Upright Pianos

If you want to buy a piano that has great sound, touch and appearance, an upright piano is the answer. Many manufacturers have tried to copy these instruments using modern technology (i.e. the digital piano), but nothing has even come close to the real thing. If you are serious about playing piano, buying an upright piano with a reasonable height should be your first choice. Upright pianos are part of the acoustic piano family.  

Do you have any questions?

Want to ask Graham Howard a question? Send your email to: grahamhowardukpianos.co.uk

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Main advantages of the upright piano over the digital

With an upright piano you get real sounds and a natural touch. An upright is also an attractive piece of furniture and is built to last a lifetime. Upright pianos also keep their value well. Generally, providing your piano has been tuned regularly and well looked after, your upright piano will have a much greater re-sale value.

Find a great selection of upright pianos below. You can compare brands, prices and specifications and read reviews from other users.

Yamaha upright pianos                    Kemble upright pianos
Yamaha offer the biggest range       Now the only pianos produced
of uprights. Prices start from            in the UK. Kemble upright pianos
under £2,000 and you can always   have a very similar sound to
be assured of high quality when      Yamahas - the main difference
it comes to Yamaha.                         being the cabinet style.

 Suzuki upright pianos                   Klima upright pianos
 These pianos are not                    Fine sounding pianos. Klima
 very good quality. Lots                 specialize in upright pianos and
 of improvements need                  produce one of the finest quality
 to be made if Suzuki are               instruments today. The Klima
 to compete in the upright             pianos are mostly built and
 piano industry.                             assembled by hand in a small
                                                      factory in the Czech Republic.

Bohemia upright pianos                 Kawai Upright Pianos
Another Czech piano firm. The        Much like Yamaha, Kawai upright pianos
Bohemia upright pianos are fine     are popular in countries that like a bright
quality instruments. They are         sound. These upright pianos fail to impress.
made in Bohemia's Jihlava factory  If you can afford to buy one, money is usually
in the Czech Republic which is        better spent on Czech or English pianos.
currently the third biggest piano
factory in Europe.

       SANYA            

Sanya upright pianos
Probably the best sounding pianos
that have come out of China. The
action is not too heavy, as is often
the case with Chinese pianos, and
the quality of sound -- especially in
the centre of the piano -- is excellent.

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Questions

"Looking For My First Piano"

Hi,

I’m looking for my first piano at the moment and I’m not sure I should go for second hand KEMBLE or brand new THOMANN?

My local piano workshop recommend me one which is Kemble classic (late 70’s??) and the price is £1000(including free deliver, first tuning and five year warranty). I was told Kemble is the only piano made in UK and it’s very reliable. But if I spend £175 more, I can get  a brand new THOMANN. (please see the following website)

http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_109_piano_up_schwarz_pol.htm

Have you heard about THOMANN? Is it made in German? Is it good piano?

Could you please give me some advice?

Many thanks!

Caroline Meng

Reply/ Hi Caroline

I am so glad you asked this question...

Probably there are many piano buyers out there that
are thinking the same thing.

Here is what I believe...

Firstly, Thomann pianos are NOT made in Germany. They
are made in China!

There is, and can never be, a piano produced in Germany
that is for sale for less than £2,000.

Labour costs are just too high to produce anything of German
standard anywhere near this price.

The Kemble that's for sale in your local piano shop 'looks' like
a bargain. I cannot comment on the condition of this piano
without seeing it.

However, you ARE doing the right thing buying from a piano
shop.

I assume you are getting a good guarantee with it (2-3
years is average). If you are not being offered a guarantee
like this then ask for it.  They should give it to you if it makes
them the sale!

If I were you, go and buy the Kemble. It is a better quality piano
than the Thomann. £1000 is also a very good price. See if you
can press them for a free delivery and first tuning free in your
house as part of the deal.

Let me know how you get on...

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Further comments/

Hi Graham ,
 
Thanks for getting back to me.
 
I viewed the Kemble on Saturday, the sound is really good! Unfortunately, the height is too low for me as I'm very tall. There's another piano looks good, the brand is " REGENT". Have you heard about this maker?
 
Thank you.
 
Caroline
Reply/ Hi Caroline

The Regent is made in China and has very heavy keys.
This makes it very difficult to play.

The sound is also bright and harsh.

Avoid the Regent piano at all cost!

My advice is to buy a Moutrie piano. This piano is also
made in China but is a much better quality.

I have personally tried every known piano that is
imported to England from China. Most are below
par, but I was very impressed when I saw the
Moutrie recently.

You can read more about them here:
http://www.pianoplus.co.uk/new-pianos/Schumann/upright.html

Let me know if you decide to go for this piano. I might be able
to get a better deal for you.

Here's my number: 020 8367 2080.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Dear Graham

I have found your email on the internet.
Would like to ask you what you think about S Ritter
pianos. I'm thinking of buying one but don't know if it is
good . I'm a beginner and want to start learning with my 7
year old son.

My choice so far is S Ritter 1500 pounds, or Kawai
2600 pounds both new.

Many thanks
Laila

Reply/ Hi Laila

Not tried the Ritter pianos. But at £1500 new it is likely the
pianos are made in China.

To get a decent quality piano that will last many years, you
should be looking in the £2500 - £3000 price range.

The Kawai would be a much better choice.

You might also consider the Bohemia 111 model, or the Kemble
Oxford. They are both around £3000 new.

Let me know if you need more help choosing your piano.
You can call me on 020 8367 2080 if you like. I'll point you in the
right direction.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Hello,
 
When I moved into my house 6 months ago I found (behind all the rubbish) that the previous occupants had left an upright piano in the garden.
 
The make is 'Lestrella Piano', which is not a name I can see in the list on your site and no results come up in Google searches.
 
It is in poor condition as it seems to have been outside for a long time, so before I encourage the ivy to grow over it in an artistic manner, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't worth salvaging.
 
Kind regards,
Louise

Reply/ Hi Louise

'Garden pianos' are always complete write offs. It only takes one shower of rain or a very cold night to ruin the piano beyond repair.

My advice is to get rid of it.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Hi,
 
I'm a beginner and I want to buy a budget piano. There are lots choice on the UK market and I'm not sure which one is the best?
 
1. S.Ritter    Sold by Jaques Samuel Piano, London
2. Weber      Sold by Piano Warehouse, London
3, Steinmayer   Sold by Piano Warehouse, London
4. W.Streicher   Sold by Piano World London
5  Yamaha B1
 
I know most of them are made in China but not sure about Yamaha B1.
 
Also I know the sound of the budget pianos is not good as big one. There's a Japanese made Altas piano in my local piano workshop. But it is 20yrs old and the price is £1500 ( including 5yrs warranty, free local delivery, free first tuning and a free adjustable stool). This Altas  has fabulous sound and good resonant, but I'm not sure if it come from " grey market " as I can see a lable in the cabinet and it tells me that the first owner is a school in Japan ( the lable is in Japanese and I can completely understand that).
 
Could you please give me some advice on which one I should buy? That's a lot of money and it's really difficult for me to make decision.
 
Many thanks!
 
Chao
 
Could you please give me some advice? Which one is worth to buy?
 
Thank you.

Reply/ Hi Chao

All of these pianos are made in China. Even the Yamaha B1.

I have tried all of these pianos out and my recommendation
is to go for the Atlas.

Every Atlas I have played has been a beautiful instrument
with a powerful, singing sound and crisp action.

Don't worry about it being 20 years old. Especially with a
5 year warranty, you will be fine.

If this piano is too big for your room then the Yamaha B1
is a good second choice.

The Yamaha comes out ahead of every other Chinese piano
I have seen.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Further comments/
Hi Graham,
 
Many thanks for your advice.
 
I'm glad to let you know I've bought the Atlas piano.
 
Thank you.
 
Chao

Your lessons were great. the only problem is i havent got one to practise with. i'm looking forward to buy one. which brand piano is best to start with? i'm not interested in digital piano. sort of jazz or acoustic. what do u reckon?
 
hope to hear from you soon,
suzu

Reply/ Hi Suzu

Yamaha or Kemble acoustic pianos are among the
most popular.

You can read more about them here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/upright-pianos.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

More reading

Buy a Digital or an Upright Piano?
The Wonder of the Piano
Piano Care For New Piano Owners
Buying a Piano: a Decision Maker's Guide
How To Clean Your Piano Keys
Is The Piano Dead?
Find Out How Much Your Piano is Worth
Buy a New or a Second Hand Piano?
Piano Keys - Learn How to Clean And Repair

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Digital Pianos