In a compete 180, today I fell in love with a 20 y/o 5’3” Yamaha GH1.

I am actually seriously considering this piano (it helps that it’s actually within our budget).

Tomorrow we’re going back to one of the other dealers we’ve visited before so I can play a few other grands (all instruments I’ve played before) just to see how I feel after another round of comparison playing.

piqué don’t hate me!

Also, Bernard for the gazilliojnth time, I’m sorry I can’t remember but what model of G is your Yamaha?
ETA Bernard, you have a G1R right? Ok that’s not what this is.

Well, you know I love my Yamaha.

If you love a piano, it's the right piano.

Fun!

Before you buy, go back and play octaves starting in the middle (above the break, around bass clef F-treble clef F) and play firmly going down - listening as you hit the transition around C/B and lower. Repeat, breaking the octaves this time to play one note at a time an octave apart. If it sounds good to you, bingo!!

The tuning of these tends to be a little crazy if your house goes through significant humidity shifts over the course of months - there are solutions available for that.

Thanks for those tips Ron! I’ll report back!

Re humidity, I have finally got my humidity under control!! Yay!!!
(Wait till winter when I have to worry about driness!!!

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
In a compete 180, today I fell in love with a 20 y/o 5’3” Yamaha GH1.

Does Pique hate Yamaha?

No, it’s the length. Too short.

Well, yeah, of course ...

You were looking at an M, right? That's what, 5'7"?

I find even that length a bit of an issue. Really sweet midrange, but thuddy-sounding bass.

Yes the M is 5'7". I must not care about the length. When I do my test-playing, I have several pieces in my repertoire that I play, and for the small pianos that I have liked, I don't find the length or bass to be a negative factor

I did like the Yamaha C3 I played, but it's a bit of tight fit for our living room.

Another piano I played and liked was a Yamaha C2 which is 5'8". I played a Petrof IV (5'8") which was underwhelming.

And then I've played 4 different Boston grands (two 5'4" one 5'1'" and one that was 5'10"). I absolutely loved every Boston I've played! Even the 5'1" one. The catch, those were all new instruments. And I have yet to come across a used Boston. I wish I knew why I like these Bostons so much... I think it's a combination of the action and the fat tail.

Today we went to a different dealer (that we have visited before) and I played two GH1s of similar age, neither were as appealing as the one yesterday. I also played a brand new GC1 (I think that's the right number, it's a 5'3" but brand new, and the letters are definitely GC), that was also very nice, but again, too expensive.

Anyway, today's visit convinced me that the GH1 I played yesterday is a definite contender (and none of today's GH1s are contenders). I don't think I'm ready to pull the trigger though. I probably need to make another trip to that dealer.

I love playing and comparing all these pianos. But boy oh boy do I hate all the driving!

Speaking of driving, have you been up to Ruggero Piano in Raleigh?

Good folks.

Ruggero Piano

I don't remember liking any Bostons, but that was years ago. Maybe the new ones are better.

P*D, I've looked at Ruggero's website, they don't really have anything that jumps out at me right now, used inventory is complicated, so I do check periodically. But it's also a lot farther than I want to drive.

RP, again, I'm not much of a pianist, nor am I a tech, so my opinion (as they say) is worth what you pay for it! But the Bostons I've played, I really like. But I really don't see them on the used market around here, and I've heard from someone at PW that the Bostons tend not to be very stable. These are older Bostons, so it's hard to say what's different with the newer ones.

I’m in the 5’3” is too short camp.

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
No, it’s the length. Too short.

I think you misunderstood.

Damn autocorrect.

May I ask why a little grand rather than a high quality console?

Your ear is different than mine. I don't have a problem with that.