Disklavier

Jim,

Used Disklaviers for sale are hard to find.  If you do find one, hire an RPT
look it over before you bid.  Common lore about Disklaviers is that they usually
get quite a bit more mileage on them than a common home piano.  Keep an eye out
for hotels and bars that may want to sell theirs.  Pianos are rebuilt all the
time, so even a worn one needn't be a hopeless case.

If you'd consider a new one, here's my advice:  Find one Yamaha dealer in the
country who has a selection of Disklaviers you can look at and check out.  Spend
some time in the store doing that.  Take notes on prices but don't take them too
seriously.  Once you think you've found the model you want, locate a number of
dealers around the country and ask for quotes on that one.  Present a copy of
your best quote to all dealers and ask them to beat it.  Repeat as necessary. 
Now decide what you want in a package--a piano, and perhaps an adjustable bench,
and some PianoSoft disks.  Ask the most responsive dealers for best and final
offers on the package.  If it seems reasonable, honor it, and buy.  The setup of
the piano and its subsequent maintenance will be done by independent RPTs
anyway, so it doesn't really matter if the instrument is purchased locally or
gets shipped across the country.  It might be preferable, though, to get one
that has never been out of the crate.  Only Yamaha dealers in your area can
approach you, but you may seek out any and Yamaha will still support you 100%. 
The quality of dealer support may vary somewhat, but you can count on support
from even a distant dealer from whom you have purchased.

Good luck!

Jim wrote:
> 
> I am not a piano player and not at all wealthy....all that being
> said,I have not been able to put the Disklavier out of my head. I
> have to obtain one...
> 
>           1. Are there any reliable sources in N.Calif. to look for
>              previously owned Disklaviers?
>           2. I would love some advice on what to look for as far as
>              reliability (ie what to watch-out for...)
>           3. What type of price range is fair and expected if I do
>              find something?
> 
>                           Thanks for any help...Jim
> 
> 
> To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...
> 
> To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
> disklavier-owner@egroups.com
> 
> To reach our group's web site go to:
> http://egroups.com/group/disklavier
> 
> To visit Todd's family web site that contains some fun disklavier content among other things, go to:
> http://MuncyFamily.com
> 
> THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
> disklavier-unsubscribe@...
> 
> Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
> disklavier-subscribe@...

-- 
Robert Welcyng
Anchorage, Alaska

Hi,
I was fortunate to find a used Disklavier being sold by someone leaving
the country. Price was half what a new piano would be.Also saved the extra
sales tax. I purchased the Gershwin Pianosoft discs right away so I could
hear George perform "live" for me. I still can't believe one person with
two hands can play the pieces on the software. Are some of the pieces
being played by two people?
My daughter is taking piano lessons but if she changes her mind, I can
still enjoy the music from the piano. It's a great investment especially
if you can find a good deal. There is a dealer in Marin county which had a
couple of Disklaviers for sale. The Yamaha dealer in San Francisco had a
demo unit for $10,000. Check out the Yellow pages and call the dealers who
deal in used pianos.
Can anyone recommend a good technician/piano tuner in San Francisco? It's
time for a tuning.
Victor 

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer.
http://experts.yahoo.com/

If a Mercedes dealer was located down the street, and you bought your new 
Mercedes 300 miles from where you lived because they could save you a few 
bucks, or the shipping was cheaper than the local sales tax,etc. , would you 
expect them to give you the same service as their local customers?  Keep 
dreaming!  True, Yamaha has the best service support in the industry, and 
you get one free in-home tuning after delivery.  End of dealer obligation.

Chances are, that if you buy from the local Yamaha Dealer, they will "match" 
a reasonable offer.  They may also throw in a few extras, like another free 
tuning, free speakers, extra disks, etc.  Remember, you are going to need 
that local dealer to facilitate service and repairs - just like you would a 
new Mercedes.  Sometimes, what you  save up front can cost you big time down 
the road!

Carol Beigel

>From: "Robert E. Welcyng" <rwelcyng@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
>To: disklavier@egroups.com
>Subject: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
>Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:20:33 -0900
>
>Jim,
>
........The setup of
>the piano and its subsequent maintenance will be done by independent RPTs
>anyway, so it doesn't really matter if the instrument is purchased locally 
>or
>gets shipped across the country.  It might be preferable, though, to get 
>one
>that has never been out of the crate.  Only Yamaha dealers in your area can
>approach you, but you may seek out any and Yamaha will still support you 
>100%.
>The quality of dealer support may vary somewhat, but you can count on 
>support
>from even a distant dealer from whom you have purchased.
>
>Good luck!

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.

To find a good technician to service your piano, you can locate an RPT 
(Registered Piano Technician) member of the Piano Technicians Guild for 
anywhere in the USA and Canada by visiting the Piano Page at:
www.ptg.org

Carol Beigel

>From: Victor Lim <viclimax@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
>To: disklavier@egroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
>Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 20:33:26 -0800 (PST)
>
>Can anyone recommend a good technician/piano tuner in San Francisco? It's
>time for a tuning.
>Victor
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer.
>http://experts.yahoo.com/

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.

The Gershwin disks were converted from old piano rolls played on a very good 
reproducing piano.  It was common for these rolls to be made with 4 hand 
arrangements with the same pianist essentially playing a duet with himself 
much as we can do with MIDI today.  Essentially you have a midi file of 
George accompanying himself.  Great stuff huh!


>From: Victor Lim <viclimax@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
>To: disklavier@egroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
>Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 20:33:26 -0800 (PST)
>
>Hi,
>I was fortunate to find a used Disklavier being sold by someone leaving
>the country. Price was half what a new piano would be.Also saved the extra
>sales tax. I purchased the Gershwin Pianosoft discs right away so I could
>hear George perform "live" for me. I still can't believe one person with
>two hands can play the pieces on the software. Are some of the pieces
>being played by two people?
>My daughter is taking piano lessons but if she changes her mind, I can
>still enjoy the music from the piano. It's a great investment especially
>if you can find a good deal. There is a dealer in Marin county which had a
>couple of Disklaviers for sale. The Yamaha dealer in San Francisco had a
>demo unit for $10,000. Check out the Yellow pages and call the dealers who
>deal in used pianos.
>Can anyone recommend a good technician/piano tuner in San Francisco? It's
>time for a tuning.
>Victor
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer.
>http://experts.yahoo.com/

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.

I suppose the picture Carol paints may be valid in some cases, but happily it
does not reflect my experience at all.  My best and final offer came from a
distant, not a local dealer.  Since I made it clear that that was my last and
final call, it would have been unethical of me, I felt, to continue negotiating
by asking my local dealer to match that offer--all dealers had the same
opportunity.  And, yes, the local dealer was sore.  As it turned out, they went
out of business several years later.  Assuming that I was not the straw that
broke their back, they would not have been there long to support me anyway.  

The piano setup and all maintenance have been performed by a competent
Yamaha-trained local RPT.  He works independently of any dealer.  My distant
dealer has always been responsive and cordial, although, frankly, the only
support I have ever needed has been the purchase of an adjustable bench and some
PianoSoft disks.  Any warranty work needed can be done through my RPT who has a
direct channel to Yamaha.  For example, he updated my E-PROM without going
through a dealer.  (That direct support of Yamaha seems to make sense, as some
people do buy an instrument in city A and then later move to city B, or, as I
have noted, dealers sometimes come and go.)

Buying remotely may not be for everyone.  If you have a dealer nearby and feel
the need of a face-to-face relationship and want the security of being able to
get your hands on the lapels of a salesperson regarding your questions or
problems, then you possibly won't choose to shop around.

Carol Beigel wrote:
> 
> If a Mercedes dealer was located down the street, and you bought your new
> Mercedes 300 miles from where you lived because they could save you a few
> bucks, or the shipping was cheaper than the local sales tax,etc. , would you
> expect them to give you the same service as their local customers?  Keep
> dreaming!  True, Yamaha has the best service support in the industry, and
> you get one free in-home tuning after delivery.  End of dealer obligation.
> 
> Chances are, that if you buy from the local Yamaha Dealer, they will "match"
> a reasonable offer.  They may also throw in a few extras, like another free
> tuning, free speakers, extra disks, etc.  Remember, you are going to need
> that local dealer to facilitate service and repairs - just like you would a
> new Mercedes.  Sometimes, what you  save up front can cost you big time down
> the road!
> 
> Carol Beigel
> 
> >From: "Robert E. Welcyng" <rwelcyng@...>
> >Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
> >To: disklavier@egroups.com
> >Subject: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
> >Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:20:33 -0900
> >
> >Jim,
> >
> ........The setup of
> >the piano and its subsequent maintenance will be done by independent RPTs
> >anyway, so it doesn't really matter if the instrument is purchased locally
> >or
> >gets shipped across the country.  It might be preferable, though, to get
> >one
> >that has never been out of the crate.  Only Yamaha dealers in your area can
> >approach you, but you may seek out any and Yamaha will still support you
> >100%.
> >The quality of dealer support may vary somewhat, but you can count on
> >support
> >from even a distant dealer from whom you have purchased.
> >
> >Good luck!
> 
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
> 
> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
> http://profiles.msn.com.
> 
> 
> To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...
> 
> To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and moderator, send it to:
> disklavier-owner@egroups.com
> 
> To reach our group's web site go to:
> http://egroups.com/group/disklavier
> 
> To visit Todd's family web site that contains some fun disklavier content among other things, go to:
> http://MuncyFamily.com
> 
> THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
> disklavier-unsubscribe@...
> 
> Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
> disklavier-subscribe@...

-- 
Robert Welcyng
Anchorage, Alaska

Carol Beigel wrote:
>
> If a Mercedes dealer was located down the street, and you bought your new
> Mercedes 300 miles from where you lived because they could save you a few
> bucks, or the shipping was cheaper than the local sales tax,etc. , would you
> expect them to give you the same service as their local customers?  Keep
> dreaming!  True, Yamaha has the best service support in the industry, and
> you get one free in-home tuning after delivery.  End of dealer obligation.

As a Mercedes owner, who purchased from a dealer in another city, I can
only say that our local Mercedes Benz dealer has been the greatest when
it comes to service and support.  They are only too pleased to have you in
the  Mercedes "fold" and by providing you with the best service in the world,
can hope to have you as a repeat customer for service and for that next
purchase.

Jack Schueler

On the same note, when you are talking about the cost of a disklavier piano 
sometimes it is actually cheaper to buy remotely.  a 30,000 dollar piano 
bought in my hometown would cost me $32,400 after I pay my local sales tax 
(8%).   A friend of mine bought one from out of state over the phone from a 
dealer he know bafore he moved here.  The dealer shipped it to him across 
state lines (about 30 miles) for $200.00.  A savings of over $2,200.00.  You 
can buy a lot of accesories for that.  Unless you are in hawaii, Alaska or 
the middle of Texas you might want to make a run for the nearest border.  
(Gotta do it by mail order or phone, if you buy it in the store they have to 
charge you tax cause you are buying it on the premesis)


>From: "Robert E. Welcyng" <rwelcyng@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
>To: disklavier@egroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
>Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 09:12:10 -0900
>
>I suppose the picture Carol paints may be valid in some cases, but happily 
>it
>does not reflect my experience at all.  My best and final offer came from a
>distant, not a local dealer.  Since I made it clear that that was my last 
>and
>final call, it would have been unethical of me, I felt, to continue 
>negotiating
>by asking my local dealer to match that offer--all dealers had the same
>opportunity.  And, yes, the local dealer was sore.  As it turned out, they 
>went
>out of business several years later.  Assuming that I was not the straw 
>that
>broke their back, they would not have been there long to support me anyway.
>
>The piano setup and all maintenance have been performed by a competent
>Yamaha-trained local RPT.  He works independently of any dealer.  My 
>distant
>dealer has always been responsive and cordial, although, frankly, the only
>support I have ever needed has been the purchase of an adjustable bench and 
>some
>PianoSoft disks.  Any warranty work needed can be done through my RPT who 
>has a
>direct channel to Yamaha.  For example, he updated my E-PROM without going
>through a dealer.  (That direct support of Yamaha seems to make sense, as 
>some
>people do buy an instrument in city A and then later move to city B, or, as 
>I
>have noted, dealers sometimes come and go.)
>
>Buying remotely may not be for everyone.  If you have a dealer nearby and 
>feel
>the need of a face-to-face relationship and want the security of being able 
>to
>get your hands on the lapels of a salesperson regarding your questions or
>problems, then you possibly won't choose to shop around.
>
>Carol Beigel wrote:
> >
> > If a Mercedes dealer was located down the street, and you bought your 
>new
> > Mercedes 300 miles from where you lived because they could save you a 
>few
> > bucks, or the shipping was cheaper than the local sales tax,etc. , would 
>you
> > expect them to give you the same service as their local customers?  Keep
> > dreaming!  True, Yamaha has the best service support in the industry, 
>and
> > you get one free in-home tuning after delivery.  End of dealer 
>obligation.
> >
> > Chances are, that if you buy from the local Yamaha Dealer, they will 
>"match"
> > a reasonable offer.  They may also throw in a few extras, like another 
>free
> > tuning, free speakers, extra disks, etc.  Remember, you are going to 
>need
> > that local dealer to facilitate service and repairs - just like you 
>would a
> > new Mercedes.  Sometimes, what you  save up front can cost you big time 
>down
> > the road!
> >
> > Carol Beigel
> >
> > >From: "Robert E. Welcyng" <rwelcyng@...>
> > >Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
> > >To: disklavier@egroups.com
> > >Subject: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
> > >Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:20:33 -0900
> > >
> > >Jim,
> > >
> > ........The setup of
> > >the piano and its subsequent maintenance will be done by independent 
>RPTs
> > >anyway, so it doesn't really matter if the instrument is purchased 
>locally
> > >or
> > >gets shipped across the country.  It might be preferable, though, to 
>get
> > >one
> > >that has never been out of the crate.  Only Yamaha dealers in your area 
>can
> > >approach you, but you may seek out any and Yamaha will still support 
>you
> > >100%.
> > >The quality of dealer support may vary somewhat, but you can count on
> > >support
> > >from even a distant dealer from whom you have purchased.
> > >
> > >Good luck!
> >
> > 
>_________________________________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at 
>http://www.hotmail.com.
> >
> > Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
> > http://profiles.msn.com.
> >
> >
> > To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...
> >
> > To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and 
>moderator, send it to:
> > disklavier-owner@egroups.com
> >
> > To reach our group's web site go to:
> > http://egroups.com/group/disklavier
> >
> > To visit Todd's family web site that contains some fun disklavier 
>content among other things, go to:
> > http://MuncyFamily.com
> >
> > THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> > If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much 
>mail, go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  
>That will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If 
>you insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
> > disklavier-unsubscribe@...
> >
> > Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
> > disklavier-subscribe@...
>
>--
>Robert Welcyng
>Anchorage, Alaska

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.

Try Ebay too, I see them go through there from time to time.

P.S. I prefer PianoDisc though, more versatile.

j

Hi Carol,

Is it okay to use a piano tuner from this RPT memberlist or should I 
be looking specifically for someone that is an authorized disklavier 
technician?  In other words, if I need to tune the piano would it be 
acceptable to use someone from RPT, but if I need servicing on the 
disklavier, I would need to look for an authorized disklavier tech?  
Would you recommend that I try to find a disklavier tech that also 
tunes pianos or are they really separate skillsets?

Thanks,

--Ron
2002 DC2A

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Carol Beigel" <carolrpt@...> 
wrote:
>
> To find a good technician to service your piano, you can locate an 
RPT 
> (Registered Piano Technician) member of the Piano Technicians Guild 
for 
> anywhere in the USA and Canada by visiting the Piano Page at:
> www.ptg.org
> 
> Carol Beigel
> 
> >From: Victor Lim <viclimax@...>
> >Reply-To: disklavier@...m
> >To: disklavier@egroups.com
> >Subject: Re: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
> >Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 20:33:26 -0800 (PST)
> >
> >Can anyone recommend a good technician/piano tuner in San 
Francisco? It's
> >time for a tuning.
> >Victor
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer.
> >http://experts.yahoo.com/
> 
> 
______________________________________________________________________
___
> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at 
http://www.hotmail.com.

> 
> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
> http://profiles.msn.com.
>

The best thing would be to find an RPT who works on Disklaviers.  To find 
one of those, call Yamaha at 800-854-1569.  Otherwise, an RPT is fine.

Carol

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "uhhmmmmmmmmmm" <zackcat@...>
To: <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 4:59 PM
Subject: [disklavier] Re: Buying a Disklavier


> Hi Carol,
>
> Is it okay to use a piano tuner from this RPT memberlist or should I
> be looking specifically for someone that is an authorized disklavier
> technician?  In other words, if I need to tune the piano would it be
> acceptable to use someone from RPT, but if I need servicing on the
> disklavier, I would need to look for an authorized disklavier tech?
> Would you recommend that I try to find a disklavier tech that also
> tunes pianos or are they really separate skillsets?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Ron
> 2002 DC2A
>
> --- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Carol Beigel" <carolrpt@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> To find a good technician to service your piano, you can locate an
> RPT
>> (Registered Piano Technician) member of the Piano Technicians Guild
> for
>> anywhere in the USA and Canada by visiting the Piano Page at:
>> www.ptg.org
>>
>> Carol Beigel
>>
>> >From: Victor Lim <viclimax@...>
>> >Reply-To: disklavier@egroups.com
>> >To: disklavier@egroups.com
>> >Subject: Re: [disklavier] Buying a Disklavier
>> >Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 20:33:26 -0800 (PST)
>> >
>> >Can anyone recommend a good technician/piano tuner in San
> Francisco? It's
>> >time for a tuning.
>> >Victor
>> >
>> >__________________________________________________
>> >Do You Yahoo!?
>> >From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer.
>> >http://experts.yahoo.com/
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ___
>> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at
> http://www.hotmail.com.
>>
>> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
>> http://profiles.msn.com.
>>
>
>
>
>
> To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...
>
> To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and 
> moderator, send it to:
> disklavier-owner@...
>
> To reach our group's web site go to:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier
>
> THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, 
> go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That 
> will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you 
> insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
> disklavier-unsubscribe@...
>
> Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
> disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1297 - Release Date: 2/25/2008 
> 9:22 AM
>
>