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I am considering to buy a used piano either Kawai or Youngchang. I saw the kawai piano today and it was in good condition and action feeling was also good. But it is studio piano size(902-t) and 10 years old.
I haven't touched youngchang piano yet but it was built in 2004 and cheaper than 10 years old Kawai. My friend told me older youngchang or kawai piano used better materials than recently built. Is this true?

This kawai piano was made in US, but I wonder if all parts are made in japan.

Which piano has better value?
Thank you in for your reply in advance.=)

I have found young chang to be hit or miss. Bring your tech along to see.

the kawai are more even across the board, but I have never been excited by them.

Young Chang pianos still use solid lumber core woods and are built with the same integrity as they were in previous years. For Value, its hard to find a better piano than Young Chang whether used or new.

Larry Fine currently rates these two brands on a par with each other (not necessarily relevant to the decision of which used instrument to purchase, but interesting).

My first teacher owned a Young Chang... it was O.K., but nothing really special about it. Try both and choose.

Personally I doubt I could ever choose a Young Chang over a Kawai....just my experience.

rada
www.pianopassions.com

I would agree with rada. The newer versions of both pianos are similar if not better.

from rada
from pianomadam
Steinway didn't choose one over the other. They hired both.

"Steinway didn't choose one over the other. They hired both"

Good to hear from you, Turandot. For the sake of the post-er, Boston (designed by Steinway) is manufactured by Kawai and Essex (designed by Steinway) by either Young Chang or Pearl River. The Boston is considered a higher end instrument to the Essex and is more expensive. So...yes, Steinway did choose one (Kawai) for their higher end and one (Young Chang) for their lower end.

Always good to hear from you too, Madam.

Now let me see if I have your post straight.
Steinway chose Kawai for a higher price piano and Young Chang for a lower one?

Is this an admission that manufacturers for Boston pianos and Essex pianos were chosen on the basis of satisfying a bid price, more than a standard of excellence?

To illustrate what I mean, Kawai does make three price levels of grand pianos. I believe that the Boston is derived from the high-priced RX line. The pricing of Kawai's low-priced GM piano indicates that if Steinway wanted to source its Essex line with Kawai, it could have been done.

Si I ask you. Which is it? Is the Essex built by Pearl and Young Chang because those companies offered a better piano than Kawai, or because they could build the Essex at a lower price?

The piano with the better value is the one that feels, sounds, and plays better for you! I would venture to say that even if the resale on the Kawai was 10 times that of the Young Chang, if I preferred to play the Young Chang, that's the piano I would go with.

Perhaps Steinway contracted Kawai to make pianos as high-quality as possible within its price range and for peral River and YC to do the same in their price range. DUH!

When placed on the same floor as a high-quality line like Steinway, it provides the shopper with the means to decide what value is best for them.

I would say it was a very valid marketing plan.

I agree with Steve, good marketing.. Both Kawai and Young Chang can make a great piano, but when you have to hit a certain price point, manufactures have to sacrifice the quality of parts and materials to achieve the targeted price.

I suggest to try an Essex next to the Boston in like sizes and hear which one has more color tone, power and expression, I think you might be surprised at what you will find.

I suggest that Steinway partnered with YC & PR due to their capibilities of building attractive cabinets at a lower cost than is possible in Japan. There are no furniture styles offered in the Boston line. The Essex is being promoted "For The Style Of Your Life," as their price point furniture models, Boston is being marketed as a professional grade instrument. Look at the range of sizes offered in the Boston range of Grands, the new KAWAIS are the most advanced pianos available today.