Yamaha, Samick, Kimball, Kawai or Baldwin - which is best?

[fan]

An adult student currently has a Baldwin Acrosonic, in poor condition
(terrible action, pedal probs, etc.). He'd like to buy a better piano,
hopefully for around $3000, and is considering Yamaha, Samick,
Kimball, Kawai, or perhaps another Baldwin (not an Acrosonic).

Is any of those brands, at this low price, better built than the
others?

At a higher price point, I'd certainly recommend a Steinway, but for
around $3000 it seems to me that he's just going to have to play a lot
of different used pianos until he stumbles onto one with a good
action, a non-tubby bass, and an overall good sound.

Thanks for all feedback/suggestions.

[rick hollett]

Generally the Kawais and Yamahas are ok. Sometimes there's great va;ue in a
rebuilt. I played a rebuilt Heintzman(60 yr old), very impressive, but it's
unlikely you'll find one unless you know a good technician. Even in the
rebuilts, you have to be sure nothing is glossed over.

Rick Hollett

Post by fan
An adult student currently has a Baldwin Acrosonic, in poor condition
(terrible action, pedal probs, etc.). He'd like to buy a better piano,
hopefully for around $3000, and is considering Yamaha, Samick,
Kimball, Kawai, or perhaps another Baldwin (not an Acrosonic).
Is any of those brands, at this low price, better built than the
others?
At a higher price point, I'd certainly recommend a Steinway, but for
around $3000 it seems to me that he's just going to have to play a lot
of different used pianos until he stumbles onto one with a good
action, a non-tubby bass, and an overall good sound.
Thanks for all feedback/suggestions.

[ragtimebill]

Actually, the Acrosonic is a really solid piano for a spinet. In the
hands of a good technician, it can be made into a nice piano with the
proper regulation and tuning. Of course, if you are looking for more
volume, a larger piano is in order, but don't discount the little
Baldwin because it has been neglected; it was and still can be a very
serviceable unit.

-Bill Rowland
Broken Arrow, OK

[Dennis Turner]

On 8/31/2005 12:20 AM or thereabouts, ragtimebill appears, somewhat

Post by ragtimebill
Actually, the Acrosonic is a really solid piano for a spinet. In the
hands of a good technician, it can be made into a nice piano with the
proper regulation and tuning. Of course, if you are looking for more
volume, a larger piano is in order, but don't discount the little
Baldwin because it has been neglected; it was and still can be a very
serviceable unit.
-Bill Rowland
Broken Arrow, OK

Indeed, I have a 40 year old Acrosonic. I recently had the action
refurbished and regulated. I went shopping for a smaller grand here.
Only 2 dealers in town. I played everything they have and found only 1
piano that sounds (to me, anyway) better than my humble little
acrosonic. It' a Baldwin L 6'3" artist grand, and a bit out of my price
range. I've decided to stick with the spinet for now. I was disappointed
with the Yamahas & Kawais I played. The local mega music chainstore
carries a Chinese made house brand that sounds HORRIBLE and appears to
be built from substandard materials. There I also played Yamaha & Kawai
smaller grands and Conover Cable, none of which I found satisfying. I
did try out a Petrof at another local shop (the one with the L)that
sounded as good as the acrosonic, although not really better.