PIANO BUYING 101
The purchase of a piano is usually a once-in-a-lifetime investment. Traditionally, you will purchase a new piano less often than a new home. Selecting the perfect instrument can seem like an overwhelming task and be a bit intimidating if you have never shopped for a piano before. With the right information and guidance, you can make an educated choice with confidence.
There are two general categories of pianos: Acoustic Pianos and Digital Pianos. Acoustic pianos are the conventional pianos with hammers, strings, and soundboard to produce the tone. Digital pianos are instruments that realistically duplicate the sound and feel of playing an acoustic and they use digitally sampled sounds, amplifiers and speakers to produce the tone.
ACOUSTIC PIANOS
Acoustic Pianos are available in two types;
Grand Pianos (horizontal) and Upright (vertical) Pianos.
GRAND PIANOS
Grand Pianos are available in lengths of 4'7" to 9'0”. A shorter length grand piano is sometimes referred to as a Baby Grand, while the largest grand is referred to as a Concert Grand. Intermediate length grand pianos may be referred to as a Parlor Grand or a Conservatory Grand. Don’t let all the terminology confuse you. Rather simply think in terms of the length of the piano that will fit your space and budget. Remember, all things being equal, the larger the piano, the fuller and richer the tone will be. This is especially evident in the bass section of the piano.
The grand piano action (playing mechanism) is superior for quick note repetition and thus is the preferred instrument for concert use. Kawai grand pianos feature the fastest repetition of any grand piano due to its design and innovative use of carbon fiber in select action parts. The Kawai Millennium III action is not only lighter and quicker due to the use of carbon fiber action material, but is also immune to the effects of humidity, thus preventing action instability and inconsistent touch.
UPRIGHT PIANOS
Upright Pianos come in various heights from approximately 36" (Spinets) to full size uprights exceeding 52". Size classifications include: Spinets, Consoles, Studios, and Professional Uprights. All things being equal, the taller pianos will produce a richer and fuller tone due to their longer string length and soundboard size. However, the quality of materials, design, and workmanship can greatly influence the tone; thus some smaller pianos may sound better than other somewhat larger pianos.
ACOUSTIC PIANOS – A SUMMARY
Acoustic pianos can be heirloom investments passed from generation to generation. Despite their long life span, the acoustic piano does require periodic maintenance to perform at its optimum. A piano needs to be tuned at least twice per year as well as needing occasional action regulation (adjustment) and voicing (changing tone color of the piano due to use). Keep in mind that lower priced pianos often are tuned less at the factory to lower the cost, but will require more frequent tuning and regulation once you own it. This is not to say these pianos are inferior, but a buyer should be aware that while saving money initially, additional costs will be incurred later.
DIGITAL PIANOS
Digital pianos are instruments that realistically duplicate the sound and feel of playing an acoustic (conventional) piano. Unlike acoustic pianos, they have no hammers, no strings and no soundboard to produce the sound you hear. Instead they use digitally sampled sounds, amplifiers and speakers.
Digital Pianos are usually in furniture cabinets resembling a vertical acoustic piano. There are also digital mini-grand pianos and larger sized grand pianos. A limited number of digital pianos are made as portable units.
A quality digital piano has 88 keys. The keys should be weighted to reproduce the feel of an acoustic piano. Brands of Digital Pianos will vary in their quality of sound and in the realism of touch. High Quality Digital Pianos such as the Roland Digital Piano have a superior sound and most closely emulate the touch of a fine grand piano.
Piano teachers require that a digital piano used for practice be as realistic in touch and sound as possible. The Digital Piano we have discussed should not be confused with the typical portable keyboard which has non-weighted keys and thus is unacceptable for piano study. Visiting our showroom will allow you to hear and feel the difference between various Digital Pianos.
Digital pianos can be played by the whole family, players and non-players alike. Some pianos feature learning programs that combine the music with an on-screen display along with other music education functions such as Roland’s Visual Lesson program. Some include a Karaoke/Video output for the next time you want to put a little life in your party.
Advantages of a digital piano:
• Never needs tuning
• Many different sounds
• Option to play silently with headphones
• Ability to record your performance
• Built-in music education programs
• Easy to play--whole family can make music
• Midi/Computer interface capability
• Built-in rhythm capabilities to accompany your playing
• Low maintenance
• Lower Cost
• Space Saver/Lighter Weight
A NOTE ABOUT KEYBOARDS
Portable keyboards typically come in 61 key, 76 key, and the occasional full 88 key versions. Depending on sound quality and features, portable keyboards may range from $200 to $5,000 or more. However, regardless the price, the keyboard mechanism is not weighted and does not feel like a piano. For students, the development of finger strength and coordination is of utmost importance and with a keyboard the student will simply not develop the proper finger technique. For this reason, keyboards are not acceptable for piano study and most competent piano teachers will not permit their use for home practice.
NEW VS. USED PIANOS
Many advances have been made in piano design in the past 25 years. Better quality glues and construction methods are now used to ensure that a new piano is built better for long-lasting service. New pianos also come with 10 year manufacturer warranties.
A higher quality piano is a better investment because, as a player advances, he or she may quickly outgrow a piano with poor tone or an unreliable action. A used piano that has been well manufactured and well cared for can be an excellent buy. Such a piano is difficult to find and some can have hidden problems that you don’t find out until later.
Having a piano technician check out a used piano is well worth the price of the service call. Ask the technician for an evaluation and detailed report on the condition of the piano.
Consider these essential points before you purchase:
• An inexpensive, inferior piano can prove more costly than a higher priced quality instrument in the long-run.
• An evaluation by a professional piano technician can help ensure a wise purchase.
• Evaluations of pre-owned pianos should include a thorough check of the primary components such as bridges, action parts, pin-block, soundboard, pedals, and the finish along with playability and tone.
• Transportation and warranty coverage should be addressed before purchasing a piano. An out-of-town dealer will have difficulty in servicing your piano.
• Pianos are 80% wood and therefore subject to the effects of moisture over time. In humid climates they mold and rust, in dry climates they shrink.
The piano purchase, whether a pre-owned or new piano, should be a pleasant experience. Piano buyers who seek the advice of reputable professionals will help to assure themselves that they have made the best purchase possible of an instrument that will provide years of musical enjoyment.
FAQ: Why does the cost of pianos vary so much from one brand to another?
One important factor of cost is the country of origin. Pianos sold in the U.S. are built in such various locations as China , Korea , Japan , USA , and Germany . Labor and material costs vary from country to country as do import fees. Another factor in the cost of the piano is the quality of the materials used. For example, Kawai's carbon fiber action parts are more costly than standard wood parts.
Digital pianos are also priced based on these factors as well as the number of features. Manufacturers such as Roland produce the finest digital pianos because of their extensive research and development. The result is a digital piano with superior sound and touch, along with the very latest in technology and innovation.
FAQ: What are some advantages of a digital piano over the acoustic piano?
Digital pianos never require tuning and the user may use headphones for silent practice. Various features make for a more enjoyable playing experience and built-in educational features can be invaluable in assisting the piano student progress more quickly while having fun doing so.
FAQ: Are there advantages of an acoustic piano over the digital piano?
Yes there are advantages. The life expectancy of a fine acoustic piano can be many decades and even centuries. There are still many upright and grand pianos in use which were built in the late 1800's and even earlier. The acoustic piano is also a great investment. Just as houses and other items increase in value over the years, your fine acoustic piano will be worth more than you paid for it in just a few years.
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