Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Looking to buy a piano $12k-$17K Range: A Neophyte's odyssey

Not really, not if you really like it and can afford it. That piano will likely be with you for a long time, 2K is a pretty normal uplift for a Mahogany finish and, after all, it is not just the finish but the lighter action you are getting as well (I'm assuming that you do actually prefer that lighter action).

This question seems to have gotten a bit buried. I can’t say that I have tons of experience with pianos manufactured in China. However, take a look at the PianoBuyer Staff Picks: https://www.pianobuyer.com/article/staff-picks-recommendations . They have a number of pianos on the list that are made in China, and I think that the pianos they have listed are worth checking out.

Some of these pianos are: Baldwin (I did get to play one of these, and I was impressed), Cunningham (may be challenging to find since you’re on the West Coast, but there are people on PW who own them, and they love them), Hailun (I’ve seen some good reviews from people on PW), Perzina, and Brodmann. Ritmuller and Kayserburg are both on the vertical piano ‘staff pick’ lists. Many of these pianos may not be represented in your area, but I suspect that several of them are.

Some new development and more ranting from me lol. I got to try a c2 from 1997, which is crazy expensive at $18k, but I just wanted to try it because a lot of people talk about that piano. I also got to try another G2 from 1988, going for $7.5k.

I can see why people like the C2 it is bright (crisp) but beautiful sounding. But to me, it only sounded a little better than the GC2 in the bass department. For a moment I thought there was more shimmer to it than on the GC2 but I don't know if my brain was messing with me because I knew I was playing a more expensive model. The action on the C2 felt a little broken in compared to the new GC2 I tried, but they were nearly identical and a pleasure to play. The G2 sounded a little warmer than the C2 to me, and the action felt a little more broken in than on the C2. I wanted to play these pianos to see if I liked them significantly more than the Kawai so that I didn't jump the gun on the Kawai pianos.

I feel like the GC2 and C2 are not any better or worse than the Kawai with respect to sound, they are just different. I agree with most that the Kawai sound is warmer and I prefer that warmth, specially because I will have to have the piano on laminate floor without a rug directly under the piano. Unfortunately, I liked the action on the GC2 better, but I think I can get used to the Kawai action. From all the pianos I've tried the last week I have to say that the GL30 and GL40 are my favorite sounding with the exception of the Steinway A lol. Yes, I know, the Steinway is out of my budget though.

I've eliminated the Kawai GL30 Mahogany Sepele from my list because it is even more expensive than the GL40 by a few hundred bucks. I thought about it and I don't think I'll ever think to myself, "Damn it, I regret my purchase, I should have gotten the mahogony finish."

Now I just have to decide

1. Gloss black GL30
2. Satin black GL40 vs Gloss black GL40.

This choice is where I stand more to regret. I really love that intimate sound of the GL30, but I did notice that sometimes when I was playing a song the bass would come up short. Maybe I just have to strike the bass keys harder. On the GL40 you do lose that intimacy from the GL30, but you gain that nice deep bass, depth, and the extra shimmer (reverb?) on the higher notes. That's the conundrum.

Ok, now that you have narrowed it down, here is my suggestion to you.

Try to figure out whether you liked the GL30 or 40 better ... I mean, try to figure it out in your head.

Then, go back to the shop (sorry!) and play that piano for 30 minutes. Don't play anything else.

If you love it, you could stop right there. Or you could step away (like, literally, go outside or something)... then go back and play the other for 30 minutes, or until you feel like you know which one you want.

If this doesn't get your answer, buy the bigger/longer one.



(but not really joking here!)

Another thing you might consider is re the finish... IIRC, the high gloss finishes are more durable and easier to fix when there's scratch. Assuming that's right, get the gloss because you have little kids and things happen.

Another reason to get the gloss is that's the standard and should sell better when you want to sell this piano for an upgrade.

Having said all that re the finish, it's worth double-checking because I might be remembering wrong.

I do remember that when piano shopping, I consistently liked the high gloss look better. But you're not shopping for me! :P

Finishes:
I would like confirmation from a dealer or tech.
Satin: I believe scratches are less visible but fingerprints are more visible than high gloss. The fingerprints would need to be polished out with piano Polish

Thank you, fantastic advice. I'm taking my checkbook with me next time I go. I'll play them and pick one. I really like them both a lot. I've notice that on bigger pianos you can often hear more of the peddling and the keys feel a bit clunkier, but the action is also lighter. I'm guessing that's what a longer key does. Maybe it is all in my head. Whatever the case, I will go play them for awhile and pick one. Regarding getting the bigger one, I think you are right. I think that if I can't make my mind up I'll get the GL40. I think I'm more likely to say, "I should have gotten the bigger piano." But i'll double check next time I go with my checkbook.

ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy



So, um, when is the "next time" you go?

It sounds like you're nearly there, but I did want to comment on your earlier statement that a 7'4" piano was too big for your living room. Are you really sure about that? That piano is only about 21 inches longer than a Steinway M. I keep harping on this topic because I lived for three years with a 7 foot piano in a 350 square foot mobile home. Call me crazy, but I was determined to make it work, and it really wasn't that bad.

Let me take this opportunity to call you crazy, hahaha. I lived in a 425 sq foot studio and I couldn’t have imagined putting a seven foot grand in it.

My mom grew up in Newport, Vermont. After reading the novels of Vermont writer Howard Frank Mosher, I know that anything is possible, so, you keep doing you, as they say. Have you put a nine foot piano in an RV?

Alright, so I went to LA and stopped by the Steinway gallery and played the model A again. I said f it, you only live once and got it! Kidding, kidding lol. I went back to the Kawai dealer, this time with my checkbook, and with my wife; I figured she'd get annoyed with me if I couldn't make up my mind and help me in the right direction. Per the advice I got here, I sat down and played the GL30 and GL40 again. Right before I could say anything my wife said, take the big one, the small one sounds like a tin can compared to the large one. She said if I have to hear all of you practice day in and day out, then I want it to have that sparkly sound of the large one. I didn't want to risk it with the glossy GL40 because of the buzz I mentioned earlier so I got the Satin. I know I promised myself I was going to wait a few months to decide on a piano, specially because I wanted to try out some of the Chinese brands. However, the price I got on this piano is insane because they are closing up shop. The piano should get delivered by next week, before Chinese new years; per my wife's orders haha. They are going to install it and let it sit a few days in the house to acclimate, then they'll tune it and prep it a few days later. So yup, I'm the owner of a Kawai GL40. I can't believe I finally got me an acoustic piano. I'm coming up in the world haha.

Congratulations! 🎉🎊🎈 please post photos once the piano is in its new home!

Wow, congratulations!

I've been following your thread, and can relate to many of your experiences. Glad you found just the right piano, and your wife helped you to make a decision. Good for you!

Enjoy!!

Rick

Yea, I'm super happy. My wife has been a lot of help most of my life. I don't know if she was testing me to see how much I liked the Kawai because she kept saying, "we can get the steinway if you want, are you sure you don't want the steinway?" She's like you just turned 40, dad passed, people are dying all around ( she runs covid units), our 20th anniversary is coming up in a few months, get the steinway, go all out. I said nah, I like the warmth of the Kawai, even this piano is too much piano for me. If I ever outgrow it or my kids do, I'll try the shigeru. Anyway, I'm counting the days till the piano gets here .

Congrats! We’re al looking forward to pics when it is delivered And BTW, think your wife is AWESOME!!!

Woo hooo!!!! Yay!!!

So excited for you!

Also… you almost had me at the S&S “f it” part!

Oh, and yes, your wife is awesome!!

What would we do without our piano-supportive spouses?

(or is the plural speece…

I thought about getting the S&S but honestly it would have been a waste of money. It’s not like I’m going to sit in front of the Kawai and think, oh this Piano is no good should have gotten the S&S. I really like the sound of the Kawai and at least to my ears it sounds as good as the S&S, it’s just a different sound. Based on that estimation the S&S would be a waste of money as it would just be bragging rights for me haha. Yes, I’m glad our spouses are supportive. Since I didn’t get a silent system and didn’t get the S&S, I’ll probably wait for hybrid digitals to get a little better and get one in a year or two. For now my hp605 will serve as my quiet practice piano.

This forum was super helpful with this purchase, I would have been lost without yalls guidance. Thank you!

Divorce!

Cheers!

Deals like that don't come along everyday. Over time I think you will appreciate the satin finish. I'm thrilled for you. Congratulations !!!

Congrats on your good piano, and your good wife!