RE: I need piano advice.. (Full Version)

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pahunkboy -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 11:35:58 AM)

maybe you can rent or lease one to see if you will use it alot.




thompsonx -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 11:45:36 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BossyShoeBitch

excuse me?

ROFLMAO




chellekitty -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 12:01:06 PM)

glad to have been of service




BossyShoeBitch -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 12:21:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

maybe you can rent or lease one to see if you will use it alot.

Well, I am buying it for the specific reason of having the um's take lessons (which they have been requesting for a while)...
So I think it will get use...




BitaTruble -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 12:25:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BossyShoeBitch

What do I look for?


Make sure the pinblock and soundboard are secure and the cast iron plate inside the case is not bent, broken or warped. This is where the tension of the strings comes into play and without that, no piano. Pass by any piano in this condition as it's going to be worthless and produce inferior sound. I concur with Chelle on the outside appearance but the inside is as important so don't neglect it.

Check out the 'action' of the keys and this will give you an indication of how well the hammers are set and how they are hitting against the strings. You should be able to get a solid sound without having to 'pound'. The keys themselves will, most likely, be made of plastic rather than ivory unless you are seeking an antique, so make sure they aren't cracked. Discolored is okay but not as pretty, of course. Give any potential purchase a bit of a 'shake' and see if it rattles. ANY rattle, pass it by. You will, absolutely, have to have the piano tuned once it's moved. A good tuner will charge you from 25-40 bucks for the job and it's well worth the price. If someone says they'll only charge you 10 bucks.. well, you get what you pay for so, 'nuff said. If you're going to be playing a lot, consider taking a course on piano tuning and learn to do it yourself. The more often you indulge in your instrument, the more frequently you'll need to have it tuned.


quote:

How do I know if I am getting a good price or getting ripped off?


In a word, research. Shop and compare!
quote:

Is it a mistake to buy used? 


I highly recommend used for a first time purchaser. You don't have to spend a fortune to get good quality sound from a piano and, of course, your own taste and budget is going to set your range. If you want a Steinway, you'll have to pay a Steinway price.

I loooooove piano shopping so have a blast!

Celeste





seeksfemslave -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 12:34:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BossyShoeBitch
quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy
maybe you can rent or lease one to see if you will use it alot.

Well, I am buying it for the specific reason of having the um's take lessons (which they have been requesting for a while)...
So I think it will get use...

Once the kids find out how difficult and tedious it is to learn the piano you may regret not taking Pahunk's advice.
You could always give it a go yourself lol




Alumbrado -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 1:21:16 PM)

Unless your UMs are getting ready for their Carnegie Hall debut, why not get a spinet or studio for lessons?
Why spend the money on an upright now, until you are sure they are going to stick with it?

(And if they are already advanced enough to need a grand piano so as to practice the dynamic techniques, then go ahead and spring for the Bosendorfer and the extension on the house, they can repay you when they get that symphony gig.)[;)]




e01n -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 2:03:05 PM)

Or, you can get one of the full-length weighted key electronic keyboards that are much smaller even than a standard upright and can have such nifty features as recording performances for them to listen to later and an adjustable action to make it easier on littler hands.

Yamaha Clavinova & Roland's RP or HP series are what I'd look at first. Both sound great and are built like tanks. Oh, and did I forget to mention that you can toss either in the back of the Soccer mom Transport Unit?




Termyn8or -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 2:37:13 PM)

Got me a Casio Previa I am pretty happy with. I am not the piano dude of all time, but I like how it sounds and the keys are weighted and touch responsive. The output is mixed so it actually sounds like a piano as well, higher keys play more out of the right speaker and lower ones from the left. I hooked it up to my Boston Acoustics and the sound is awesome. Very realistic.

Seems to me that something like this, which was only $500, would be more than adequate for a kid practicing.

T




tahmina -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 2:45:02 PM)

We have a pair of Casio Previas as well, one for at my ex's and one at my house so he has it no matter which parent he is with.

They actually came highly recommended from the piano teacher for all the same reasons Termyn8or listed and because just starting out you want to make sure the student sticks to it without a several thousand dollar investment.

Also, where we bought ours we have the option at a later date to trade it in for a different one be it "real" or electric or whatever and get full purchase price credit toward the new one.




pahunkboy -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 4:46:00 PM)

interesting. i bought another oriental wook rug today. my church had a rummage sale. cleaning it has been funnn




e01n -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 4:46:05 PM)

The advantage of the models I mentioned is that they are designed to look much like pianofortes, spinets or baby grands, yet are digital and easily customized to different player's styles. The Yamaha specifically has 127 different "feels" to key responsiveness - if they wanted to work out chords and not worry about volume, they could... then flip the settings and work on practicing dynamics.

I'm a huge fan of digital pianos... thus ends my disclaimering.




Darkmike -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 5:13:19 PM)

You could always get one of those roll up keyboards, they cost about £10 and if you press a button they even play by themselves.[;)]




sambamanslilgirl -> RE: I want to buy a piano and I need advice... (10/6/2007 6:37:02 PM)

they'll also look for wear and tear on the wood, furnishing, etc. 

oh do ask the owner (if buying used) when's the last time they had it tuned and/or if they kept the piano tuned regularly

sorry cannot recommend prices and manufacturers - it has been a very long time since i played on piano




BossyShoeBitch -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 6:42:24 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: e01n

The advantage of the models I mentioned is that they are designed to look much like pianofortes, spinets or baby grands, yet are digital and easily customized to different player's styles. The Yamaha specifically has 127 different "feels" to key responsiveness - if they wanted to work out chords and not worry about volume, they could... then flip the settings and work on practicing dynamics.

I'm a huge fan of digital pianos... thus ends my disclaimering.

I went to Sam Ash Music today (wow, what a place!) and saw several of those type.  I guess I dismissed the idea of going electronic too soon.. (sorry Owner59).

I just realized that we do have to get 2 of  anything, one for my house and one for the kid's Dad's house..   Although I was kind of excited about getting an actual "piano"..




e01n -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 7:26:07 PM)

Well, you've the existing EP and you buy the newer swankier one and send the old one off to UM's daddy's house...

Pretty simple solution.

Sam Ash? Not bad, but not the best place to shop for that. Most piano specialist shops will have a better selection of more "furniture quality" instruments at better prices. But shop online to get prices for the inevitable haggling... and yes, you should haggle.

Already sent my "no limits budget pick via email... but there is a similar one in the same series. Definitely do research...




chellekitty -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 9:23:21 PM)

you are buying a piano for a kid that has never touched a keyboard? holy moses....wow.....ummm will you adopt me?




BossyShoeBitch -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 9:27:55 PM)

I'll need to ask Michael first, but I'm sure He would love to have another kitty cat to stroke...




chellekitty -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/6/2007 9:33:31 PM)

woohooo




Termyn8or -> RE: I need piano advice.. (10/7/2007 5:34:31 AM)

tahmina is right, just playing it is a physical act.

Much different than simply a keyboard. After I get wailing on that thing my hands feel like they've had a workout.

Actually mine was bought for someone else who was going to pay me back but then lost their job. I'm glad in a way. I'm glad I got stuck with it. I was trying to buy a cheap one off my boss, no weighted keys or anything. When this came along I thanked him for refusing to sell it. He gave it to his grandkids. Yup I actually thanked him for keeping it when I told him about the Previa.

Anyway, my Parents gave me a very firm grip on things. If born into a different clan I would not be what I am today, but now, at 47, I wish they had encouraged me to play a musical instrument. I guess money was at issue, but my Grandmother was dirt poor and found a way to get me Mother an accordion. Later I took it apart and couldn't put it back together. Same way with the olman's hifi.

Ha, one of these days this Previa is going to break and I'll get a chance to take it apart. Knowing what I know now I can imagine how it is designed, so I'll wait. When I was a kid I would've taken it apart the first day.

I sort of miss why you don't start with a really cheap one. When the kid says "It's not the same", it's time for at least a Previa, or maybe the more expensive Yamaha model.

My buddy comes over and plays it from time to time, and uses other voices and effects. I wonder why. All this time and trouble has been devoted to making this thing look, feel and sound like a real piano. I didn't want an organ. I call this a piano, and I am glad I got duped into buying it. Not too long ago I noticed that I no longer suffer from the symptoms of carpal tunnel. I have a theory on that mentioned in another thread.

For a few years I actually refused to even listen to music, it cleared my mind. But now I see something, that music is actually mathematics, and it is like mathematics without numbers. You see, math has nothing to do with numbers. Numbers only represent the concept. I kinda wanna say if your kid has trouble in math get them an instrument.

If your kid is gifted, or even normal, the curiousity should get them to start thinking about the structure of music. I mean why are the keys setup the way they are on a piano, likewise, why is the fretboard on a guitar setup the way it is ? In fact, if you are going to get the kid a piano, get a guitar too, I think this very beneficial to their development.

And if your UM is especially inquisitive, they might just ask "Just who the heck invented pianos ?", and be pondering why the notes are the notes. Well that is true math, with or without numbers. I know someone spent alot of time inventing the thing, I mean just imagine it, having the concept and making it really happen.

Years ago I read somewhere that in some parts of the world, their music could all be played on the black keys. Try it sometimes, it is hard not to make a valid chord hitting all black keys. Yup, they only had five notes per octave. I screw around like that sometimes but I don't want to make a habit out of it, it is too damn hard to play anything with it on the guitar.

Winter is coming, my neighbor Fuzzy is going to learn something on the bass. I (Terminator) will do the backup guitar, Baldylocks will play lead and Gaak/Sasquatch will be on the keyboards. Next year (I am going to bring this up soon) we will all drag our amps and shit out in the backyard and jam. Oh yeah, Scratch will be on the drums.

And Mom is not making us do it :-)

T




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