Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum How about a Hailun HU6?

(EDIT: we're changing course to seek a grand now....)

Well, in my search for a professional upright with "grand" sound, action, sostenuto, etc, I came across the Hailun, with which I'm not acquainted. any opinions here as to how the high-level pro upright Hailuns compare with the Knabe 131, the Kawai K series and other instruments in that grouping? We'd like a sostenuto, a powerful bass and a warm, not "bright/metallic" sound... Thanks for any input!

Edit: also, i just spoke with a Hailun dealer and he quoted me something like $11,000 MSRP for the HU-6, when Fine's online blue book says $8200 for SMP. I'm guessing Hailun recently raised prices? But that's a BIG jump...where can I find the right SMP for negotiation?

The SMP prices are updated every 6 months. A new update is about to be launched. Also, note the MSRP and SMP prices are derived differently, as some makers artificially inflate the MSRP more than others. That may explain some of the disparity.

I've not played that specific Hailun model, though they are considered among the better pianos coming from China at this time. Part of your impression of tone and touch will be based on whether or not the dealer properly "preps" the piano to show. For this reason, I typically call ahead and make an appointment to see a specific piano several days in advance.

The MSRP is really irrelevant.

I recently played a H-5P. It was really nice. I preferred it over the K3 by far. The cost of that piano was around half of $11K.

@ terminaldegree: That's good advice and I can understand now why that's important, b/c when we played the Essex at the Steinway gallery, I was very unhappy with the shrill tone, but if I recall correctly, the salesperson told me it had needed a tuning....

@pianoloverus, i'm getting the impression that MSRP is a bit of a game, but I'm not sure how to get a dealer to acknowledge SMP when all the sticker prices are MSRP...I imagine this is all about negotiations, which is why my hubby will do the "dealing."

@ monaco, sorry to be dense, but when you say "The cost of that piano was around half of $11K," did you mean the selling price was around $5500, or the wholesale cost was around $5500... Thanks!

Hi sushifor5!

If I were you, I'd knock 20 to 25% off that $8164 SMP ($6531 to $6123) and see how that flies with your dealer. The worst he can say is no!

The HU 6P looks like a nice piano. Another member here was going to buy one. It has a nice and large music desk.

I was not the one who purchased the piano so I don't know the actual final price, but I am pretty sure it was well under $5500 out the door, delivery, first tuning and removal of old piano shaped object (PSO) included.

The Spring 2012 online edition of Piano Buyer will be released this month. The print edition will follow soon thereafter.

There have been price increases in a number of major brands. I am not at liberty to discuss which makers had price increases.

Sushifor5, please re-read the explanation of the MSRP, SMP, and "Street Price" in Piano Buyer. I want to be sure you fully understand how Larry has structured his price range estimates.

I wanted to buy one. (Still do). The dealer's out the door price was around $6k. This was in the summer. I don't know if prices went up, but I sure how they didn't go up that much!

THanks for the input!

@Steve, I have been studying those sections in Fine's guide and asking my hubby (who does contract negotiations for a living) to explain the nuances to me. I think I understand how Fine reaches SMP, but I'm not sure how that impacts the negotiations with the seller, since he is looking at MSRP...but I'm studying the issues. Thanks!

Regarding the HU6, I had just added it to my list of considerations b/c of the price point for what seems to be a quality pro full-size upright (hoping to get it for $7K to $8K). But if the prices have gone up that much (closer to $10-$11K), I won't really consider that piano...I can't find a dealer with one in stock even within 8 hours of me, and there are other instruments on my list, like Charles Walters, that would be in that same higher price category. Does anyone think my assessment is wrong here? TIA!

I can't help wonder what SMP vs. MSRP has to do with much. What would matter to me is what the quoted price is.

Prices on Hailun pianos went up last October and did not make the Fall 2011 Pianobuyer. The increase was significant. The HU6 & HU7 are both much more expensive than the H-5P, but not double. I hope you can work out an satisfactory purchase.

Thanks! I appreciate that info!