Wanted: Upright Piano

by **rafu1210** » Thu May 06, 2010 4:57 pm

Well I managed to get a novation super bass station for a good price from ebay ireland so, assuming it arrives all in one piece, I should be able to control some of my analog synths via its midi/cv output.

I thought I'd throw out another request: I've been looking for a nice old upright piano for a while. I've got a yamaha upright which is ok but terrible for recording so I'm planning to sell that once I can find a beautiful old upright with that rich round tone that you hear on numerous classic soul/jazz/pop albums. They have a totally different character to the pristine sound of a 9ft steinway grand and are a lovely instrument if you can find the right one. Does anybody have an upright like this that they need to get rid of for a reasonable price? In Melbourne?

Cheers.

by **rafu1210** » Thu May 27, 2010 5:28 pm

Still on the hunt for this one...

Anyone?

by **Kurt** » Thu May 27, 2010 5:57 pm

Be careful what you wish for..

A mate picked up a very nice looking upright, close to 100 years old. Appeared to be in excellent condition, all looked straight, no visible rust, wood looked pretty etc.. After getting it delivered (costly) he got a piano tuner out to look it over and tune it. The guy proceeded to tell him it wouldn't be worth the cost of doing it up.. You never know if the frame is straight and even if it was, because it was so old he reckoned all the strings would need to be replaced for it to hold tune. It then cost another couple of hundred to take it to the dump!

by **rafu1210** » Fri May 28, 2010 2:38 pm

Yeah, I'm being fairly selective and not just going for any old piano, already had a look at quite a few that didn't make the grade. If I can find a good one, I might even get a tuner out to look at it before I buy, but I thought that on this forum I might have a better chance of finding a quality piano from a seller who knows a bit about the condition/history etc. Maybe someone who has upgraded to a grand and doesn't have space for the upright... Ideally it would be a reconditioned one but I realise they are generally more expensive...

by **Chinagraf** » Fri May 28, 2010 2:42 pm

You could ring ABC piano rental in Melb and talk to Eddie, see if he has any ex rental for sale. We bought a Richter upright from him and it records really nicely.
At least you will know it has been maintined and he may have a bunch to choose from.
I've rarely come across an 'old piano' someone has sitting around in their back room that would be useable without spending a packet on it to get it up to par.

by **rafu1210** » Sat May 29, 2010 4:20 pm

Thanks I'll check that out. If they're ex-rental I imagine they'd be modern uprights which is not the sound I'm looking for but maybe he can give me some leads...

by **Nile** » Mon May 31, 2010 6:19 pm

What do you dislike about the Yamaha? Which model is it?

Cheers.

Neil

by **rafu1210** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 1:50 am

The Yamaha just has a really bright, clangy sound with no character. To me, new uprights have the worst of both worlds, they aren't loud, rich and pristine like a steinway and they also lack the smaller but round and flavoursome sound of a good old upright. if you listen to a lot of classic soul, jazz etc recordings, you often hear the uprights that I'm takling about.

I don't think this is the best example of what I'm taliking about but check this out, it sort of demonstrates what I mean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1svEtFMfUV4

by **rafu1210** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:08 pm

Just thought I'd bump this post as I'm still on the look out for my perfect upright piano. Anyone got one they want to sell?

Here are some more examples of the sound I'm going for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSjjtVdDZU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_2nf65BdXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAyHJgJX6lo

by **Nowak** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:23 am

If you want a great Jazz piano, I have a Baldwin Model L for sale. It's a grand. 6'4"

Stef

by **Drumstruck** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:47 pm

you could consider an upright organ =))

just had to use that one........

by **headman** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 2:42 pm

Have you thought of getting the Yamaha revoiced? I would always pick a newish Yamaha over a 90 year old anything. Get a tech to revoice the piano the way you want it...sounds like the hammers have gone hard.

headman

by **rick** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:59 am

there is a guy down the road from me at home that brings in 25 + year old yamahas uprights from japan
the other day i went in and played all of them ( maybe thirty - thirty five used yamaha pianos)
4 of them were spectacular ( 2 U.3 - 2 YU.S.5 ) the rest of them sounded ok.but nothing special
it was a very interesting lesson

and of all of the kawai pianos he had ( 2nd hand ) none were magic all were so /so even though some were higher prices then the yamahas
all of his pianos looked great and the actions were all good nothing to fault or complain about - much better then the australian delivered yamahas i see in my travels
but with so many of the same 2nd hand piano side by side it was very interesting lesson for me

i have a reconditioned 1920s beale - its a beauty a real sound piece
only one of those 4 yamahas would replace it ! ( a thirty year old YU.S.5)

that is if i had 6 grand sitting around ( still cheap but twice what it cost to get the beale bought and restored)
still thats one more upright yamaha then i thought would beat it !
and i am certainly saying it did by quite a margin
you live and learn i guess
i want another/extra piano now ..maybe i can talk my wife into thinking its time for the kids to learn...?

by **rafu1210** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:26 pm

Update.

I finally managed to find the piano I was after last year. A beautiful old American upright that I scored for $500 from ebay after many years of searching & testing. This one had been reconditioned in the 80s, so it sounds & plays great but wasn't as expensive as a newly reconditioned one.

Getting lots of use out of it for my own stuff as well as regular sessions for loads of other artist & bands.

Win.

by **rafu1210** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:28 pm

...available for sessions at my studio in fitzroy along with the rest of my vintage keyboard collection....

by **Text_Edifice** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:00 pm

Vaguely timely – anyone have an opinion on Beale upright generally?

by **rafu1210** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:34 pm

I tested one that I thought was pretty good, but not quite the classic sound that I was after.

by **rick** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:43 pm

I had a new piano tuner tune my 20s Beale the other day
He had a good look at it and what was done in the restoration
And said .. Frankly I cannot believe anybody bothered
Doing that restoration !
After he tuned it up for quite some time
i went in to see what the delay was
he gave me this weird look
And said something like "I think that is the nicest tone on upright I have
Ever tuned its a beauty "

Me I am still going to go and find one of those upright yamahas from down
The road when the time is right .