7 tips you MUST know before you buy a grand piano!!

[@replacesoundboard]

4:48 I don't think Steinway is the absolute best, because when you get into something as expensive as very high quality grand piano, there is no such thing as _the_ best anymore (i.e. everything is relative). There's no arguing that it's probably among the top brands. But _the best_ piano will always be the one that fits _you_ Take your time, this is the purchase of your life

[@replacesoundboard]

9:31 According to my piano dealer, the piano is made out of living materials (wood and felt). If you want the piano to be in good conditions, then it must be stored in a location where a human-being can comfortably live. The acceptable humidity range is 40-70%. If it goes above 70% for too long, the wood will swell, because of which your piano will go out of tune, and the metal parts inside such as the strings can rust. If it goes below 40%, the wood will shrink, and this is more dangerous because your piano is held together with glue and stuff. If the wood shrinks, the wood can crack. And a cracked soundboard is bad! Preferred humidity range is 50-60%. If you can keep it below 55%, it's perfect. However, avoid sudden change in humidity. If it changes too fast from damp to dry (from 70% to 30% in 30 seconds because of an air draft), it can damage the wood. Also good to avoid: air draft and sudden temperature change, which can both affect the wood and the humidity level. But the worst is the sun. Direct exposure to sunlight will do a number of things, such as damaging the finish and drying the wood, causing the piano to go out of tune and cracking the soundboard

[@JHeidt-dt6ih]

My heart stopped for a moment when I saw the video, I totally panicked, what if the piano fell down😳.

[@mikechen6796]

Hahaha luckily the company has insurance 😂😂

[@Starritt_Piano]

I also think a grand piano dictates the sort of person you are and how you chiefly like to express yourself at the instrument. In my case I’m a conservatoire student that practices for long hours each day, but I needed a piano that I could be inspired with to keep my imagination and creativity fresh. I do like Yamaha and Kawai and I would maybe consider it if I had a tighter budget and couldn’t afford the money for a European piano which was my first choice. I considered my speaking voice and personality in general and settled on a mellower sound, carefully honing in on the Yamaha c3 that my teacher had both online and through playing it-I loved the action but wasn’t inspired by the tone of it, especially the middle that seemed to have a more direct attack and shorter decay. Then I heard recordings of the C3X and it made me smile, the tone was more balanced and the treble was warmer sounding more like a flute or violin. What led me to my final decision though was the tone of an old Bechstein I heard and played-I remember touching it a lot and I had the feeling of wanting to keep playing it when I practiced on that instrument, even if it was over 100 years old and it wasn’t tonally as balanced, but it drew me towards the sound I was looking for. I went with August Förster because I wanted more power and depth in the dynamic range, but I wanted to keep that amazing memory alive as well and I did hear that Förster do sound similar to the old European pianos because of they craft their instruments with traditional methods. Thankfully my family knew I needed a grand piano for my development, so they gave me all the money they had towards it so I could buy new from a piano shop which is always the best idea-restored pianos are more risky to own but I’d record on one any day, as you always feel inspired and refreshed interpretation wise, it keeps your creativity open and fresh!!!

[@andresgunther]

Hi Mike, great advise! Thank your for posting this! Somme additions: Buying a well known brand piano has the advantage that replacement parts and service are more readily available. Buying a second hand (=used) grand piano is like buying a second hand automobile. The most dangerous pitfall is to fall in love with a piano which might seem terrific, and 'friendship' at first sight, but has hidden trouble. Hammer and action issues are expensive, but doable to replace. But to fix a cracked pinboard, bridge, frame or soundboard, or replace the strings or a soundboard that flattened out are major, specialized jobs that can cost almost the same as a new piano, and only are worth to do with top valuable or historic instruments (which are not the best to have for a student anyway). Yes, excessive dry air is more dangerous because the wood shrinks, and that can cause cracks in the soundboard and the tuning pins to loosen up; but it also goes on the felt (action parts - chiefly hammer heads) altering the sound.

[@mikechen6796]

yes I agree Gunther but that's why I recommended to look for a grand after teh year 2000 because it's almost 100% chance that the grand piano will be in a good state! Research took me 6 months so you should be indeed careful but with piano stores it isn't always the best too...

[@nimaljayasiri6065]

Thank you for this video with great info ...!!! I love your passion in emphasizing the points ...

[@ChristianNadoll]

Hello, interesting video. I believe there are other aspects to take into consideration, like transportation when you move into another house or apartment. The other one may be the stability of the piano, it should not be tilted with the carpet or uneven floor. Other aspects as well are the walls, which preferable covered with carpet as well. I am falling in love with the Yamaha Grand Baby Piano, in black. I am little tired of my electric pianos, there is nothing like the natural and beautiful sound and touch of an acoustic piano.

[@davidalarconquinones87]

thanks for the tips. You are right that japanese brands are fantastic and you can't go wrong. Steinway pianos are great but they had bad periods like the 70s where Baldwin and Mason and Hamlin where even better. I can think of at least six brands better than Steinway and other three in the conversation. Fazioli and Bossendorfer are better than Steinway.

[@emarekica]

Also, C. Bechstein and Yamaha have top quality lines of pianos, too. As for Steinway, their pianos made in Germany are of a better quality.

[@gaeleus]

Thank you for sharing . Excellent recommendations

[@dh7656]

Well thought out and sound advice. Thank you and congratulations on your lovely new instrument!

[@johnmiller599]

Congrats on 1k subs!!!!!

[@mikechen6796]

Thank you John!! 😊🙏

[@Paul-lm5gv]

I wish we had seen you playing your piano after it as set up. It seems a shame that you have this big grand piano in such a small room?

[@hellopsp180]

Poor mans Humidifier is called a Kettle :D. Even cheaper is just a pot full of water on the stove. Even Cheaper yet is a wet towel that's hung in the room where your instruments are. I always try to keep my piano between 50-60. Sometimes it goes below 50 sometimes goes above 60 but you know you cant have everything :D

[@jonasmutter457]

Nice thanks! Greetings from Austria ;)

[@mikechen6796]

Thank you Jonas!! I love Austria, definitely want to go there 🙂🙏

[@Ira-rx6qz]

I think every pianist has like a little composer statue. Every time I'm at my grandparents house, Wagner and Beethoven are watching me practice lol

[@mikechen6796]

Hahahah I think so too 😂 they're just way too cool 😂

[@Ira-rx6qz]

@@mikechen6796 Right! 😂

[@joyceeczar5536]

Eddy's Lofi. 👌

[@mikechen6796]

Which one? 😂 I just used Satie Gymnopédie nr. 1, Chopin nocturne opus 9 nr. 2 and Bach Air in G 😂

[@KitaAnakNegeri]

Hai Mike, we just released a video about the difference between an acoustic piano and a digital piano: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6KToGSXnNaIrrs Hopefully useful for those of you who are starting to learn the piano :)