Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Piano selection

If given the choice between 2 kawais, a 40 year old, 6’2” for 6k and a 30 year old 5’8” for 7k, which would you pick? Assuming both are in good condition, moderate wear, and both have good tone.

Thanks
Ridley

Well your hypothetical kind of implies everything is in the same condition, meaning nothing on the 40yo will wear down and break any earlier, including the strings, action or soundboard. In that case, the age is meaningless, right? So just choose the larger piano if you can fit it.

Good condition according to your evaluation or a tech's evaluation? I think "good" has a pretty big range and an inspection by a tech, assuming it's not already done, should be considered especially if you are reasonably sure you're going to buy one of the pianos. It's even possible that the 40 year old is in better condition than the 30 year old piano and then the choice would be easy because of its greater length.

How is the bass tone in the 6'2" piano vs. the shorter model? Do you have any preferences about the touch, tone, and appearance of either piano? Are the two piano at the same location?

Thanks for the well thought out responses. Like everything, I guess it just depends. I haven see or played with of these pianos, I suppose I was just wondering if the 10 extra years on the larger piano would automatically make it less desirable than the younger smaller piano.

From what I’ve read here, pianos have a 50 year lifespan (very generally speaking)

The ten extra years don't automatically make it less desirable. And even if the older piano is in slightly worse condition it has the advantage of being longer.

You should first play both pianos assuming they're reasonably close by and then, if either appeals to you, hire a tech for an inspection of one of both. Some 30 or 40 year old pianos are in great condition and some are in terrible condition. You cannot go by an ad or seller's opinion that they says they are in excellent condition which is I guess is all you know right now.

Saying pianos have a 50 year life span is just an estimate which depends greatly on the quality of the piano and the care it received, It also doesn't mean that piano has to be junked after 50 years.

Thank you all

I played one of these pianos today, the 40 year old 6’ kawai and found the action to be too heavy. I did play a Yamaha of a similar age, g2, in great condition (rarely played, good environment, etc). I really loved the touch and sound - what price would you think is fair for this piano? Not including delivery

Price depends on the market in a specific area. There is no way to estimate a "fair" price not knowing where you are, nor how good that "great condition" is, nor what the market is like for used Yamaha G2s. The best suggestion one could make would be to check what is available in your area and find what comparable instruments are selling for, if such are even on the market

Otherwise, a technician, after inspecting a piano that you may want to buy, could probably give you a better idea of a fair price for the Yamaha G2.

Regards,

i dont think its possible both will have the same condition. Piano over 30 years is likely need to be reconditioned at least. I would take pick the one with better condition, and leave some budget for tech for prep work.

I’m in Georgia