"When considering purchasing a piano, numerous questions arise: Should I opt for a digital or acoustic piano? New or used? Which brand suits me best? What if my enthusiasm for playing diminishes and I wish to resell it? For beginners, what's the ideal choice?Let's delve into some insights to clarify these queries:
Let's break it down:
Digital Pianos: These aren't quite the real deal. They sound like an acoustic piano, but there's no mechanical action inside. Everything's simulated, so even the priciest digital piano won't give you that authentic hammer heaviness or string vibrations; it all comes from the speakers! I'd recommend these only in specific scenarios:
A) If you're uncertain about continued interest in playing.
B)If music recording is your thing. You can find affordable options under $1000, but I'd advise against buying a used one due to inspection limitations. Am I the fan of digital pianos? Certainly not as a musician!
Acoustic Pianos: Now, let's talk acoustic! We've got Spinets, Uprights, and Grands. Spinets are rare these days, small and compact, great for space-saving, but quite troublesome if they need fixing. Technicians often avoid them due to their intricate design. Uprights and Grands are more common and generally solid choices. The new versus used debate? It truly depends on your preferences.It's true that certain used piano brands might have been exceptionally maintained, often outshining the condition of a new piano,despite their age.
"Is buying a 'free' piano from the marketplace a good idea? Simply put, NO. These pianos may seem cost-free, but in reality, you'll end up paying for shipment costs. Owners usually aim to get rid of them, passing on the shipping expenses to the buyer. However, the problems begin when they arrive at your doorstep. Most, if not all, of these pianos aren't tuned and often have extremely loose tuning pins. Attempting to tune them becomes a costly challenge due to their deteriorated condition. So, are they truly 'free'? Not at all. You've
already paid for shipping, fixing, and tuning, likely surpassing the cost of a refurbished piano. Invest wisely."
Many clients often ask me, 'Is Yamaha better than Kawai?' or 'What about Heintzman versus Mason and Risch?' How about Samick and Young Chang? And then there's the question of European pianos. Let's dive into this.
Here's the thing: No one, and I truly emphasize this, can definitively say Yamaha is superior to Kawai, or vice versa. The same goes for Heintzman versus Mason and Risch. We can compare Japanese pianos to European or American/Canadian pianos, but between them, it's purely about personal preference. It's akin to comparing Toyota and Honda; some prefer one over the other. However, you can certainly compare Japanese cars to European cars. The same principle applies to pianos.
if you're seeking a piano for a lifetime, one that's durable and easy to maintain, Japanese or South Korean pianos are excellent choices. However, if you're captivated by deep, resonant tones, European and American pianos might be more to your liking.
