Disklavier

If you decide to buy a new piano, here's what I'd do:  Get in touch with 
three or four likely dealers around the country, ask for a price, and 
let them know you are shopping around.  They will probably start you out 
with suggested retail minus a whopping discount.  Let each one know what 
the best offer was and go a few more rounds.  Then, call for best and 
final offers with the promise that you'll buy.

It's not big deal to ship a piano across the country--especially in the 
original crate.  A distant dealer is not allowed to solicit outside 
their territory, but can deal with you if you seek them out.  A distant 
dealer will support you just as well as a local one.  The actual set-up 
of the piano, tuning, and maintenance are often done by independent 
piano technicians anyway.  Those who have been Yamaha-trained receive 
direct warranty support from Yamaha America headquarters.

Pay a good independent technician about $100 to check out the MX100-II. 
  Yamaha does not extend their warranty beyond the first owner, but the 
warranty is time-limited anyway.

You'll have to decide about the need for a silent feature.  Playing to 
synthesized sound is a compromise.  Your children who are learning to 
play need to hear the real piano.  If their practice bothers you, you 
may need to consider your attitude and commitment.  To succeed, the 
children are going to need your interest and support in many ways.  Be 
prepared to hear the same pieces over and over again as they progress in 
their lessons.  The process of their learning is not something you can 
isolate yourself from.

jeffbakal wrote:
> I am looking to get an upright piano for my family and have come 
> accross a used MX100-II for $5500 from a private party.  I went to a 
> local Yamaha store to see the new models and found the salesman lied 
> about the models to clear an MPX1 (?) off the floor for $13K and said 
> the Mark III vertical would be unavailable until July 2003.  It looks 
> like it was introduced last year!  I could afford a new piano but 
> like to get a good value and am not certain whether it makes sense to 
> buy a $15000 new DU1A when I can get a good quality used MX100-II for 
> little more than a third the price.  Of all the features I see on the 
> DU1A, the most interesting is the "silent feature" so my kids could 
> practice and I would get some peace and quiet when they are starting 
> out.  Also my wife could practice after the kids are sleeping.  The 
> salesman told me the mute rail (felt muffler) was included in all u1 
> pianos and probabaly adequate.  Has anyone bought the DU1A and if I 
> wanted to go that route, what would be a target price for sale?  Any 
> other thoughts from owners of these models or other disklavier 
> afficionados?
> 
> 
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-- 
Robert Welcyng
Anchorage, Alaska