Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Selling Steinway to purchase Avant Grand??

I found a buyer for my K, which I love but after playing AG, am just ready for chance to have grand action in my space which isn't big enough for a real grand although I could fit an N3. I'm pretty set of N2 although I'm ready for someone to sell me on an N3.

I also would like some advise as to offers I make to dealers. One dealer gave me prices of $9,788 for N2, $13,588 for N3 and a floor demo of N2 for $8900. Since the depreciation for this piano will be large I don't want to pay too much. Does anyone think I can walk in to same dealer with a wad of cash and say will you take this? (say $8000 <or less> for a new one?)

Also, any info to updates coming soon would also be most appreciated since it's been out since 2009. It's too bad they don't create an open architecture for the sound, since the action is old school doesn't have the same curve for updates.

Thanks for any advise I can be given.

If you're just interested in the grand piano action, the N1 would be even more attractive financially though the N3 would look nicer in your living room.

I made the plunge 13 or 14 years ago when I played a GranTouch on a theater job. I traded in my Yamaha C3 within a few months and bought the GT1.

The price you were given for the N3 is very attractive.

Of course the purchase will depreciate though on the other hand the same can be said for the purchase of an acoustic grand. The treat for me - every day I have a grand piano action with a grand piano sound that is perfectly in tune.

Everything in life is a trade off. For me, the trade offs work in my favor ... other folks have other priorities.

That's about what I paid for my N2 a month ago.

I tried N1 and it's nice but it's not just the action but the whole live experience which I got more from the N2 and N3. My main question is the N3 worth the extra money and extra space it will take up in my space? I know the specifications of each model inside out. I'm now looking for something intangible from anyone that owns either and what decision steered them to their final purchase.

I'd get the N3, mostly because the sound is not bouncing directly at the player. The N2 treble can be ear piercing as it flashes off the lid and hits your right ear. I wonder if the sampling of the AvantGrand was tailored more to the N3 than the N1 and N2.

EsseBrace has talked about an effect in the N3 of sound building by virtue of the resonator so that one can generate a sound through successive blows of the same chord that is more substantial than what could be generated by one blow. I've not explored this effect.

Aesthetically, the N3 looks better to me.

And, finally, in for a penny, in for a pound. I got the N2 because I had a grand already and thought I'd be using the Avant mostly through headphones.

What the helpful dealer asked me was this pair of questions:

"If you buy the N1 now, in six months are you likely to regret not spending the extra money for the N2?"

My answer was "yes."

Then, "If you buy the N2 now, in six months are likely to regret not spending the extra money for the N3?"

My answer was "no."

YMMV, of course, and that's not a knock on either the N1 or the N3 -- just proof of a sort that the N2 was what I was looking for.

Good luck with your choice, let us know how you get on with the N2.

I think based on features vs price I would take N1 over N2 - well, possibly anyway. That said, when I first arrived at the shop where I bought my N3 the dealer demo'd the N2 first and it sounded breathtaking from across the room.

As kippesc points out I think the soundboard resonator on the N3 is overlooked. There is a behaviour present on the N3 that I don't think could be exploited on N2 or N1. It works for me anyway and I do find the N3 very handsome looking, with a unique balance struck between traditional and modern. N2 needs the silly top lid to be open and that somewhat compromises the cleanliness of the look to my eyes.

Best wishes,

Steve

Yeah, but where else are you going to hide the letters of transit?

I was thinking about that lid, which in some ways is like lid on a grand. When I owned a not so great grand I used to keep lid closed most of the time. On these pianos you have to keep them up.

My other thought is the lid on the N2 projects the sound towards the player. Does the N2 have 6 speakers in that area (L/R/Middle?) Does anyone play their instruments with the lid closed?

This is going to take a while cause the person buying my piano lives many states away from me.

I've played these instruments 3 times now and have enjoyed the experience more each time. Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

I personally like having space if front of me. When I play an upright I feel like the piano is right on top of me (which it is of course). Both the N1 and N3 are open in that respect.

While I can't back up the following statement, I would imagine the N3 would be easier to sell when the time comes and would also be more attractive to the dealer if trading in or trading up.

Having said that, you can almost buy two N1's for the price of the N3. Since I practice with headphones I could be happy with any of the models ... and if money were an issue, the N1 would be my choice.