|
Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
|
|
65 members (aphexdisklavier, bobrunyan, anotherscott, AaronSF, apianostudent, beeboss, brdwyguy, benkeys, 14 invisible),
2,188
guests, and
386
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
Junior Member
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1 |
Hi everyone! My 6 year old daughter is going to start piano classes as she has shown some interest. To help her practice at home, I am thinking in buying her a piano. I found this in Craiglist: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/msg/d/console-piano-made-by-yamaha/6526723226.htmlWhat do you think? Should I buy it? or Do you recommend me to look for a different kind? I also have a 3 year old daughter, and in the future I want her to take some music classes too. As I really do not know too much about pianos, I would appreciate your help and advice. Thank you! Arturo.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16,105
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16,105 |
Looks like a very nice starter piano to me. Being sold by a piano tech, one year dealer warranty, delivery included. Piano tuned and ready to play. And, the Everett pianos made by Yamaha have a good reputation for quality.
As far as whether or not you should by it, only you can make that decision. Have you looked at it in person and played it? It certainly looks nice in the pics. Keep in mind that acoustic pianos need periodic tuning and maintenance, so the cost doesn't stop with the purchase of the piano.
Good luck, and welcome to Piano World!!
Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 552
500 Post Club Member
|
500 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 552 |
Personally, if I were you in this situation, I would buy a Casio PX-160 digital (I recommend this model because I used to own one and it was both inexpensive and high quality) and see how she takes to lessons. If she advances and sticks with it I would look for a more high quality piano. I know there are those who will say you should start on an acoustic, but I'm not convinced of that personally.
If your budget allows, you can't go wrong with a decent acoustic upright. But this will cost significantly more than $850. Then again, Rick, who posted above me knows more about this brand than me!
Last edited by mivaldes; 03/22/18 07:59 AM.
Marcus Valdes
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,092
1000 Post Club Member
|
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,092 |
I've played several Everett pianos over the years -- before and after the Yamaha acquisition. They were excellent instruments. I never had a bad experience with one. Brigham Larson has a few YouTube videos about them. He has high praise for them as well. It has the potential to be a really good deal. Of course, I highly recommend playing it before you buy it. If you know another technician, I'd also consider having him check it out. Find out the name of the RPT selling the piano and check out his reputation as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,864
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,864 |
It's a good price. It's a better piano than most kids have to start on, and the cabinet looks pretty nice. It will fit your current needs as a starter to intermediate piano.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,559
7000 Post Club Member
|
7000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,559 |
Can you see the piano in person first, and hear it played by the technician to verify it's in tune, all the keys work, and that it has a pleasant tone? We can't see the serial number in the pics to verify the age. The only other thing I notice is the keys don't appear perfectly level, which happens on used pianos (and can be fixed by a good technician).
This gets us to the price - for the seller to make money on this transaction, they must have acquired the piano for $500 or less. That's typically junk piano territory. So, if you were interested in this piano I'd move both fast and cautiously, if that's possible. Consider bringing an independent tech with you to inspect the piano, which will cost you a little, and if it checks out, be prepared to buy it on the spot. I'd usually be with mivaldes about suggesting an entry-level digital piano at this price, but if this one checks out (and you can afford to do basic maintenance on it), this could be a more satisfying alternative.
Oh, and on balance to some of the other forum members, not all Everett pianos were great. We had a batch of their verticals in our practice rooms that were younger than some equivalent, but older Baldwin Hamiltons, and didn't hold up nearly as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 739
500 Post Club Member
|
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 739 |
Have you looked at others? Don't know where you are, but if you've a number of options, most of us would recommend against jumping on the first acceptable-looking instrument you come across. Not to say that this would be a bad choice, as other posters have noted.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956 |
I've played several Everett pianos over the years -- before and after the Yamaha acquisition. They were excellent instruments. I never had a bad experience with one. Brigham Larson has a few YouTube videos about them. He has high praise for them as well. It has the potential to be a really good deal. Of course, I highly recommend playing it before you buy it. If you know another technician, I'd also consider having him check it out. Find out the name of the RPT selling the piano and check out his reputation as well. Ditto to this. When I wa a piano major in college in the early 1970s,, the school (University of North Texas) had a ton of the pre Yamaha Everetts from South Haven Michigan in their practice rooms and graduate teaching studios because (according to the assistant dean) Everetts were built to be played 24/7. As a result I purchased one myself in 1976 - and we still own it. Just passed it down to my daughter, which means I can still play it from time to time. Probably had it tuned 7 times in 40+ years (shame on me) but its amazing how well it holds its tune. From what I understand the Everett's built under Yamaha's control in 1980 were still pretty much the same design as from before the Yamaha acquisition. Terminal Degree's suggstion about paying an independent tech to evaluate the piano is a good one.
Last edited by Carey; 03/22/18 10:39 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,559
7000 Post Club Member
|
7000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,559 |
When I wa a piano major in college in the early 1970s,, the school (University of North Texas)... That's a great piano program nowadays. What was it like in the '70s? That had to have felt like the middle of nowhere, up there!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,567
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,567 |
On it's face, it sounds very fair for what it is. The Everett Studios were far better than the Everett Consoles, so that leads us back to would you actually want it? Maybe, but probably not. I recommend any of several digital pianos over that option. Inevitably, a new digital will be more accurate and consistent in both touch and tone over a ~40 year old console.
Even if the seller acquired it for free, there is not much they can do as a tech to improve it and sell it for a profit, especially since the delivery is also included. They can inspect, take care of any simple issues and tune it. That's still an honest assessment, but also a reality.
There are 3 or 4 digital pianos that can be purchased with a street price of ~$1000 or less that I would recommend over this type of piano for a student. There are models from Casio, Roland & Yamaha and probably Kawai.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 32,060
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 32,060 |
I disagree with those who say to get a digital. A decent console, like this one, will sell for a substantial percentage of the price you pay if you decide to move up. A digital will not.
Semipro Tech
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,825
1000 Post Club Member
|
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,825 |
My take:
If he's an established tech, he shouldn't be anonymous. That comparison price is absurd even if it's New Old Stock.
For me it's a wash between this solid beginners piano and a decent mid-range digital ± $1000. For me, that choice would be determined how much I wanted volume control , headphones, MIDI function etc. My 48 inch upright is one or two clicks above this piano and I NEVER think to myself, "Gosh, I wish I had a my old digital to play on right now" Sam is an eminent voice here but I dare to counter that while the digital does have consistency and accuracy, whatever that is, the digital will never teach touch because you are stuck with the limited and restricted touch that is baked in at the time of programming and that all the multi-sampling and velocity layers in the world cannot replicate the feeling of playing the entire set of action, wires and wooden box including it's foibles and inconsistencies.
Kurt
********************************************************************************************************** Co-owner (by marriage) and part time customer service rep at an electronic musical equipment repair shop.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956 |
On it's face, it sounds very fair for what it is. The Everett Studios were far better than the Everett Consoles, so that leads us back to would you actually want it? Maybe, but probably not. I recommend any of several digital pianos over that option. Inevitably, a new digital will be more accurate and consistent in both touch and tone over a ~40 year old console. Good point about the Everett console. My experience has been primarily with the studios. If it really is in "pristine" condition, the craigslist console might be well worth considering. Only way to know for sure is to play and evaluate it.
Last edited by Carey; 03/22/18 02:21 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,342
1000 Post Club Member
|
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,342 |
Normally I'd also say go digital in this situation but at the price that console is it's definitely worth considering. It looks pretty good.
2012 NY Steinway Model B | Kawai MP11 | Nord Stage 3 Compact | Moog Matriarch | ASM Hydrasynth 49 | Sequential Circuits Prophet 10 Rev4 | Yamaha ModX 61
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,567
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,567 |
I've put this out before but I'll repeat it here for added clarity. A better quality acoustic piano remains more desirable to me than a digital, but a lower quality acoustic piano tends to go hand in hand with the following problems.
Lack of consistency from note to note, both touch and tone. Students are asked to learn scales, perform exercises, and early songs have very simple dynamic variation. A consistent instrument allow the student to be successful at these fundamental tasks before learning to compensate for expression, challenges, room acoustics, etc.
Secondly, when a piano is acquired that cheaply, I've never seen a customer do the recommended services that would cost a significant portion of the purchase. Pay $850 and then pay another $400 - $500 to properly regulate that piano, tune it again, adjust pedals, and minor voicing? Not going to happen. Tune 2x per year, probably not going to happen...most tune once and the student has already quit before they get around to tuning again.
*I have seen family members revive older, basic instruments, including the recommended service for sentimental reasons, and this can still be a cost effective approach to a good "starter" piano.
I see a similar attitude with parents that buy short, unweighted keyboards. I tell people that, as an exploratory exercise, that will last you for 3 months while you decide between piano, guitar or flute lessons, but inevitably, the lack of progress gets blamed on the student or teacher, not the instrument.
If the student is supremely motivated, they can learn on anything, just as the supremely unmotivated student cannot be persuaded by the finest instrument. Most of us are naturally in the middle, needing all the help and encouragement we can get. I do point out that either the "starter" piano or the digitals will not take you past an intermediate level.
For BDB, increasingly, recent technology digital pianos in the sub-$1500 price range have shown to hold 45% - 65% of their value on the private market for 5 - 8 years. Higher priced digitals can take a much bigger hit as they are more tied to "latest" tech, and top-of-line digitals can really take a dive, but they are clearly directed toward lifestyle features over beginner lessons.
It is also increasingly difficult to sell older console pianos at any price because furniture preferences have changed so much that many people will not consider even a good but traditional furniture console for their living room. What used to be the majority of upright sales only 15 years ago is now a tiny percentage of new buyers.
If you add in the cost of just 1 tuning per year for an acoustic and no other regular maintenance, the digital piano has better "cost of ownership". If you go back more than 8 years, I concede there are more factors to consider.
And Kurt, I'm sure your 48" piano is at least 10x better than the Everett console in the discussion.
To the OP. If your budget can go to $2,000+, then there are likely good options on the private market that could be good and desirable and more than just a short term instrument. For less than that, a digital piano benefits a beginner student in nearly all cases, so find an affordable one to start with and start saving for the better acoustic. The Everett may serve your needs, but I do not assume that it will serve you better or longer than a Casio AP270 or Yamaha YDP143, for example.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956 |
When I wa a piano major in college in the early 1970s,, the school (University of North Texas)... That's a great piano program nowadays. What was it like in the '70s? That had to have felt like the middle of nowhere, up there! Well - since you asked.... Denton really wasn't in the middle of nowhere. I recall that it took about 40 minutes to drive to either downtown Dallas or Fort Worth. There was plenty of access to the symphony, opera, the Cliburn, etc. and we enjoyed hearing and meeting numerous touring artists. The "golden age" of the school's piano program was in the late 1940s/early 1950s when (from what I understand) students of faculty member Silvio Scionti competed successfully in national and international competitions. Pianist, Ivan Davis, who passed away last week, was one of those students. As for the status of the piano program in the 1970s, it had a fairly good reputation.......though definitely not as strong as Indiana University at Bloomington, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Michigan or USC. My most well-known classmate from the early 1970s is Robert Blocker, Dean of the Yale School of Music. Joseph Banowetz had arrived as a new faculty member just as I was leaving. I would have loved to have studied with him. My sense is that the program is much stronger now than 40+ years ago. Now back to the Everett console............
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 919
500 Post Club Member
|
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 919 |
What an exciting time for you and your children. For that price including delivery, warranty, etc, it seems like a great deal. I would only go with acoustic but that is only my opinion Best of luck to you, please let us know what you decide.
Bösendorfer 170
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,956 |
Here's a 1981 Everett console that apparently sold for $2.9K https://www.pianomart.com/buy-a-piano/view?id=24378Actually prices for these old Everetts seem to be all over the place, $2.9 obviously being at the highest end.
Last edited by Carey; 03/22/18 09:33 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
|
Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
|
|
Forums43
Topics223,408
Posts3,349,457
Members111,637
|
Most Online15,252 Mar 21st, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|