Seek opinion on Chinese Weber vertical

My wife and I are finally trashing our hand-me-down Jesse French spinet for a new recreational piano. Our 10 y.o. son is creative and talented, but is *between* lessons (until we find a teacher that matches his mindset); and will never be a classical musician, in any event (though he might end up writing musicals.) Dad and Mom play for their own enjoyment, mostly pop standards from Jerry Lee Lewis to Lennon and Harrison.

A local dealer about hemorrhaged trying to sell us digital Kawais, then steered us towards a Weber WF109 console. From my research, it seems that Webers are towards the bottom of the acoustic foodchain: Weber represents Samsung distribution of the *low end* of Young Chang's product line; with Chinese assembly being the low end of even Weber's modest credentials. Our quoted price, including all discounts off the alleged 'retail' price is about $2800

Any insight available as to whether it is even worthwhile to consider such a product?

Also, btw, what percentage off of msrp is considered a realistic *real* retail price?

Knowledge of the assembled multitudes most gratefully accepted.

modest credentials.

Not exactly correct. The Weber line includes the full range of Young Chang products, from the low end Chinese built stuff to all the Korean built stuff, including the Pramberger type stuff, which as a Weber is called the Weber Special Edition. The Piano Book got their information wrong but the book had already been printed by the time they found out they'd made a mistake. So the Weber isn't the 'lower end' of the Young Chang line - they both share models all across the line.

The majority of Young Chang's Chinese built stuff in my opinion is a waste of wood, but for some reason they are able to get two models decently put together - the Chinese 5'9' isn't bad, and the W-109 vertical isn't bad.

Still, all in all, if you can find someone in your area selling Conn or Krakauer, they're better looking and better built, for the same money.

product?

No, it isn't. In a few years you'll start getting up off the bench telling yourself how if you'd only spent a measly thousand more you could have bought a real piano.

Larry Fletcher Pianos Inc Atlanta GA Dealer/technician

Doing the work of three men.....Larry, Curly, & Moe Want to visit another piano related messageboard? Go to the piano discussion group on my website:
Http://www.pianosinc.net

Larry,

Thanks for you enlightenment, as well as basic confirmation on the Weber I was being shown. We've decided to not get involved with a piano where we'd need to get *lucky* to be satisfied.

We now have a new research project: trying to find a Conn or Krakauerin the Chicagoland area. In fact, we thought $2800 was a suspiciously low price for an instrument of any real quality. As hard as it is to do, we have desire to set some price vs. quality checkpoints to see how much value we can get for whatever cash we decide to spend. (i.e., is it worth another $1000 for a substantially better built and sounding instrument? Yes.)

You're quite welcome.

Very smart move.

instrument? Yes.)

Good! Now you're on the right track. Happy shopping, and let us know what you find.

Larry Fletcher Pianos Inc Atlanta GA Dealer/technician

Doing the work of three men.....Larry, Curly, & Moe Want to visit another piano related messageboard? Go to the piano discussion group on my website:
Http://www.pianosinc.net