Let me know if you need more help choosing
your piano.
Here’s my number: 020 8367 2080
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
Hi Graham
Many thanks for your prompt reply and for clarifying the differences between the two Yamaha models. I think we need to do a lot more researching before we come to a decision (my husband still thinks we would be better with a piano rather than a digital one) but would appreciate some suggestions for stockists and also some prices please.
Thanks once again,
Chris
Reply/ Hi Chris
A real piano is always much nicer to play than
a digital piano. You can hear the natural
sounds made from vibrating strings rather
than an electronic recording of that.
Also, the action of a real piano is more responsive.
The keys are longer (the end of the keys extend
far inside the piano), this gives it leverage… you
just can’t get the same feel on a digital piano.
We have a range of new and secondhand pianos
on the Rent-to-Own programme. This might be
a good way to get started.
You can read more about this here:
www.ukpianos.co.uk/upright-pianos-for-rent
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
Hi Graham,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and digitial piano testing results. Your
book is very interesting and informative.
I’m hoping to buy an acoustic piano with silent system one day (It’s out of
my budget now). Meanwhile, I’m going to either buy a digital piano or ship
my existing acoustic piano from Hong Kong to UK.
I passed Grade 8 piano exam ages ago. Since then, I’ve occasionally played
the piano except two years ago when I had piano lessons for 6 months. I
enjoy playing piano for leisure and like pieces with rich tones by
Tchaikovsky, Brahams, Chopins, etc.
My daughter, aged 9, took Grade 2 exam early last year. She has relocated
to UK last summer and hasn’t played piano since then. I would like her to
continue having piano lessons. She is not very keen but is willing to learn
and practise playing piano.
My existing acoustic piano in Hong Kong is an upright Samick bought in
1999 (costing around GBP 2,300) and a higher model then. It has been
little used but tuned three times a year (The pinao tuner said the wood
board behind is not very strong, making certain notes go out of tune sooner
than the better and more expensive pianos). The sound quality is okay, good
in the lower (bass) notes but a tiny bit too sharp in the high notes.
I’m worry whether shipping the Samick over to UK would damage the mechanism
or the material of the piano, and whether it would cost a lot to have it
repaired (though I know of families shipping their pianos abroad when they
emigrate) What do you think?
The other alternative is to buy a digital piano. Is any of the Yamaha
digital pianos or Classenti digital pianos good enough for (a) up to Grade 8
level? and (b) beyond Grade 8 level? I want my daughter to learn the piano
seriously and want a model with sound and touch close to an acoustic
piano to allow easy transition from a digital piano to acoustic piano for my
daughter. Also, I don’t want to be disappointed when I play the digital
piano for leisure. Or perhaps only an acoustic piano could satisfy these
requirements?
If my daughter practise on a digital piano, will she need to practise
playing on an acoustic piano before any piano exams?
Grateful for your advice, please.
Cynthia
Reply/ Hi Cynthia
Of course it’s best to learn on an acoustic piano.
And if you’re grade 8 standard then there’s
no substitute for the real thing.
Having said that, the Kurzweil and Gewa range of
digital pianos could be a good compromise…
The Kurzweil’s key touch is fully-weighted.
This makes it feel very close to playing a
real piano. So the transition to acoustic will
be much easier to manage for your daughter.
The Kurzweil MP120 is one I particularly
recommend.
The MP120 has a 5 touch sensitivity levels
and a deep, warm piano sound.
You can read more about it here:
www.ukpianos.co.uk/kurzweil-mp120
Another is the German made Gewa UP260G.
This piano has a fabulous sound sampled on
a Steinway concert grand.
Here: www.ukpianos.co.uk/gewa-up260g
Shipping over your Samick piano would be
very costly. It would only be worth considering
if you plan on staying here for a long time.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
Hi Graham,
I have read your thoughts on the Classenti digital pianos, which you are obiously keen on. It would be most useful if you could put the Classenti in perspective with the other makes of piano which you have rated eg. Yamaha – 9, Roland – 8 (I think), Classenti – ?
Could I also ask if you are sure about the 5 yr guarantee, as if you look at the Classenti.co.uk site the general 5 yr guarantee seems to limit any electronic components to 12 months. Unless this is changed for the digital piano it would seem to limit most of its components to 12 months.
Thanks Graham
Reply/ Hi Graham
I have just checked with the Classenti and the warranty is 5 years and it covers all electronic parts.
As far as a rating goes, comparing with other makes such as Yamaha (9.5), Roland (8), Kawai (6.5) and Casio (6) I give the Classenti a rating of 7.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos
Good day,
I am pleased to have stumbled upon your website, and very grateful for the invaluable advice published on it.
Ngaruiya
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