Samick World Series- opinions?

We are thinking seriously about a Samick World Series Grand. Everything about them seems to be top drawer- Renner, Kluge, etc. Yet so many people trash them mercilessly. What is the collective wisdom of the NG about these instruments? (We want a 6 foot grand for our 3100 sq ft house)

Will we be stuck with the 'Yugo' reputation of Samick if we decide to sell it down the road?

What is the dealer's cost on these, or the normal markup/discount on Samicks?

Who is a great dealer to work with on these?

Thanks, as I only want to do this once. (thanks to the democrats, I can't afford a second chance)

Samick is, and always will be a consumer-grade piano. You can dress it up with all sorts of features (from the somewhat useless 'Imperial German Scale' to more 'hard' features such as you mention) but it's still a consumer piano. This group tends to be hard on consumer pianos, especially small ones from Korea (your choice only fitting one of those criteria). Another reason they are 'trashed mercilessly' is for balance. After a trip to most dealers who sell these pianos people get the feeling they're buying a piano on par with European pianos such as Bechstein/Bluthner, etc.. and then post their stories here. It's our sworn duty to dismantle the spin and get to the ugly truth (all regular RMMPer's must now recite our secret pledge..)

No, you'll be stuck with a Hyundai. Check that - Hyundai is a piano built by Samick, you'll be stuck with a Kia.

Normal markup on pianos is in the 60-80% range. Gross Margains should run 40% give or take 5 points. Dealer cost is irrelevent.

The one who talks straight to you and has a good reputation for being fair and taking good care of the customer. This is NEVER the cheapest guy in town....

And since you've started to take the thread OT let me interject........ Republicans have been in control of your 'citizenship fees' for a number of years now. You can't afford a second chance because of BOTH parties.

Vote Libertarian http://www.lp.org/ or Green Party http://www.naderforpresident.com or for that nut Pat Buchanan http://www.reformparty.org/ or the Constitution Party http://www.ustaxpayers.org/ or the Natural Law party (aka the 'granola' party) http://www.natural-law.org/ or a write-in guy http://www.ovaloffice.org/

WHOEVER, ANYBODY but Bush or Gore!!!!!! Hell, write in Frank Zappa - he's dead so at least he'll keep his unit in his pants....... (FWIW I wrote in Frank Zappa in '92 when he was still alive)

Good luck to you in your piano search, and good luck to us all the 2nd Tuesday in November.

;>

I just wanna clarify a point about the 'useless' IMPERIAL GERMAN SCALE business. Some of the Samick pianos, both grands and uprights, were manufactured to Klaus Fenner's specifications with little or no compromise. On those pianos, especially the little SU-110 and the admirable SG-205, the IGS plaque actually means something. Of course they seem to stick that plaque on everything, including the abysmal SG-140 grand.

I apologize if my info is inaccurate: My last conversation with fenner on this subject was 1987, just as he was winding down his samick commitments. Larry will correct me if I am error.

John S. Gray Isolated out in Atlantic Canada

What do you mean, useless!! I'll have you know that if it weren't for those little brass plaques, I would have water marks all over the top of my desk!

All corrections at this time are being handled by Don Mannino. Please see him about any corrections you may require. ;->

(it's just a JOKE Don....)

Larry Fletcher Pianos Inc Atlanta GA Dealer/technician

Doing the work of three men.........Larry, Moe, and Curly

Must you be so rude ?

To whom? I'm speaking in generalities. The point is there are real professionals in the music performance business who somehow, miraculously, can make do with just about any instrument set before them, sound fabulous on them, sound like 'themselves', and give the audience their money's worth and more. Then there are those who believe their instrument has imposed limits upon them and that *this* is the cause of their poor performance, and that they can never get anywhere until they own the best there is. And of course, they *don't* get anywhere. It is a losing mentality.

This is not to say there aren't major, important differences in the qualities of musical instruments, or that there is anything wrong with desiring or having a fine instrument. There are obvious advantages to fine instruments. But it does say something about the real nature of good musicianship, what music *really* is all about (hint: not hardware), and what audiences respond to.

Again, a piano is a *tool*. A piece of *hardware*. It is far, far less important than what is in the mind and the soul of the musician. Not everyone can have or will have the best, and some have the worst tools, but that should not stop anyone from pursuing music as though they did own the best, and never look back. Many of the greatest musicians the world has ever known developed the bulk of their skills playing on junk instruments.

Rick Clark

This year I saw a film about Slatislav Richter (I'm sure I mangled the spelling). He commented that he couldn't understand Americans' obsession with pianos and was overwhelmed when, before a concert, had had to pick the right one from a roomful. It seems that he was content to play whatever was set before him and seemed to savor the experience of getting the most out of the instrument and the conditions. Having said that, I'll certainly admit to being one of those who probably obsesses too greatly about the subtleties of the playing experience and would probably benefit by bit focusing so much on the tonality of every single note. By the way, I guess that Gould's favorite piano was an old Chickering that his family had had. I wonder how that would compare to a perfectly tuned, voiced and regulated concert instrument. This should tell us something.

- Darryl

Amen. I have only been preaching this concept for sixty years. By the way we should note that this conflicts with the idea that you should buy the beginning student the best piano you can afford. Whereas this might apply to a person in financial straights it sure doesn't apply to our present glut of twenty five year old millionaires. Anyway and FWIW I believe a student should earn the quality of his instrument before he acquires it. And, furthermore, there is a story about Kreisler (sp) which I already posted to the effect that he played a junk pawn shop violin in the first half of a concert and nobody, including the great critics of NY, noticed it. Rick is absolutely on target with this. TS

If there were a Samick World Series...

They would use plastic bats and NURF balls!

D*

Big Al's Big Speech: http://www.boortz.com/alsspeech.htm

Spend a couple of minutes to take these very short tests: The world's smallest political quiz, http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html Select a presidential candidate, http://www.speakout.com/SelectSmart/ Select a political party, http://www.3pc.net/matchmaker/quiz.html

True...at least a Yugo could get you to your job!

Which still ain't saying much.

Which ALSO STILL ain't saying much.

Ya haven't played the pianos at many local hotels lately, have ya???

D*

Big Al's Big Speech: http://www.boortz.com/alsspeech.htm

Spend a couple of minutes to take these very short tests: The world's smallest political quiz, http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html Select a presidential candidate, http://www.speakout.com/SelectSmart/ Select a political party, http://www.3pc.net/matchmaker/quiz.html