I’m even more stressed and confused. Who would have thought finding and buying a decent piano would be such an ordeal.