Opinions on Samick Pianos?
Wayne Land
like to share their opinion of the Samick pianos both pro and con? In
particular, he wants to know how they compare to the Brentwood. His
budget does not permit him to consider pianos such as the Yamaha but he
is uncertain of the quality of the Samick. Don't pull any punches and
don't overstate please. Just give your true opinion. Thank you all!
Wayne Land,
Hale Piano, Inc.
Pompano Beach, FL
Atte André
I played a rented Samick for 'bout a year, and was very pleased with the
sound/response. Don't know if the mechanics will be worn out in no time, or
something...
pTooner
Wayne Land wrote:
Okay, Wayne, since you asked. I have been a professional piano player off
and on for 40 years. I have also owned a piano store and am still an
active tuner/technician. I don't currently sell anything and have no axe
to grind.
If you are talking about Korean Samicks, I believe that they along with
Young Chang represent possibly the best buy for the money in the US. If
you are talking about Indonesian Samicks, they are better than chinese or
russian pianos (such as Brentwood) but not much else. I am assuming from
the context you are talking about low price consoles, if we were talking
about grands or more expensive uprights I would have more to say. Samick
is a well regarded company in the industry, I believe they make more pianos
than anyone else in the world. I know they make more guitars. They can be
expected to stand behind their pianos from a warranty standpoint.
Brentwood is an importer label. There is no factory, he buys from what
ever country offers him the best deal. There is no real warranty as he
could close down his business tomorrow and there is no factory to fall back
on.
And, that's the way I see it.
Gerry
K I ronside
series). These have an action similar to expensive German pianos I am told.
Is this true? Any opinions on these WSG series pianos?
Kelvin
Don
>
>
>Wayne Land wrote:
>
>> For the sake of a customer who will be visiting here soon, would anyone
>> like to share their opinion of the Samick pianos both pro and con? In
>> particular, he wants to know how they compare to the Brentwood. His
>> budget does not permit him to consider pianos such as the Yamaha but he
>> is uncertain of the quality of the Samick. Don't pull any punches and
>> don't overstate please. Just give your true opinion. Thank you all!
>>
>> Wayne Land,
>> Hale Piano, Inc.
>> Pompano Beach, FL
>
>Okay, Wayne, since you asked. I have been a professional piano player off
>and on for 40 years. I have also owned a piano store and am still an
>active tuner/technician. I don't currently sell anything and have no axe
>to grind.
>
>If you are talking about Korean Samicks, I believe that they along with
>Young Chang represent possibly the best buy for the money in the US.
pardon me but...how do you spell COUGH?!?
...or CAUGH CAUGH CAUGH, etc.
If
>you are talking about Indonesian Samicks, they are better than chinese or
>russian pianos (such as Brentwood) but not much else. I am assuming from
>the context you are talking about low price consoles, if we were talking
>about grands or more expensive uprights I would have more to say. Samick
>is a well regarded company in the industry,
WHAT?!?
Well regarded in WHAT country???
>I believe they make more pianos
>than anyone else in the world.
And Bill Gates is GOD!
>I know they make more guitars. They can be
>expected to stand behind their pianos from a warranty standpoint.
>Brentwood is an importer label. There is no factory, he buys from what
>ever country offers him the best deal. There is no real warranty as he
>could close down his business tomorrow and there is no factory to fall back
>on.
>
>And, that's the way I see it.
>
>Gerry
>
No offence intended but I think Samick pianos rate a the bottom of the
food chain with Young (old) Chang !
D*
Recently described as:
"piano-bar-church music director-conductor-funeral pianist."
------------------------------------------------------------
www.calldon.com/shadow.htm
Remembering Shadow
July 1984 - November 13, 1997
A Tribute To The Sweetest, Most Perfect Dog In Heaven
Don
Samick has a HIGHER end?
NOT!
Dave Zappa
> >Wayne Land wrote:
> >
> >> For the sake of a customer who will be visiting here soon, would anyone
> >> like to share their opinion of the Samick pianos both pro and con? In
> >> particular, he wants to know how they compare to the Brentwood. His
> >> budget does not permit him to consider pianos such as the Yamaha but he
> >> is uncertain of the quality of the Samick. Don't pull any punches and
> >> don't overstate please. Just give your true opinion. Thank you all!
> >>
> >> Wayne Land,
> >> Hale Piano, Inc.
> >> Pompano Beach, FL
PTOONER wrote:
> >Okay, Wayne, since you asked. I have been a professional piano player off
> >and on for 40 years. I have also owned a piano store and am still an
> >active tuner/technician. I don't currently sell anything and have no axe
> >to grind.
> >
> >If you are talking about Korean Samicks, I believe that they along with
> >Young Chang represent possibly the best buy for the money in the US.
DON wrote:
> pardon me but...how do you spell COUGH?!?
>
> ...or CAUGH CAUGH CAUGH, etc.
DAVE says: I agree with Gerry. If we are comparing Korean
built-Samick's to Brentwood, it's a no-brainer. The Samick will cost
more, but is certainly worth the extra investment. And Don, you were
right on the first one - COUGH.
PTOONER continued:
> If
> >you are talking about Indonesian Samicks, they are better than chinese or
> >russian pianos (such as Brentwood) but not much else. I am assuming from
> >the context you are talking about low price consoles, if we were talking
> >about grands or more expensive uprights I would have more to say. Samick
> >is a well regarded company in the industry,
DON then spouted:
> WHAT?!?
>
> Well regarded in WHAT country???
>
DAVE says: Again, Gerry is right. However, I would add this: Brentwood
is distributed by Sam Westbrook who has (for as long as I can remember)
imported reletively inexpensive pianos from one of the newer
manufacturing regions, such as China. Samick is a manufacturer. When
it comes to warranty service I am not trying to discredit Westbrook
because I've never done business with them, but it seems to me that
having one of the largest producers of musical instruments backing
service is better than an importer. Also there MIGHT be parts concerns
down the road.
As far as Don's response, I think you would be hard pressed to find
ANYONE in this business who doesn't regard Samick as one of the major
players in consumer grade instruments. And while there are always
opinions regarding quality, perrformance, etc.. I believe that here in
the US Samick is quite well regarded.
PTOONER speculated:
> >I believe they make more pianos
> >than anyone else in the world.
>
DON evangelized:
> And Bill Gates is GOD!
>
DAVE says: I don't think they build more pianos, however production
numbers are hard to track with Samick building so many different name
badges. They certainly are in the top three (the other two being Yamaha
& Chang)
Bill Gates is NOT God, he is Borg - resistance is futile, you will be
assimilated.....
PTOONER went on to say:
> >I know they make more guitars. They can be
> >expected to stand behind their pianos from a warranty standpoint.
> >Brentwood is an importer label. There is no factory, he buys from what
> >ever country offers him the best deal. There is no real warranty as he
> >could close down his business tomorrow and there is no factory to fall back
> >on.
DON then opined:
> No offence intended but I think Samick pianos rate a the bottom of the
> food chain with Young (old) Chang !
>
DAVE says: Oh, that's where Gerry brought up warranty issues, nuff
said. And FWIW, Samick is currently the largest producer of acoustic
guitars on the planet. They also build prettymuch anything musical,
acoustic and electric. They are a huge conglomerate that is very well
respected as a business entity. Don, you obviously haven't seen the
Belarus-built pianos, or some of the Chinese stuff, or some of the other
Eastern-bloc nation PSO's. Samick & Young Chang may at one time have
been toward the bottom of the "piano food chain", but they have improved
quality dramatically even in the 11 years I've been in the business.
To the person who will be visiting Hales: pianos are individuals so
please go by the merits of an individual instrument. I would personally
suggest sticking with Samick (even Indonesian-built) but ultimately it's
up to you.
Dave
--
Retail salesperson formerly representing 17 different acoustic &
digital piano brands. Support your local service-oriented dealer.
Opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of my employer.
To reply by e-mail please remove the "SPAMTHIS" from my address.
MidiOpera Co.
> No offence intended but I think Samick pianos rate a the bottom of the
> food chain with Young (old) Chang !
>
Don.... I know it sounds strange but Gerry might be right.
I'm playing on a 5'2" Samick at a restaurant (upsacle and chic, of
course) which has 'dis-clavier' player mechanism. It plays pretty well
and might just do so for a while if they maintain it. For now it plays
almost as well as other small grands I've encountered - Kawai, Yamaha
but not as good as Baldwin or Steinway.
I certainly wouldn't recommend it as an investment instrument. I think a
serious player would find a rebuilt grand or a great upright in the
price range.
I can keep the ng updated about the health of this piano as appropriate.
It is getting pretty constant use with live and prerecorded players.
--
Robert Steinberg
MidiOpera Co.
http://www.evcom.net/~midiopra/
http://www.tcol.net/~midiopra/
CJMV
it!... But that's just an opinion!...
Wayne Land wrote in message <36954BA8...@musicplay.com>...
Don
>Don <calldo...@airmail.net> wrote:
>
>
>> No offence intended but I think Samick pianos rate a the bottom of the
>> food chain with Young (old) Chang !
>>
>
>Don.... I know it sounds strange but Gerry might be right.
>
>I'm playing on a 5'2" Samick at a restaurant (upsacle and chic, of
>course) which has 'dis-clavier' player mechanism. It plays pretty well
>and might just do so for a while if they maintain it. For now it plays
>almost as well as other small grands I've encountered - Kawai, Yamaha
>but not as good as Baldwin or Steinway.
>
I played a Young Chang for 3 1/2 years at a 5-star dining room in
Dallas and it was a piece of crap.
I just ended a one year contract playing 3 days/week at another
restaurant playing a relatively new Young chang. Same keyboard
problems, same tuning problems.
BOTH TERRIBLE PIANOS!
Or as I like to call them...PSOs...piano shaped objects.
>I certainly wouldn't recommend it as an investment instrument. I think a
>serious player would find a rebuilt grand or a great upright in the
>price range.
>
I wouldn't recommend them for anything. And if you had a good one,
then you weren't playing in Dallas. I have not met a local pianist
who would call Young Chang or Samick by the term "piano."
>I can keep the ng updated about the health of this piano as appropriate.
>It is getting pretty constant use with live and prerecorded players.
>
Glad you got a good one, It is rare!
>--
>Robert Steinberg
>MidiOpera Co.
>http://www.evcom.net/~midiopra/
>http://www.tcol.net/~midiopra/
Recently described as:
MidiOpera Co.
> I just ended a one year contract playing 3 days/week at another
> restaurant playing a relatively new Young chang. Same keyboard
> problems, same tuning problems.
>
> BOTH TERRIBLE PIANOS!
>
> Or as I like to call them...PSOs...piano shaped objects.
No doubt.....if one were to put a thread together of the worst pianos
encountered in our professional lives, the YCs, Sams, Sojins and Korean
Wurlies would top the list.
On the other hand:
> Glad you got a good one, It is rare!
Yet I'm not willing to visit all the piano stores around for comparison
purposes. I would more likely assume your point of view until proven
wrong by playing the individual instrument.
To sum up the thread......they are not as bad as they used to be.
Hey, what a great advertising slogan,
Buy Our Piano (BOP),
"We're not as bad as we used to be".
pTooner
Well, Don, you certainly have no shortage of opinions. On the other hand, we
were discussing Samick, and not Young Chang. The original post referred to a
buyer who obviously had about $2500 to spend or possibly less. You have
certainly given your opinion as to what they should not buy, how about treat
us to what they SHOULD buy? It is easy to see what is wrong with all pianos,
even Steinways. It is not so easy to acquire a balanced outlook that says
there is something right about nearly all pianos, especially those that are
sold in the millions.
Gerry
pTooner
K I ronside wrote:
> I am also wondering about Samick -- especially the higher end grands (WSG
> series). These have an action similar to expensive German pianos I am told.
> Is this true? Any opinions on these WSG series pianos?
>
> Kelvin
The WSG series pianos are in a class with the top end pianos from Yamaha,
Kawai, Baldwin, etc. They are somewhat less expensive than the competitors,
but not all that cheap either. They were designed as Samick's attempt at
respectability in the same way that Yamaha and Kawai did years earlier after
getting their first foothold in the US market by being cheaper than the
competition.
Allow me to apologize for the narrow-mindedness of some of my coleagues.
Gerry
K I ronside
reputation to overcome. My question is whether or not the WSG series is the
ticket. Has anyone had personal experience playing one of those pianos?
If we were to follow the logic of some, no one would consider buying a world
class Dailmer/Chrysler product in 1999 because years ago Chrysler made the
K-Car 15 years ago
K Ironside
----------
In article <369922E4...@nowhere.net>, pTooner <no...@nowhere.net>
wrote:
Don
>
>
>Well, Don, you certainly have no shortage of opinions.
Play a Young Chang FOUR hours (or five), Six days each a week and
tell me what an enjoyable experience it is and I will tell you that
you are lying!
> On the other hand, we
>were discussing Samick, and not Young Chang. The original post referred to a
>buyer who obviously had about $2500 to spend or possibly less. You have
>certainly given your opinion as to what they should not buy, how about treat
>us to what they SHOULD buy? It is easy to see what is wrong with all pianos,
>even Steinways. It is not so easy to acquire a balanced outlook that says
>there is something right about nearly all pianos, especially those that are
>sold in the millions.
>
Balanced Outlook?
I have over THIRTY YEARS of a frickin "balanced outlook." I have
played performances where my choice was "a chord organ" or a piano
where NONE of the middle two octaves worked.
I am a working musician. I do NOT have the option of choosing my
instrument and having BALDWIN or STEINWAY or anyone else PROVIDE a
wonderful piano for me.
If the buyer had "about $2500 to spend" he should buy something other
than a BRAND NEW Samick or Young Chang. If I were he, I would buy a
"formerly owned" Kawai or Yamaha...you can't go wrong with one of
those.
Point Two...
From personal experience, I think Samick and Young Chang are both
CRAP!!!
( My Mother will not let me say the word I am thinking...)
Point Three...
Why are you mad at me?
>Gerry
VOCE88
>reputation to overcome. My question is whether or not the WSG series is the
>ticket. Has anyone had personal experience playing one of those pianos?
>
The WSG piano is the nicest Samick that has ever been made. Keep in mind
that with any mass produced piano, good dealer prep and regular service can
make a huge difference in how it performs.
Im sorry that Don has had the terrible experiences that he has with both the
YC and Samick, however, I know of several venues (restaurants, clubs,etc.) that
own pianos like this, and with regular service, they perform.
Richard Galassini
Cunningham Piano Co
1 800 394 1117
Wayne Land
Thank you all for responding. My customer initially was impressed with the tone
and touch of the Samick JS108 and was ready to make a purchase until he discovered
some very negative comments about Samick on the WWW. My purpose here was to
attempt to help him see that not all musicians and technicians feel negative
toward these pianos and I think we have accomplished that. I respect the opinions
of all who have posted to this thread and appreciate your participation in this
discussion. As of today, the customer still has not made a final decision, but I
will post here when he does and let you all know what happened. I hope that all
of us can simply recognize that everyone has their own personal preferences in
piano tone and touch and that is OK. There certainly are reasons to purchase a
new piano rather than an older one for the same money: 1) Pianos don't last
forever. The older a piano gets, the closer it is to showing serious
deterioration.
2) Pre-owned pianos do not carry factory warranties and thus one can not
expect the same level of service from the dealer.
3) In selecting from pre-owned pianos, one has fewer choices in furniture
style, finish, etc. and like it or not, these factors are important to many
consumers.
As for my opinion, the first shipments of Samick JS108 pianos were obviously
inferior to the Korean built SU108's both in design and workmanship. However,
subsequent shipments have been very much improved with very few problems of
workmanship. The design is less substantial with no backposts, and thinner case
parts, but the tone and touch is quite nice on the particular piano my customer is
considering and the craftsmanship is every bit as nice as any other Samick piano.
The Samick tone is not as brilliant as the Yamaha, and the action is not as
quick. But the fact is, some people do prefer an action that offers more control
at pianissimo levels and a tone that is more mellow. Those people would call the
Yamaha sound "tinny" or overly bright. In the final analysis, if there were one
piano that was right for everyone, there would only be one piano manufactured. I
don't feel that we can't make choices in tone and touch or decide what someone
else is going to "enjoy playing". That is assuming too much.
Anyway, thanks to you all for participating and best wishes to you all in your
musical endeavors.
Wayne Land
Wayne Land
Wayne Land wrote:
>I don't feel that we can't make choices in tone and touch or decide what someone
else is going to "enjoy playing". That is assuming too much.
Correction:
Oops! I meant to write "I don't feel that we can make choices in tone and touch"
Dave Zappa
>
> Play a Young Chang FOUR hours (or five), Six days each a week and
> tell me what an enjoyable experience it is and I will tell you that
> you are lying!
>
I think we've hit this point plenty of times, but for the person who is
considering the purchase of a Samick or Brentwood let me state this. It
is my opinion that consumer grade pianos (and I'll lump 95% of Korean
and all Chinese pianos in that catagory)are not meant to be played 30
hours a week. I will further this comment by saying I understand Don's
point of view since he is in fact having to do that. Consumer pianos
aren't designed to be used in an institutional setting.
> Point Two...
>
> From personal experience, I think Samick and Young Chang are both
> CRAP!!!
From personal experience I find even the Indonesian Samicks to be a
decent piano for which they are intended: sitting in your living room
with your 8 year old beginner playing 2 & 3 note melodies.
Cheers!
Yogi Panda
>quick. But the fact is, some people do prefer an action that offers more control
>at pianissimo levels and a tone that is more mellow. Those people would call the
I am one of those who like a more mellower tone than Yamaha's and I have
played a 6'10" Hyundai (which is made by Samick Korea, I believe) whose
sound I like (shame oh shame, but the store owner is a piano tuner who tuned
the piano in 5 different ways in the 4 months that he had it, he did an
excellent job as far as I can tell, the piano is very forgiving although the
action was indeed not the fastest.)
But coming to my point, the control at pianissimo is not the best, contrary
to the above statement. Any further comments?
Yogi
pTooner
Don wrote:
> pTooner <no...@nowhere.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >Well, Don, you certainly have no shortage of opinions.
>
> Play a Young Chang FOUR hours (or five), Six days each a week and
> tell me what an enjoyable experience it is and I will tell you that
> you are lying!
I'll assure you I have played many YC's for many hours. When I have the chance, I
do a little tuning and regulating ahead of time, when I don't I hope for the best
and try to tought it out. This is by no means limited to YC, I am quite sure I
have had many more bad pianos from the other major brands. Yes, I have played
more pianos from the other brands, but I'd say the percentage isn't too different
either way.
>
>
> > On the other hand, we
> >were discussing Samick, and not Young Chang. The original post referred to a
> >buyer who obviously had about $2500 to spend or possibly less. You have
> >certainly given your opinion as to what they should not buy, how about treat
> >us to what they SHOULD buy? It is easy to see what is wrong with all pianos,
> >even Steinways. It is not so easy to acquire a balanced outlook that says
> >there is something right about nearly all pianos, especially those that are
> >sold in the millions.
> >
>
> Balanced Outlook?
>
> I have over THIRTY YEARS of a frickin "balanced outlook." I have
> played performances where my choice was "a chord organ" or a piano
> where NONE of the middle two octaves worked.
>
> I am a working musician. I do NOT have the option of choosing my
> instrument and having BALDWIN or STEINWAY or anyone else PROVIDE a
> wonderful piano for me.
I played my first paying gig in 1957. The piano was a Steinway B that was in such
awful regulation that my 130 pound behind often left the bench trying to get
enough weight over the keyboard to make it play. I made the gig, collected my
money, and the audience never complained. I considered that a lesson. Since then
-- well, I don't want to commiserate over the junk I've played. I had played for
many years before I learned to tune or regulate. After a gig, I tend to remember
how the audience received my efforts far more than what the equipment was.
>
>
> If the buyer had "about $2500 to spend" he should buy something other
> than a BRAND NEW Samick or Young Chang. If I were he, I would buy a
> "formerly owned" Kawai or Yamaha...you can't go wrong with one of
> those.
It's not quite that simple. The buyer probably is looking at what he can pay in
monthly payments. It is much easier to finance a new piano. Besides that, a used
Kaw or Yam at $2500 would be very unlikely to be an improvement.
>
>
> Point Two...
>
> From personal experience, I think Samick and Young Chang are both
> CRAP!!!
You have stated that on numerous occasions. One could even think you were fixated
on the idea.
>
>
> ( My Mother will not let me say the word I am thinking...)
>
> Point Three...
>
> Why are you mad at me?
I'm sorry you thought I was mad at you, I'm not. I am just afraid that you are
being entirely too one-sided in your expressions on this subject. To use a tired
analogy, Ford Taurus's are CRAP, but I think they are the best selling car in the
country because so many people can afford no better. My first guitar was
basically crap. If I had waited until I could afford a Martin, I would probably
have never learned to play. I don't disagree with you that working musicians are
commonly called upon to create silk purses from sow's ears. It really is amazing
how often we get the job done, don't you think?
One more thought. I buy instruments for poor kids to learn on in many cases. I
can't afford to buy them more than barely serviceable instruments - I'm really not
rich. Do you think I should refrain from this charity because I can't buy them
professional quality instruments? I am not being facetious, it is a serious
question.
Gerry
kam...@earthlink.net
"K I ronside" wrote:
> Now we're getting somewhere. I've no doubt that Samick has a rough
> reputation to overcome. My question is whether or not the WSG series is the
> ticket. Has anyone had personal experience playing one of those pianos?
As fate would have it, I was able to service a Samick SG-225 today. I've known
about it for 2 weeks, but refrained from commenting until I had first hand
experience with the great controversy. The suspense has been somewhat
excruciating to say the least for me to wait until today.
The question you ask: Is the WSG series the ticket?
Briefly put and based on spending 6 hours of direct experience today with this
particular piano and model, it all depends on what you are willing to do *after*
the sale. With the right technician and a significant budget, this piano could
be very exciting and satisfying, even for a discriminating musician.
And against what you wouldn't spend up front for some other brand pianos, you
could take that extra several thousand dollars and use it to buy something else.
That's my call!
--
Keith McGavern
kam...@earthlink.net
Registered Piano Technician
Oklahoma Chapter 731
Piano Technicians Guild
USA
RJsmit1
>class Dailmer/Chrysler product in 1999 because years ago Chrysler made the
>K-Car 15 years ago
>
I still won't buy Chrysler's stuff because of what they are building today.
It's pretty, but it don't hold up...
Randall Smith
Don
>
>
>Don wrote:
>
>> pTooner <no...@nowhere.net> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Well, Don, you certainly have no shortage of opinions.
>>
>> Play a Young Chang FOUR hours (or five), Six days each a week and
>> tell me what an enjoyable experience it is and I will tell you that
>> you are lying!
>
>I'll assure you I have played many YC's for many hours. When I have the chance, I
>do a little tuning and regulating ahead of time, when I don't I hope for the best
>and try to tought it out. This is by no means limited to YC, I am quite sure I
>have had many more bad pianos from the other major brands. Yes, I have played
>more pianos from the other brands, but I'd say the percentage isn't too different
>either way.
>
>>
...snipped...
>I played my first paying gig in 1957. The piano was a Steinway B that was in such
>awful regulation that my 130 pound behind often left the bench trying to get
>enough weight over the keyboard to make it play. I made the gig, collected my
>money, and the audience never complained. I considered that a lesson. Since then
>-- well, I don't want to commiserate over the junk I've played. I had played for
>many years before I learned to tune or regulate. After a gig, I tend to remember
>how the audience received my efforts far more than what the equipment was.
>
I am ALWAYS amazed at the absolute "tone-deafness" of the general
public. I occasionally play a job in the lounge of a very nice
50-year old Italian restaurant. Well, the piano came over on the
Mayflower...and was tuned before they loaded it on the ship. It has a
"piano-bar" think on the lid so they never take the trouble to have it
serviced or tuned.
I am ALWAYS amazed when someone says something like, "What is the
brand of that piano, it has such a beautiful tone."
Sheese...thank God for tin ears.
..snip...
>>
>> Point Two...
>>
>> From personal experience, I think Samick and Young Chang are both
>> CRAP!!!
>
>You have stated that on numerous occasions. One could even think you were fixated
>on the idea.
>
Someone asked an opinion. My experiences have not been good with YC
and Samick. So I state my opinion.
>>
>>
>> ( My Mother will not let me say the word I am thinking...)
>>
>> Point Three...
>>
>> Why are you mad at me?
>
>I'm sorry you thought I was mad at you, I'm not. I am just afraid that you are
>being entirely too one-sided in your expressions on this subject.
As I said, they asked for opinions. I gave mine. This is an open
discussion. I may be one-sided but that is my experience.
I never had any desire to own a General Motors product. I had always
driven Fords and thought they were great autos. I had an LTD on which
I put 250,000 miles. I had two others after that with over 150,000
miles when I traded them. However, 5 years ago, I bought a Chevy
Lumina and LOVED it!!! Not to big, not to small, not to exciting.
(My previous auto was a MERKUR XR4Ti, a German Ford.)
But others have had bad luck with Fords and hate them. Personally, I
like both Ford and Gm. But I have had terrible luch with YC and
Samick and most of the piano techs I know feel the same way.
But...everybody is entitled to an opinion...
...snip...
>
>One more thought. I buy instruments for poor kids to learn on in many cases. I
>can't afford to buy them more than barely serviceable instruments - I'm really not
>rich. Do you think I should refrain from this charity because I can't buy them
>professional quality instruments? I am not being facetious, it is a serious
>question.
>
Of course not. But if someone is spending over $2000 as a long term
investment, I would not recommend a poor quality instrument. I would
not recommend a YC or Samick.
D*
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Don
>
>
>"K I ronside" wrote:
>
>> Now we're getting somewhere. I've no doubt that Samick has a rough
>> reputation to overcome. My question is whether or not the WSG series is the
>> ticket. Has anyone had personal experience playing one of those pianos?
>
>As fate would have it, I was able to service a Samick SG-225 today. I've known
>about it for 2 weeks, but refrained from commenting until I had first hand
>experience with the great controversy. The suspense has been somewhat
>excruciating to say the least for me to wait until today.
>
>The question you ask: Is the WSG series the ticket?
>
>Briefly put and based on spending 6 hours of direct experience today with this
>particular piano and model, it all depends on what you are willing to do *after*
>the sale.
BINGO!
>With the right technician and a significant budget, this piano could
>be very exciting and satisfying, even for a discriminating musician.
>
True. I knew an old tech who had a customer who was totally
infatuated with Steinway. So after many years of discussion with this
fellow, the tech pulled a trick on him. He took one of the generic
stencil spinets and re-regulated the thing to feel like a Steinway
action. Then he put s Steinway stencil on the fallboard and called
his buddy.
Well the guy played the thing, a Steinway spinet, and LOVED it, wanted
to buy it. The tech gave him a price and, just before the guy wrote
the check, the tech opened the inside so the man could read the name
on the harp.
With the right tech, alot of time and $$$ you could make just about
any piano work. I agree.
>And against what you wouldn't spend up front for some other brand pianos, you
>could take that extra several thousand dollars and use it to buy something else.
>
>That's my call!
>--
>Keith McGavern
>kam...@earthlink.net
>Registered Piano Technician
>Oklahoma Chapter 731
>Piano Technicians Guild
>USA
>
>
D*
kam...@earthlink.net
>
> ...So after many years of discussion with this
> fellow, the tech pulled a trick on him...
>
> ...With the right tech, alot of time and $$$ you could make just about
> any piano work. I agree...
I appreciate your vote of confidence in what I posted, and I read with interest your
anecdote, D*. But hopefully you and any others won't put the two together and
misunderstand the intentions and purposes of my post.
I certainly wasn't implying by any means that the process after the sale would fool
someone into believing this Samick would sound and play like another brand. Not at
all. It would be its own thing, distinctly different and desirable for itself.