Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Weber WG-50...looking for opinion

My wife and I are purchasing a baby grand (our first piano) as a family gift this holiday season. After some shopping, we are prepared to buy a new Weber WG-50. The size is perfect for our room and the sounds is wonderful. Our intention is hobby/practice for the entire family. The "deal" we've found is just over $5K for piano and bench. Does that seem fair? I'm also curious if any other owners of similar pianos have any opinions to share.

Chinese piano, same as the Bergmann, built in the same YC factory. The price is good, and it would be a better starter than many us ever enjoyed.

Dang.... I'm forgetting model numbers.... I think the WG-50 is Korean. The Chinese one of that size has a different model number if I remember correctly, but since I refused to stock the things I can't recall what it was.....

Larry why did you "refuse" to stock them?

The Chinese YC product was "buggy", and never improved. It sounded like someone was beating the strings with metal spoons when you played them, the actions were horrible, and the fit and finish sucked. One of the worst excuses for a piano I've ever seen from China other than the first Pearl Rivers to make it over here.

If you'd like a less diplomatic version of that let me know......

And you may well be right...

I know there was a change when the Chinese product was introduced, and all the Korean stuff went to WGS numbers.

The little Korean was a much better product than the initial Chinese stuff. I'm thinking that if this is a new piano, that it is probably Chinese, cuz te small Korean was phased out a couple of years ago. Also, I don't think anyone sold the little Korean that cheap...more like 7-8K, if memory serves me correctly (which is getting less likely each day...).

Gosh Larry, how do you REALLY feel??

K. D.

Here is the thread to the decoder ring for the Webers part numbers.

Dave

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/1450.html

know there was a change when the Chinese product was introduced, and all the Korean stuff went to WGS numbers.

Not all the Korean models went to the WGS numbers. Only the Special Edition, or whatever they were called. Geez.... my memory......

AH! Now I remember!

WG and 2 numbers were Korean, ie, WG-50 = Korean
WG and 3 numbers were Chinese, ie WG-150 = Chinese
WSG was the Korean built Weber/Pramberger stuff.

Weber is out of business, unless the name was purchased by a different parent company. As far as I know, Samsung owns the name and is still honoring warranties--I hope, as I'm waiting for a check done for work done this past MOnday on a WG60.

A recurring problem in Weber pianos (the ones manufactured by Young Chang, at any rate) was expanding action brackets. They would swell because the zinc content in the metal would take on moisture, from what I've been told. Major regulation problems, such as incredibly heavy feel, hammers blocking or bobbling against strings, would occur throughout the piano.

I don't know the age of the WG 50 you're looking at, but find out if is from the era of expansion! Don't know exactly when the problem was rectified, if ever, but that information should be available through Young Chang.

Dave Stahl

WOW! This is a lot more information than I expected. I appreciate everyone's time.

I am concerned a bit by a few of the comments posted. Hopefully some follow up will help me sort this one out.

The piano is on sale (3rd Store opening/Big Christmas Sale). The original price was $8790. The store owner told me that he purchased 30 of this model to celebrate the new store opening, and, as a result, is able to offer them at the reduced price...reading that YC has filed bankruptcy supports this idea (fire sale, possibly?).

I've confirmed that it is a WG-50, Korean made. That settles some of the concerns brought up by comments posted about the Chinese models. What about the expanding action bracket...1) is that a problem with this model, and, if so, 2) is it easily fixed?

Again, thank you for all the comments. I greatly appreciate the help!

Best Regards,
Kory

If you'd like a less diplomatic version of that let me know...... [Wink]

Weber still has a service department, and parts can be obtained under warranty. Samsung is very solid, so as long as parts are made by YC, or by the supplier to YC as the case may be, you have no problem. Because the expanding action brackets are a recognized issue that they have no choice but to address (sort of like a car having a recall, although the brackets have never been officially considered a "recall) Weber will supply the dealer with a new set of brackets. If you buy the piano, insist that the brackets be replaced, and make sure they actually do it.

Larry offers good advice. I would make sure the brackets in the piano are of the non-expanding variety BEFORE you get it in your home, and make certain that the dealer delivers the piano in decent regulation should you choose to buy it.

Samsung has been relatively accessible in my dealings with them, and they offer a reasonable reimbursement for changing the brackets. The dealer shouldn't have a problem with replacing them.

Dave Stahl

While that may have been true years ago, for the past two years the Bergmann products are much improved and are among the better Chinese instruments I've seen.

Reading comments about Weber and the pending status of YC caused me to reconsider the WG-50. Our latest find is a Story & Clark Model 152. This piano is slightly more expensive ($6250) than the Weber, but comes with the guarantee of a "real" company, in more ways than one!

I've read as many posts as I can find about the 152. For the most part, it seems to be a liked piano. I would greatly appreciate any comments regarding the SC 152.

I've noticed posts from the Kansas City area. Dealers posts welcomed... =)

I almost bought the Story & Clark piano but the 5'5" model. They have a 10 yr warranty & are made in the Dongbei (best chinese factory) in China. They are shipped to the Story & Clark factory in PA where they are assembled & prepped before being sent on to the dealers. The PA factory personnel were very helpful to me when I called asking a few questions I had about their pianos. They even fedexed me a sample of their available finshes.

I ended up buying a 5'9" Kohler & Campbell because I wanted something a bit larger &was offered a better deal dollar wise,& liked the tone a *little* better. (However from what I am learning, how the piano is "prepped" is crucial to the tone) Overall I think the Story & Clark pianos are quite nice & I absolutely would have bought one.

Realize that while this is a very informative forum on many levels, there is a bit of distain for "low end" Asian pianos overall here. (Some justified, cheaper many times *does* translate to more quality issues) Thus most of the feedback you are likely to receive will be negative to luke warm at best regarding the Story & Clark pianos.

I know the Piano Book by Larry Fine is highly recommended & have heard that he says some nice things about the Story & Clark in there.

I would base your decision on your own tastes & what pleases you sound wise & the feel you get for the dealership.

Good luck to you. Let us know what you buy!