Help with buying my girl a piano..?

ampjohnny

Hi Guys,

Thanks for any help I can get with this as I am kinda totally out of my depth and am music ignorant.

My girlfriend is a brilliant piano player and has done all the levels (scales?) or whatever the process is called but she no longer has access to a piano as we have moved in together into an apartment and it wouldn’t make sense to go dragging a giant piano from her parents house in the country to our apartment (we plan to buy a house together in maybe another 2/3 years or so when house prices hit bottom anyway)

She obviously really misses playing and is worried that she is losing a lot of her ability by not practicing so I want to get her a special present for her next birthday (well it will be more like a joint bday/anniversary/xmas pressie but I digress)

I want to get one of those digital piano thingys that look like a tall wooden piano – I think I want one that is as near to a full sized keyboard as possible so that she can keep playing and practicing as if it were a proper piano and getting better but the overall piano would need to be small/light enough to be able to be moved into an apartment without a team of men. I would like to get a good quality one and will pay if I have to but it would be brilliant to keep the cost under €1,000.

Last thing (and maybe im way off here but) is it possible to get one that would have headphone capabilities so she could play it with headphones on in case the neighbours start complaining ..?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers
J

balducci

http://www.thomann.de/ie/search.html?gk=tadpdp&bn=&pr=0a1000&kf=on&oa=ala&wgfid1=7544&wgfid2=10412&wgfid3=10413&wgfid4=10414&wgfid5=10415

there you go, i'd stick with the Yamahas. here's one with headphones and a nice stool

http://www.thomann.de/ie/yamaha_ydp141_r_arius_set.htm

ampjohnny

Thats pretty much what i was thinking of, looks the part but can be played with headphones too.

Thanks a mill, never even hear of that website before.

I take it the website is well regarded and that Yamahas are a good brand?

Looking at the piano and the cost involved im thinking ill have to forgo the surprise aspect of the present and check with her to make sure shes happy with the piano before i buy it.

rcaz

Yeah, seems like the kind of present that you don't necessarily want to spring on someone, just in case. It also seems like an amazing present, fair play to you

Thomann is very well-regarded, though it might be worth your while having a look around X-Music or Waltons or something. You'd be able to keep the purchase Irish and you could even have your girlfriend play the piano in the shop to make sure? I'd imagine getting something that size shipped to you from Germany would be a pain in the hole...

Yamaha make great pianos. Apparently what they do, with their acoustic pianos, is copy the build that Steinway use in their pianos, and do a very good job of replicating the quality. I'd imagine their digital pianos have the same attention to detail.

ampjohnny

Thank you for your reply – yeah I hope it’s a great present but she’s a great girl sooo she deserves it…


She’s gifted when it comes to playing so at least I know I’m getting her something she will use and really enjoy which is better than wasting money buying her something she will get no use out of.


Thanks for the tips – I’m based in Cork so I don’t know the shops you mentioned so I guess ill take a look in places like Pro Musica before I go making a decision.


Cheers
J

nicknackgtb

Shop Local first before you buy though, better to keep our economy going and Im sure you'll be able to get something your after here instead.

ampjohnny

Yeah I’d agree with you in principal and would buy Irish where possible.

Having said that the rampant profiteering that went on across a lot of the Irish economy over the last 10 years has taken its toll on my loyalty.

If its 10 cent in the difference between a punnet of Irish or Spanish mushrooms in Dunnes Stores I’ll buy Irish, if I find 200 euro difference in the cost of the same Digital Piano by buying in Germany you can be sure I wont be buying local.

bad2dabone

there's a yamaha shop on bachelors walk in dublin, might be worth ringing them to see if they could match thomanns price.

quicklickpaddy

I think they've moved to Liffey St.

dmg10

As you're based in Cork, Jeffers in Bandon sell digital pianos. They seem to sound good and can be used with headphones. I think, (think!) they might have been priced around the 1000-1200 as it was definitely a cheaper option than going with the upright that I did get. Factor in approx 100eur for delivery depending where you live. Not sure if digitals have the same issues with tuning on movement and therefore require delivery, I'm guessing not...????? Really nice people to deal with too. Take her with you and get them to show you upstairs...loads and loads of pianos just waiting for someone to select them...