Rick Jones Pianos?
Jim
metro-Washington DC (Beltsville, MD) and specialize in refurbished pianos.
I've contacted them and they sound great, and I plan a trip to their store
early next week. In the meantime, I'd like to hear about your experience
with them. Thanks. Oh, by the way, I'm shopping around for a Yamaha U1 and
will purchase a new one if I can't find a gem used.
Jim
VOCE88
>with them. Thanks. Oh, by the way, I'm shopping around for a Yamaha U1 and
>will purchase a new one if I can't find a gem used.
>Jim
>
I work with a company that has one of the oldest and largest piano
restoration firms in the US. I am only familiar with Mr. Jones through my
Baltimore - DC customers that have shopped there. They specialize (I
understand) in "gray market" Japanese pianos. IOW, used pianos that don't sell
well in Japan are exported to the US for sale.
I know that bargains can be had in this type of import and there is a fair
amount of risk, as well. (Search Dejanews for Gray Market for more info.)
As far as i know (and my info. is through customers - second hand) that is
basically what Mr. Jones carries.
IMHO, in the U 1 range, you should play some other good values. My personal
fave is Ch. Walter, but you will get some other suggestions from the newsgroup.
Good Luck
Richard Galassini
Cunningham Piano Co
Phila,. Pa.
1 (800) 394-1117
George Gilliland
very (maybe a little too) sensitive about his reputation, and will provide
references. He gets a large container of used Japan-market (mostly Yamaha)
pianos 6-8 times a year, and they sell quickly, so someone must be buying
them. . . I would have given him a try, except I'm nearly 5 hours away, and
he'd always sell the good ones before I could get down.
I've heard conflicting stories about the viability of Japan-Market Yamahas. I
played a 15-year-old Japan-Market G3 up here in NJ and it had a beautiful
mellow tone and extraordinary action, much nicer than new C3s. Japanese are
notoriously fussy consumers, and I wouldn't be surprised if Japan-Market
pianos are actually better voiced and regulated than American Market. I would
have bought, except the guy wanted about $4,000. too much. Some techs insist
these pianos are very trouble-prone, some will say they're absolutely fine.
Considering that they sell sometimes at 35-40% of new retail, I think Rick
Jones is worth a try if you're on a very restricted budget (like me!). I
strongly suggest you pay someone like Frank Weston (frequent contributor to
this group who lives in the area) to go along with you and tune and examine
the piano, or to just to go on your behalf and pick one out for you. Also find
out when the container arrives and get there early.
George
P.S. I agree that Charles Walters should be looked at first. They're a lot of
piano for the money, and you certainly won't have to worry about longevity
problems with these little tanks.
Jim wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with Rick Jones Pianos? They are located in
> metro-Washington DC (Beltsville, MD) and specialize in refurbished pianos.
> I've contacted them and they sound great, and I plan a trip to their store
> early next week. In the meantime, I'd like to hear about your experience
RPeppe
a 7' 4" grand about 20 years old.
We shopped around and played various instruments, new and used, for about 6
months before we found this one. We were quite pleased with the condition of
the unit, the price and the service provided.
We have had the piano in our home for about 7 months, and are still happy.
We have not had to deal with the company since the purchase, so I can't tell
you about any other service issues. Supposedly we can trade up to something
else and get the full purchase price credited, with no charge for pick up and
delivery, but we are quite happy with what we purchased.
RicDfenbek
Rich
Jim
impressed. Their business style is likely to suit some folks (like me for
example) very nicely, while turning off others. Theirs is a no-frills
operation, with a distinctly unpolished warehouse, but lots and lots of used
pianos in very good condition. The personnel--especially Rick--are most
accomodating and knowledgable, and will leave you alone to play to your
heart's content. Even the tuner that was on site stopped tuning in the room
in which i was playing. Rick is indeed adamant (one poster called him
"sensitive") about maintaining his superlative reputation--a rarity in
business these days, particularly in this area. Persanally, I love the
non-polished/excellent-value atmosphere pervading RJP, and it is most
refreshing to speak to a person that is an expert in the wares of his trade.
Rick actually pulled the action out of the Yamaha U3 that I was interested
in, and showed me not only what was great about it, but what needed work
too! As I sit here and write about it, I'm simply amazed at the qualitly of
service, and the confidence RJP has in their inventory and their ability to
refurbish a piano. I'd have probably allowed this particular Yamaha U3 to
come into my home as is, but RJP will tune and regulate it (amongst many
other things, including cosmetic work) before it gets to me. Top that with a
lifetime full-price upgrade policy and you'd have to ask yourself, "why buy
new, ever?"! Oh, by the way, I purchased the 1975 U3 for $3795, and it
looks new. That's about a $6k savings off the new U3's (52" upright). I
wholeheartedly encourage you to give Rick Jones Pianos a shot.
Jim Emery
Ashburn, VA
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In article <h_ha3.847$Li1.2...@news-read1.qis.net>, "Jim"
Glenn L
about 2 years ago I thought they were very straight forward and accomodating.
The only pianos they prefer you not to touch are the ones that are sold. I was
surprised at first by the look of the showroom only because I was expecting glitz
and there was none. Rick also came over and personally introduced himself and
showed me his work area.
At the time, he did not have anything (was very low on inventory) I was
interested in and I was skeptacle about the grey market pianos. My tech told me
he knows someone who bought a piano from Rick and then found out the tuning pins
were loose. Rick re-pinned the entire piano under warranty to make it right.
It is certainly worth checking him out since his business practices seem very
upscale even if the show room is not.
Glenn
pshu...@gmail.com
> Does anyone have any experience with Rick Jones Pianos? They are located in
> metro-Washington DC (Beltsville, MD) and specialize in refurbished pianos.
> I've contacted them and they sound great, and I plan a trip to their store
> early next week. In the meantime, I'd like to hear about your experience
> with them. Thanks. Oh, by the way, I'm shopping around for a Yamaha U1 and
> will purchase a new one if I can't find a gem used.
> Jim
