Advice on an acoustic piano

So I decided that I would look into buying an acoustic. It would have to be apartment size though, since I have very little room for anything bigger.

I was looking at the Yamaha C109 that was offered at around $4300 and the Hyundai U800 at around $6000. (Canadian Prices, new)

I know yamaha's have a good name, but what about Hyundai?

I am not a beginner at piano, I am around a grade 4 level BUT I haven't played in awhile and am just starting to take piano lessons this fall. I have heard there are entry level and intermediate pianos based on a persons level.

Maybe there are other brands that are much better than these two that I need to look at? The only thing is that price is an issue and anything over $6000 could not be considered.

Any advice is appreciated!

Most verticals take up about the same amount of floor space. So unless you have very low ceilings, just about any vertical will fit.

Get the best piano you can afford within your budget. There is no such thing as a piano suited to beginners or intermediate players. Any player will benefit from a better quality piano.

There should be lots of good pianos within this price range, especially if you look around for a used one in good condition. Take your time and read about what's available. For example, you should take a look at The Piano Book by Larry Fine. Even more important than the brand name is the dealer. Visit a number of dealers in your area and get a feel for which one is going to deal with you fairly and support the product that they sell.

As for specific brands, I didn't like the Hyundai pianos that I've played. I like my Kawai 50' upright, but I would also suggest you look at Petrof and Charles Walter uprights. You may be able to find a used one in good condition.

- - /****************************************************** **************** * Gary M. Letchinger * San Diego, California * Reply to the newsgroup only ******************************************************* ***************/