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The Top 5 Piano Scams - Piano Buyers Beware!

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  • čas přidán 10. 08. 2024
  • Believe it or not, there are lots of potential scams out there when it comes to buying and selling pianos. Luckily these scams are easy to spot if you know what to look for.
    livingpianos.com/piano-facts/t...

Komentáře • 373

  • @LivingPianosVideos
    @LivingPianosVideos  Před rokem +1

    Join the Living Pianos Patreon for even more exclusive content!
    www.patreon.com/robertestrin

  • @Gbuljba
    @Gbuljba Před 7 lety +988

    Not everybody in this world is honest and upright - some people are grand.

    • @Juscz
      @Juscz Před 7 lety +43

      That's little console-ation.

    • @Juscz
      @Juscz Před 7 lety +17

      Indeed, regardng the facts surrounding an issue such as this, so much comes down to how one chooses to spinet.

    • @Juscz
      @Juscz Před 7 lety +20

      Not really... in fact, I'm really just trying to hold down the forte.

    • @Juscz
      @Juscz Před 7 lety +26

      But, I protest, discontinuing the thread would lead to considerable dis-chord!

    • @seiyuokamihimura5082
      @seiyuokamihimura5082 Před 7 lety +6

      Gbuljba nice pun.

  • @AnthonyB2351
    @AnthonyB2351 Před 3 lety +13

    I had a Steinway once. I also had a Stradivarius. They were rubbish. I later learned that Steinway made lousy violins and Stradivarius didn't even make pianos.

  • @pokerandphilosophy8328
    @pokerandphilosophy8328 Před 6 lety +280

    I once bought a Steinway banjo at an auction. Then my girlfriend told me Steinway makes pianos, not banjos. So, I think I got scammed.

    • @JustMe-999a
      @JustMe-999a Před 5 lety +65

      The least believable part is that you had a girlfriend.......

    • @jayveeaurea9091
      @jayveeaurea9091 Před 4 lety +2

      You really did get scammed.

    • @PiotrBarcz
      @PiotrBarcz Před 4 lety +2

      Definitely. They DO NOT make any other instruments other than pianos as far as I'm aware.

    • @SunnyAustria
      @SunnyAustria Před 4 lety +2

      Piotr Barcz Shure, they make Orchestral Stuff too ;-)

    • @gregoryvanderpas4176
      @gregoryvanderpas4176 Před 4 lety +7

      Same thing happen to me but it was a Kazoo.

  • @lynniespringer1705
    @lynniespringer1705 Před 7 lety +292

    He is Luke Skywalker's relative!

  • @brilego125
    @brilego125 Před 4 lety +16

    1. The Couple 0:47
    2. Auction & Inspection 2:10
    3. Steinert 4:18
    4. Foreign Piano 6:14

  • @CrapLuckSimon
    @CrapLuckSimon Před 7 lety +215

    So don't buy the Piano from this Nigerian prince?

    • @michaeltsung9741
      @michaeltsung9741 Před 7 lety +6

      no, no, it should be just fine. I mean why are so people so distrusting ??

    • @andrewasonibare
      @andrewasonibare Před 6 lety +7

      Haha. You're funny. I'm Nigerian and we get a bad rap. But we are - obviously - not all like that you know.

    • @Mike1614b
      @Mike1614b Před 6 lety +7

      if you're a prince, please send money!

    • @PIANOSTYLE100
      @PIANOSTYLE100 Před 6 lety +11

      CrapLuckSimon The Nigerian prince is probably stuck in the piano and needs your debit card
      to get out and he will give you the
      piano as a bonus

    • @PIANOSTYLE100
      @PIANOSTYLE100 Před 6 lety +1

      Andrew Asonibare Yeah that's true. Unfortunately bad people don't mind using any bodies, name, company, nationality to defraud. i have received these comeons. Watch the Beverly hillbilly episode where a huckster sells a bridge to them.

  • @jamesmcdunn
    @jamesmcdunn Před 3 lety +2

    Here are a couple of more piano scams: I saw an ad for a "Grand Piano"...Just one problem: It was a SPINET! I did see a piano at a GoodWill Store that SAID it was a Grand Piano but it was an Upright, but there it was, right there on the fallboard was the words "Grand Piano"!

  • @electricwally
    @electricwally Před 6 lety +5

    Thank you Robert! That was a very eye-opening lesson! Best wishes!

  • @mr.martinez1603
    @mr.martinez1603 Před 6 lety +71

    Why does this man look exactly like Mark hamill's used car salesman brother

  • @1cathexis
    @1cathexis Před 7 lety +38

    A very noteworthy presentation. This info is key for piano shoppers. No soft pedaling what so ever. Covers all major and minor points and really struck a chord with me. Thanks!

    • @amazing763
      @amazing763 Před 6 lety +5

      Robert is sharp. He sustained my interest all the way through.

    • @patrickcoyle4028
      @patrickcoyle4028 Před 4 lety

      @@amazing763 Definitely helpful for those of us Chopin around.

    • @Mr850man
      @Mr850man Před 3 lety +3

      looks like all the people on this thread are in tune with each other

  • @gmwdim
    @gmwdim Před 7 lety +12

    Great video! Very useful information, that's why it's so important to do your research on piano brands before buying. And I would never consider buying an instrument (like at an auction) without trying it first. Scams aside, there are plenty of genuine Steinways out there that are awful instruments due to poor maintenance.

    • @praestant8
      @praestant8 Před 7 lety

      gmwdim Like anything proper maintenance is crucial, but even a Steinway can develop problems due to environment and wear. One of the better deals to be had (which many technicians and piano rebuilders capitalize on) are the teflon era Steinways. Not easy for an unaltered one to be sold but a smart tech will snap them up, rebuild them without the teflon action parts, and sell them at top market value.

  • @franzjosephliszt1555
    @franzjosephliszt1555 Před 7 lety +40

    *sadly not everyone is honest and **_upright_*
    I see what you did there

  • @coolpianoschool
    @coolpianoschool Před 7 lety +23

    You forgot the gray market piano scam where the seller refurbishes it and claims it is in new condition but sat unused in the living room for a few years. When issues such as sound board or pin block arise due to geographical humidity differences the maker will not back it due to its being gray market. This happened to me years back with a Yamaha U1.

  • @robertgoodale7204
    @robertgoodale7204 Před 6 lety +9

    Forgot to mention "Gray Market" pianos. Lots of pathetic stories of used Yamaha and Kawai pianos intended for the Asian market that are not seasoned for the North American climate. Works good for a year - maybe. Then the pins are loose, board and bridges cracking, among other problems.

  • @garymcaleer6112
    @garymcaleer6112 Před 5 lety +15

    "Last day of the sale" is the most common.

  • @hakkisemirli7835
    @hakkisemirli7835 Před 3 lety

    Hi Robert, interesting video on scams and it's so important to remain alert as you highlighted..

  • @onumahobart8832
    @onumahobart8832 Před 2 lety +9

    Here's one to add to your list of 5 scams. And thankfully I didn't fall victim, but it was close. I was looking at used Steinways online. Someone offered a Steinway grand for free. The story was a wealthy relative had died leaving the estate and piano. They claimed nobody was interested in the piano and so they would give it away. After a few discussions with three different people I was asked to pay a shipping fee of $600 to ship a piano from Portland Oregon to Southern California. Doing the quick math I figured that with gas at $5 a gallon something wasn't adding up. I offered to pay for the shipping when the piano arrived but that was impossible. End of story, right?

  • @rogeralleyne9257
    @rogeralleyne9257 Před 4 lety +1

    Thank you for the informative video!!!

  • @Bonecrusher27WTF
    @Bonecrusher27WTF Před 7 lety +27

    It's sad that there are really some unconscionable pieces of shit floating about out there. Thanks for this video!

  • @No-pm4ss
    @No-pm4ss Před 7 lety

    I just love listening to you telling stories, the way you talk and present the situations is really good :)

  • @monterrey1952MEDICINA
    @monterrey1952MEDICINA Před 7 lety

    Great info Robert, thxs for your advice. regards from Mexico. Luis

  • @Jack-hy1zq
    @Jack-hy1zq Před 6 lety +10

    The ONLY way to be sure about the piano you want to buy is to take a piano tuner with you. The End.

  • @jerrydavis1475
    @jerrydavis1475 Před 4 lety

    I enjoy your videos! Your presentation and humour is impeccable

  • @michaelnash4671
    @michaelnash4671 Před 7 lety

    Very helpful. Thank you.

  • @dannyhao1080
    @dannyhao1080 Před 7 lety +12

    Once I went to buy a piano. The seller guy seemed nice, got to try it out, he even offered lessons in his shop & gave me an acoustic guitar. So I paid for the piano, some guys who supposedly were there to deliver the piano came by.
    I lived in an apartment then, so they were daunted by the stairs and the seller called to say "Can we put it in your garage? We'll come later to take it upstairs"
    Of course I refused, and I never heard from him again.
    Months later, finally got the money back through paypal.
    Even more months later, that guy ended up on the news as a piano scammer funnily

    • @Me-xk1yg
      @Me-xk1yg Před 7 lety +3

      Wow, good thing you got the money back.

  • @johnferguson8993
    @johnferguson8993 Před 7 lety

    Many thanks for good advice.

  • @dusseau13
    @dusseau13 Před 7 lety +6

    A friend of mine produces grand pianos and sells them for 250,000 each. Many stars including Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton have played his pianos at one time or another. A Chinese company is producing knockoffs and selling them in shows using copies of his literature and even his face on placards.

    • @deborahblackvideoediting8697
      @deborahblackvideoediting8697 Před 2 lety

      Unbelievable what some scammers will do! It must be so frustrating for your friend knowing this is happening.

  • @EightiesTV
    @EightiesTV Před 7 lety +48

    "Let me see your identification...
    We don't need to see his identification.
    These aren't the pianos we're looking for."

  • @handsfree1000
    @handsfree1000 Před 7 lety +72

    The force is strong with this one

    • @kriswilson5305
      @kriswilson5305 Před 6 lety +1

      Yes! I thought he looked like someone and just couldn't put my finger on it.

    • @joshbonner9409
      @joshbonner9409 Před 4 lety +1

      Peter Broadey 😂

  • @ChernobieffPiano
    @ChernobieffPiano Před 7 lety +18

    Here's one: A rebuilder telling the owner of a square grand piano that their square piano is worth $40,000 after its rebuilt. So they "invest" $9,000 to have it rebuilt. The problem-
    Good luck getting $40k.

    • @jaynebennett2063
      @jaynebennett2063 Před 3 lety +1

      Arthur Fiedler thought so much of a square grand piano that he had it made into a bar. True story. I would love to pick one up for cheap (and they truly aren’t worth anything) and make a desk out of it.

  • @robertgentry9436
    @robertgentry9436 Před 3 lety +2

    I paid Steinway of Dallas on Oak Lawn to do an appraisal on a nice M model back in the 80s and they told me I shouldn't get it. Later, the owner called to let me know that they had bought it. I was too young and dumb to have known to sue the crap out of them for that total deception. Too late now.

  • @dennischannells5683
    @dennischannells5683 Před 7 lety +6

    I don;t (can't) play the piano but I must say I really enjoyed this video. Robert really knows what he is talking about.

  • @cirrus8791
    @cirrus8791 Před 7 lety +1

    This is an excellent video. A common one I've come across is related to your #5, which is sellers enthusiastically selling Boston pianos as if they're Steinways - I've seen ads that had the Steinway name highlighted and the Boston almost in 'fine print'.

    • @hpg307
      @hpg307 Před 7 lety +3

      cirrus I disagree here. Steinway actually shows the Boston pianos on their website at www.steinway.com/boston

    • @JacobEmch91
      @JacobEmch91 Před 7 lety +1

      Boston pianos are 100% made by Kawai, and Kawai reserves their best technology for their own pianos. The same is true for Essex pianos - 100% percent made by Pearl River in China.
      Both "marketed" by Steinway.

    • @praestant8
      @praestant8 Před 7 lety

      Jacob Emch As I recall Steinway had some input on the design and scaling of the Boston line, which is why they sell it as "designed by". Essex was a convenient low tier model... and of course they would be happy to trade in any Boston or Essex for a real Steinway when you're ready... Clever gimmick.

  • @arthouston7361
    @arthouston7361 Před 6 lety

    Very revealing. Thank you.

  • @pianomanic71
    @pianomanic71 Před 6 lety +6

    You forgot about the dealer or internet retailer that tells you a piano is "refurbished" when what they actually mean is it is used and has had some limited cosmetic work. This is very common in the Yamaha upright model U1 and U3 market.

  • @ronwilliams357
    @ronwilliams357 Před 7 lety +3

    Another scam is sellers of counterfeits will go to medium or larger cities and advertise "local college music department" selling off their name-brand pianos at a steep discount, and rent a hotel ballroom or vacant store for a weekend. They'll claim to be from one of the local colleges, and because they're not "retailers," their insistence on cash, cashiers check or western union might not seem as suspicious. They'll assure you that Steinway doesn't sound like a Steinway only because it's been used a lot and needs minor tuning and adjustments which should only cost a few hundred, but you're getting that near-new $50K Steinway for $15K after all. They'll say they don't care about price so much because they were donated and they're just trying to get rid of them because they have new donated pianos coming in the next week. Free delivery, you get it within hours, but by the time you've called the local piano tuner they refer you to, they're long gone, and the local college music department says they had nothing to do with it.

  • @joestephens7105
    @joestephens7105 Před 7 lety +41

    I know of this scam perpetrated in Houston. A family would advertise a brand new Kawai, which would retail for about $15K - they were asking about 8K - substantially below retail, but apparently in perfect condition and brand new. They demanded cash, and wanted the piano to be moved right away.
    My careful friend who got the serial # called the main Kawai retailer in Houston. Guess what? The Kawaii had been financed, and not a single payment had been made, and had been delivered to a different address. She reported the current address of the piano, and followed up. Guess what - the person had moved from that address - an apartment.

    • @e.sren5
      @e.sren5 Před 4 lety +1

      Good one! 😀👍

    • @kanal7523
      @kanal7523 Před 3 lety +1

      ​@Chris Ruiz You are buying a piano that the seller doesn't own, and therefore you wouldn't own it by paying for it, so at any given time if someone contacted the police or Kawaii they would seize the piano (which would be highly unlikely I admit)

    • @JoanKSX
      @JoanKSX Před 3 lety

      OMG

  • @mark_patton
    @mark_patton Před 7 lety +1

    Great info. Thanks for posting it. Do you have a list of your top 10 picks for Grand Pianos for a home setting. I'd love a Steinway but don't need / want to spend $100k for this application.

  • @Anvanho
    @Anvanho Před 6 lety +2

    Great video! I've played, by the way, a couple of "Stencil" pianos, and they were terrible, IMHO.

  • @emilymcfadden4360
    @emilymcfadden4360 Před 2 lety +1

    Beware the scam of dealers who accept your trade in as colateral ( often with a 1000 dollar deposit) and put your new piano on " layaway". Later, when you go to pick up and pay off your piano, they have sold it out from underneath you, and claim your trade in has hidden faults, like a " cracked sound board". This happened to a friend of mine in Portland many years ago, dealing with a firm I' ll call in this venue " SC & Co." She retained a lawyer, and got her original trade in piano back, plus several thousand dollars in damages. Its called bait & switch, and violates laws in several states. In any event, get the serial number of the piano ( photo too) on the contract. And try to deal with established firms, but that is no guarantee, as my friend was burned by a 50 year old firm.

  • @YouTubeChannel-xw6do
    @YouTubeChannel-xw6do Před 6 lety +7

    could'nt stop watching this video. great speech skills and you DEFINATELY conveyed a message

  • @NickHollis21
    @NickHollis21 Před 7 lety +30

    True story: someone tried to sell me a Steinway grand for 2k dollars. This was before I didn't know much about pianos... But from what little knowledge I had at the time, I knew immediately it was a different piano. It wasn't the decal on the refinished fallboard saying "steinway and sons" it was the casting on the plate that said A.M. McPhail. Two completely different piano manufacturers. I compared the serial number and noticed that the piano would have been made in 1890. It's a modern design and action there was noway it could have been 1890.
    Please be careful when purchasing a steinway; have a technician inspect it first. Just because the fallboard decal says steinway doesn't always make it a steinway. The plate casting will ALWAYS have steinways name on it. Also, steinways grands keyslip is always doweled in the front with no screws. Simply pull it off and look for a serial number. Also, steinway prints their serial number on most of their pieces, (legs cheekblocks, soundboard, etc...)

    • @sealand000
      @sealand000 Před 7 lety +13

      They tried to sell you one grand for two grand? Definitely a scam!

    • @gojewla
      @gojewla Před 7 lety +1

      I played on a McFail once. Yes, the name says it all!

    • @wilsjane
      @wilsjane Před 6 lety +1

      A lot of pianos are rebuilt and sometimes the re-builders add a different name to make it look more attractive. At the end of the day, the important thing is value for money, rather than a name. So long as you are fully aware of the situation, a well rebuilt piano can be a good purchase With the older wood, sound deterioration will also be slower than with a new instrument.

  • @MikesModelshop
    @MikesModelshop Před 3 lety

    Trank you very much for the interesting video. It was helpful😃👍

  • @bruceruttan60
    @bruceruttan60 Před 7 lety +4

    Friendly and informative presentation. No mumbling or whispering. Good SHOW!

  • @jahnnyquest
    @jahnnyquest Před 7 lety

    excellent. Thank you.

  • @MrInitialMan
    @MrInitialMan Před 7 lety +6

    One thing I've run into was a similar-sounding brand name. This was a Bass Trumpet, but I thought the brand name was "Selmer". It was actually "Selman". It sounded dreadful.

  • @amazing763
    @amazing763 Před 6 lety +4

    The other side of this, at the very low end, is used uprights. People ask me, "You know about pianos. What is my old upright worth?" (They have it on Craigslist and it's not even getting calls.) I tell 'em it's a $50 piano. "You mean it's only worth $50?" "No. It's worse than that. Maybe someone will pay you $50 for it. Or maybe you'll have to pay someone $50 to take it away."

  • @HemanLee
    @HemanLee Před 2 lety +1

    I almost fell for another scam you did not mention, "Indian Piano Scam" on Craigslist. Seller poses as grieving widow can't bear the sight of piano list Yamaha G5 for only $1500. When I called the piano is now left with the movers and another city 100s of miles away. Mover now said I have to deal with the original seller for purchase forcing me to buy "Sight-un-seen", you get the drift. Also both phone numbers looked very similar - untraceable Google Voice #.

  • @fury3600
    @fury3600 Před 6 lety +15

    "i don't know why i'm laughing about this". guy is reliving the good old days when these scams worked lol

  • @eddyvideostar
    @eddyvideostar Před 6 lety +1

    To Learn Thai: This reminds me of home repair contractors: They seem to initiate their business close to the weekend and take payment in the late evening for the same reason that the bank and some of your support systems will be unavailable if something is amiss.

  • @Patrick_B687-3
    @Patrick_B687-3 Před 7 lety +5

    I can't believe people fall for letting someone take a piece of anything for sale. Or, buying something that expensive at auction with no exam. You wouldn't let them take the grips off your pistol, or seats from your car... Informative video nonetheless. Thanks!

    • @brois841
      @brois841 Před 7 lety +2

      How much you can see (i.e. risk) gets factored into the price. I've been to car auctions where you can look at the car, but you can't drive it. They get sold, albeit at a slightly lower price, to account for 'what if' scenarios.

  • @roimark358
    @roimark358 Před 4 lety +1

    The upright piano is really very authoritative when it comes to tone, very clear with complete separation of every notes, natural sound, truly natural real piano sound, its not muddy sound like most grand piano those latest GP expensives sounded like electronically produce sound. That upright made in japan piano is perfect for me.

  • @markhinds
    @markhinds Před 3 lety +1

    Of all the pianos I worked on my favorite came from the CONwood company. Perfect name. Their story was an elaborate tale of the wood they used to make their pianos was from Robin Hood's Sherwood forrest. An actual con about their wood

  • @janbaer3241
    @janbaer3241 Před 6 lety +2

    I'd been told that for antique piano you buy it based on the sound, not on the name. (My Braumulller baby grand has beautiful sound).

  • @organfairy
    @organfairy Před 6 lety +1

    I guess there are scams anywhere where there's a certain amount of money involved. I have even heard of Hammond organ scams: Many of Hammond's organ models look alike for the untrained eye. So there has been cases where a less desirable model has been "dressed up" to look like a B3 - Hammond's most sought after organ. It is still a Hammond and it still plays, but there are small deviations in the sound compared to a real B3.

  • @anushavetisyan9759
    @anushavetisyan9759 Před 4 lety

    Hello, thank you for the video! I am looking to buy a Kohler and Cambel, it is a baby grand but has a huge bug infestation. Is this a serious problem or is there a method to clean the instrument? Any information would be GREATLY appreciated!

  • @nancycharlotte3140
    @nancycharlotte3140 Před 7 lety +12

    Great video. And I think you do look like Luke Skywalker also.

  • @shayneoneill1506
    @shayneoneill1506 Před 7 lety +2

    I've seen a similar thing with guitars. Someone takes a Fender Squire (The low end brand of fenders) , still good guitars but not quite as good as a proper, then they'll take the "Squire" logo off, and replace it with ""Fender". Technically it is in fact a genuine Fender, but its not a high end fender, but people are fooled into paying 2-3 times the cost of a squire for a squire thining its the real thing.

  • @russmaleartist
    @russmaleartist Před 7 lety +20

    How about what to look for in fraudulent piano repair?

  • @buzzbang7930
    @buzzbang7930 Před 7 lety

    Thanks Bob

  • @taxol2
    @taxol2 Před 4 lety

    I just bought a used upright (not grand or baby grand) Petrof Chippendale. The strings are good, hammers are OK, no water , terminite, nor rodent damage. There’s very minor scrstch on the top. The owner was a diplomat which purchased the unit in Vienna.

  • @therenegadepianotechnician5170

    A piano dealer I know bought a Steinway grand from. out of state. He thought this piano was a Steinway M. Turns out, it was an XR former player piano. These have ridiculously long keys and screwy trap work. These are worth alot less than a model M. The piano was cut in the keyed, the piano was made 6 inches shorter and a copy of a Steinway action made in Asia was installed.

  • @lavapirate
    @lavapirate Před 4 lety +3

    i didn't get scammed, more ignorance - parents traded in our old spinet - can't recall the brand - and got a very good deal on a baby samick in beautiful mahogany with inlay designs. The seller was reputable and did say it was 'german designed' soundboard like a steinway - but we didn't really understand what that meant. It was presented as a S. Korean piano and we didn't pay a ton of money for it. Still, it certainly was a huge step up from the old spinet so I can't complain.

  • @RealTotalPianoCare
    @RealTotalPianoCare Před 7 lety +6

    Recently, I inspected a Baldwin L (6' 3") with a Mason & Hamlin
    decal applied to the front of the piano. The plot thickened and deepened
    quickly, when the REAL, factory stamped serial number was revealed,
    stamped/embossed/chiseled into the wood by the factory within the (1)
    case, (2) cheekblocks, and (3) action frame. It was worlds apart from
    the serial number painted onto the cast iron plate - turns out the piano
    was manufactured in 1926, and not in 1963 -- the year of the "made up"
    serial number that was painted onto the plate, possibly, by an
    unscrupulous piano rebuilder (or possibly, by one, who didn't include a
    note along with the piano, to explain the discrepancy/inconsistency).

    • @praestant8
      @praestant8 Před 7 lety

      PianoCare That's curious because Baldwin stamped numbers on case and action parts do not correspond to the serial number on the plate anyhow.. unlike Steinway. I learned this after buying my Baldwin 7' F. I find it odd it would have an M&H decal. What about the insides? Can't hide the Baldwin plate details with out much fakery. The other thing being that a M&H won't fetch more of a price than a Baldwin in most markets. They're often neck and neck... unlike the overpriced Steinway resale.

  • @thischannelexistsforsomere9584

    you are the most helpful person on the internet

  • @mattvwyk
    @mattvwyk Před 5 lety +1

    We have three brothers selling themselves as piano tuners. They would come to the victim's house for a tune but tell the unfortunate customer that the hammers, bushes, action, etc needs to be redone. They would then take out the action to be worked on at their "workshop" and charge the customers a small fortune. After some time we discovered that they would remove the action of one piano and swop around the parts of another similar model of another unfortunate customer's piano.

  • @jahnnyquest
    @jahnnyquest Před 6 lety

    thanks so much

  • @maroni64
    @maroni64 Před 3 lety +1

    Why you are saying Kohler & Campbell grand Piano is a cheap "poor" choice. I got $5000 budget and the grand piano that amazed me was 1995 6'1 Kohler & Campbell with perfect action, beautiful voice (very soft in touch) that beats about 6 different Yamahas in this showroom that I was. I spent an hour playing all the pianos and this particular one was by far the winner. Will I regret it?

  • @wiltzu81
    @wiltzu81 Před 3 lety

    I totally agree with you about those chinese stencil pianos with fancy german names. But I must say, that I would not raise hat for Essex and Boston either. They might be designed by Steinway, but one comes from Japan/Indonesia by Kawai and another from China by Pearl River which is known for those stencil pianos... I don't say, it's wrong and I have played some nice Kawai's in past 30 years but they aren't Steinways. But let see, what future brings. There has been rumours lately surrounding about chinese buyers been interested in buying Steinway brand...

  • @georgiaguardian4696
    @georgiaguardian4696 Před 4 lety

    Two weeks ago, I bought a Kimball petite/baby grand piano made in 1968 with ”W.W. Kimball Co.” On th plate instrad of just ”Kimball”. It was only $200 bevausenthe super nice sellers were moving out. Is this a great deal? It has very few issues but cerainly needs to be tuned. My family is very happy tonget this. There were literally 20 other buyers trying to buy it. I know this is no Steinway but am still glad to own a piece instrument of the American musical history.

  • @eddieday9077
    @eddieday9077 Před 6 lety

    Hello, I have a Yamaha baby grand piano. It's a two pedal. It has not cracks in the exterior and sound board. In very good condition. I no longer have the space. I would like to know how much should I sell for , so not to take advantage of someone or myself. Thanks, Ed.

  • @shoppe99
    @shoppe99 Před 6 lety

    It can happen on the other side too. Though it may not be considered a scam, but is unscrupulous behavior on the sellers part. You get a signed contract, money down, saying you are buying the piano but it takes a day or three to set up a piano mover in the mean time someone else comes along and offers more money and can move it that day. You come back w/ the balance of the money and a mover later only to find the seller says sorry... gives you back your deposit and you are left standing there with your mouth open like a fool. That is one reason I might very well take a part of the piano with me when I leave. Not the piano bench but something like the piano action that I can slip into my car. Nobody is buying that piano out from under me!

  • @Anonymous-kl2zy
    @Anonymous-kl2zy Před 7 lety +24

    Piano makers in South Korea, China and Indonesia have used many names from the old American piano firms- Weber, Kohler & Campbell, George Steck, just to name a few. They are using these names as stencil names and are leading the public to believe that they are getting a certain kind of instrument when they are not. This practice is inherently dishonest, unethical, and is most definitely a scam. I don't care how often "German" hammers may be used, or how many so-called German or American scales or other designs are employed. It is NOT the same instrument, PERIOD. Those of us who are musicians know the difference. The fact that something is legal, does not make it right. If we want an American name, I say we build American and buy American!

    • @soilmanted
      @soilmanted Před 7 lety +1

      Unfortunately, Americans have decided to stop making pianos and to leave piano making to the Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesians. Some of their instruments are very fine instruments too. But it would be nice if we could get back to building some fine instruments in the US. I believe there used to be 100's of companies building pianos in the US. Sadly, there are very few left. I think maybe there are 3 places in the US where pianos are still being constructed. There may be some US companies that design and market pianos with the pianos being actually made in the far east. While I understand how to make a piano, I don't have enough business knowledge to understand how to make a profit at it. If I did make a piano I would consider making a "historic" style without a cast iron plate, with lesser string tension, which would have a longer "singing" tone, combined with lower maximum loudness - but still with good dynamic range. A good woodworker could build a piano this way, by copying a historic design. Making a reliable cast iron plate is, however, quite an art in itself, that takes a bit of learning.

    • @slacker697
      @slacker697 Před 7 lety +5

      maybe Trump can bring back piano making back to the US like coal energy!

    • @jerrytheracecardriver1100
      @jerrytheracecardriver1100 Před 7 lety

      any mason and rische piano from after 1950 is a piece of shit from some chinese manufacturer who bought the name. Piano tuners often call them mason and risk because of how common it is to break a string when tuning

    • @praestant8
      @praestant8 Před 7 lety +1

      slacker697 That would be a neat trick indeed!

    • @wilsjane
      @wilsjane Před 6 lety +6

      The 'Trump' piano could have a fitted device to send you a tweet at 2-am every morning.

  • @Kapomafioso
    @Kapomafioso Před 5 lety +2

    Free piano scams. Dude seems fine, "just want to give out a piano after my late wife, ..." (or a different heartbreaking story) however, there is caveat: the piano has been moved to a different city (far away from the city where the ad had been posted) and gives you contact information on movers who have it - just call them, the piano is for free, but you have to pay up front fee for moving and then cash the rest when the piano arrives. No way, don't buy a piano you didn't see on your own eyes (in person)!

  • @reidwelch8419
    @reidwelch8419 Před 6 lety

    Wil Keeney had a late aunt whose Steinway model *usually an M but sometimes another size* he inherited. And because he did not play piano, Will would offer it for sale. Sometimes it was a Brambach or Lester or Recordio or Wurlitzer. But always he advertised only one piano at a time in the newspaper. Only one piano was shown at a time at his home (his others were kept out of sight). Year after year, Will sold pianos, each one inherited from his aunt. No harm was done, really. I was always amused by his success, Will was quite a character with darting eyes and wheedling voice, "this here piano is a real good one, you know, my aunt was a trained pianist." Wil is gone now. He had a masters degree it is reported and was a thirty year music teacher in the public school system. W.C. Fields was nothing over W. K.

  • @IamScroticus
    @IamScroticus Před 7 lety +13

    No, I am your father.

  • @garysdeskcom
    @garysdeskcom Před 7 lety +1

    Thank you. Excellent video. Very much needed. I am never impressed when a salesman in a dealership lies to me. I might not say anything, but that is likely to kill the chance of any sale.

  • @NickDe39
    @NickDe39 Před 4 lety

    Also was a general manager for a fortune 500 company, I neither had the time nor liked to talk, so just came to the point.

  • @jerrymcconnell4187
    @jerrymcconnell4187 Před 5 lety

    not surprising at all, the list goes on and on , so many scams so little time !!

  • @marycatherinealexander6844

    This was such a helpful video. I am trying to sell a piano for a friend. On the inside it is a Howard Piano (Cincinnati and Chicago) on the gold frame. It also has a Baldwin circular medal. There is also a "D" on the gold frame. I know that Baldwin owned Howard, but this video explained that the front sticker should say Howard NOT Baldwin on it. So, I now do not trust anything about the piano. The only numbers I can find are on the bar in front of the keys. We took it off and numbers have been hammer stamped into the wood (5 digits) on the piano and ink stamped on the back of the wood bar. Would Howard have stamped a piano in this way? Has my friend been scammed?

    • @deborahblackvideoediting8697
      @deborahblackvideoediting8697 Před 2 lety

      I was hoping someone would answer your question because it was so interesting. Did you ever find out?

  • @janbaer3241
    @janbaer3241 Před 6 lety

    For antique instruments, shouldn't they be judged individually, based on sound quality?

  • @WCGwkf
    @WCGwkf Před 4 lety

    These warnings and scams translate across the board to a whole lot of things.

  • @TungPham-xe4sg
    @TungPham-xe4sg Před 4 lety

    I have heard about cases where a different piano's action was "plugged" inside an upright steinway. How do I identify this problem and know that my action is an authentic Steinway's?

  • @choirdude5159
    @choirdude5159 Před 4 lety

    Well done.

  • @audunjemtland8287
    @audunjemtland8287 Před 6 lety

    How do you set a key? I notice if I tune it dead center, it falls back when I play.

  • @monoguy5194
    @monoguy5194 Před 3 lety

    I just bought a piano for 5000$ (pianos are worth more in my country), a Yamaha upright u2. Its 60 years old, but is claimed to never be used. Inside is in perfect condition. Will be delivered to me next week. Hoping for the best (:

  • @avzarathustra6164
    @avzarathustra6164 Před 7 lety

    00:00 WHYOOO You just earned a subscriber!

  • @stephencoleman3578
    @stephencoleman3578 Před 6 lety +1

    Today I was looking at an old German upright. I'd guess 80 years old. But I checked the serial number and it was 10,000 numbers over the last model built. Hmmmm a stenciled piano.

  • @markussadler3193
    @markussadler3193 Před 5 lety +1

    Haha! I get a simply piano advert on a video about piano scams!

  • @MrTommy4000
    @MrTommy4000 Před 6 lety

    sound, accurate information

  • @nicky2coats
    @nicky2coats Před 6 lety

    Great blazer

  • @gtoliver-official
    @gtoliver-official Před měsícem

    What if you buy a 65 year old German (made by Sauter) upright piano in good condition, strings hold tuning well, no cracks in soundboard, cabinet is like new, but the mechanism and hammer felts needs some minor regulation? is it worth it invest in such a piano still?

  • @ThadySenior
    @ThadySenior Před 7 lety

    When talking about no pianos from germany are you referring to the second hand market?

  • @immortallord2265
    @immortallord2265 Před 6 lety

    mmmm...gread ideas, thank you

  • @joeylessard8444
    @joeylessard8444 Před 3 lety

    Hi, I'm looking to buy a Pearl River grand piano, 5 ''3 and I wanted to have some opinions about it. In the begining, it cost 13 000 $ (new piano), and the piano store sold it at 9 000$ to someone because it was the demo, so that people could try it in the store, so now it's been two years that the person bought it from the store at 9 000$ and can sell it to me at 7 000$ to 7 500$. He says the piano is in very good condition and he is selling it because he has to go back in his country, otherwise he would have kept it. What do you think ? I'd really like your advice. (My english might not be so good, French is my first language)

  • @MikMech
    @MikMech Před 7 lety

    Selling them Flat (de-tuned) was a biggy!

  • @da__lang
    @da__lang Před rokem +1

    Who would let someone take the fallboard before the piano has been purchased and paid for? I can't imagine agreeing to that.

  • @dunnkruger8825
    @dunnkruger8825 Před 4 měsíci

    Robert,
    I am wet behind the ears, just starting to learn.
    BUT I know I am inspiring by the tone I hear - altho recorded - of German brands.
    I want a Schimmel or C. Bechstein upright.
    But as a beginner and not able to justify one yet,
    I’ve seen - 2024 - and heard on CZcams a $14K
    FEURICH 123 Vienna 45” upright that sounds amazing to me,
    close enough to what I hear from comparable German retailing at 2X the F123V
    That FEURICH states is made in Vienna, with a Ningbo mnfr frame and string assembly.
    With final assembly and other components German, France, assembled, regulated, voiced in Vienna.
    I am inspired by the sound I hear even as a beginning.
    But, a mostly Chinese doesn’t sound the same, the Chek Republic mnfr costing 25%+ more.
    Can you share your opinions?
    Thanks

  • @zenarobinson3851
    @zenarobinson3851 Před 7 lety

    the opposite happened to me - an unscam? a student's parents gave me their piano when they moved. it had, "rogers" on the lid. (my gran worked in a piano factory, and had a rogers, which was a reputable english (i think) make.) when i was having some work done on this piano, the tuner said, "wow! this is actually a bechstein!" never liked the piano - just couldn't play the damned thing! but as a freebie - not bad! (can't remember what happened to it!) must have some work done on the lid previously, as the same thing happened to my mother's crap piano - got tarted up & came back with a different name i'd never heard of!