Yamaha C5 Grand Piano : 1986 model : $ HOW MUCH?

Location: Here in Victoria at Mount Eliza - Are you too late? See footnote...
Another Yamaha C5 presentation by OzPianoman
"I don't buy and sell pianos" but for less than $20K you can own an even more recent model than this
1984 Yamaha C5 Grand Piano. Here it's being played by my friend Leon, and by Andrew (my 75YO
beginner student looking on) and by myself in some short videos made in 2007 (see further down)

Let me pour my heart out here...

According to some Australian Piano Dealers' web sites
the rrp for a brand new YAMAHA C5 GRAND PIANO is now $59,995 (Australian Dollars).
And that's a ten percent jump in about 3 years.
Good news however, if you want a New C5 - is that few people ever pay Retail Price for pianos and haven't done for as long as I have been connected with the trade. That's near on 30 years now.
But then, perhaps I'm the retail trader's worst nightmare.
As a Piano Advisor who doesn't sell pianos, my concern is to make sure that those who ASK get told the TRUTH.
People always ask OzPianoman what you should look for?
WELL, you won't be told to go look at New Pianos anyway!
Unless you're simply buying furniture? (it happens!)

There's a good reason for my remaining stubborn on that point. Wine drinkers might appreciate the analogy ...
As fine wine gets better with Age, so does the Right piano.
That's no cliche! It's a fact that produces quite some discussion in piano forums and the like!
Most owners love and really look after pianos like these. On that basis, if you can pick up a 25 year old grand piano in really good condition, for say half the new price, isn't that a better deal?
If I'm wrong tell me...
In my opinion Yamaha produced some of its finest pianos during the 1980s and '90s.
The competition between the two main rivals meant they were constantly revising, improving the line up, perfecting the mass production techniques - which one year, saw the Japanese parent produce a thousand pianos each day.
Hand crafted in limited numbers the C5 is classed among the most prestigious pianos available.
Around the mid 80's, their "G" range of pianos had all been replaced by the Yamaha's "C" models, designs which remain virtually unchanged to this day.



This one is a 1986 model. You'll marvel at that.
Made 25 years ago... Looks BRAND NEW!
This mature, rather fastidious piano buyer bought it instead of one I approved during a paid inspection!
David wasn't much of a player then, but he sure was fussy!!!
And nobody but David's been near his piano ever since. Not a scratch anywhere.
No kids belting keys with toy truck in one hand, toffee apple in the other...

Some pianos are extraordinary.

Sitting there quietly, developing slowly and comfortably; Occasionally contributing something musically monumental by a loving owner who treats a piano like their best friend.
And so yes, they improve. Both of them. You can't play a piano and Not get better! While you are exploring, the piano learns how to behave. In a well made instrument the tuning becomes more stable. The piano mellows.
The sound becomes sumptuous, luxurious; It develops. There's a richness you don't find in that expensive, freshly uncrated latest model on display at your local showroom.
Pianos don't do many miles. And you can expect this one to last you a while.

My 1982 baby grand is just a toy compared to a C5 -
but it's used every day, gets tuned every so often and still has all the original components.
Except, well, you see ... there was this flood.
And the guttering was clogged and so there was a major water problem and the ceiling fell into it and I had to replace some felts.
But it's great now. Piano hasn't been serviced since 1988.
I made a couple of videos in 2007 using our baby grand piano, if you'd like to see what I mean...

www.youtube.com/ozpianoman

So where were we? Ah yes, Buy a Good used piano:
the Depreciation, Dealer Profit margins, the Tax component - all absorbed already. Get the idea?
Unless you'd just won lotto why would anyone be thinking "BRAND NEW".
You know, even if I WON a major I'd still be looking at pianos that have been "played in" !!!

Online for some 12 years now this web site has been privileged to feature some wonderful pianos.
Piano shops will sometimes take grand pianos "on consignment" .
But their fees can be outrageous...
So yes folks, if you buy this piano the owner will pay me for having found you. And David's happy to do so because I took the photos, set up the web page, tuned the piano, maybe I will be playing it for you, organising the piano removal etc.
But You'll pay me nothing.
And if you want to buy this majestic C5 Yamaha Grand Piano, then all dealings will be direct between you and the owner -
because I DON'T SELL PIANOS !!!
If I did, you could expect to see it in my showroom at $25,000.
Compared to a new C5, would be a fair price to ask.
But this is a realistic owner.
He's prepared to meet the market and will listen to any offer.
Like me, his passion is for playing, for piano music and for musicianship.
To grace his new home, David has moved up "to a bigger and better model" and intends in retirement to live the dream.
But were it me - I'd simply have kept the Yamaha C5. My own personal all time favourite piano.

I have just waved my magic wand over it; All tuned and ready for your inspection.
What a glorious sounding piano it is !
Thrills & Chills. Like a full size concert grand. The C5 is only 6'7" - around 200 cm.
And yet, among all the Grand Piano domestic models regardless of brand or size, Yamaha's C5 grand piano is the popular favourite of professional musicians, teachers, advanced students, jazz players and recording studios.

Since discovering as a Piano Tuner that used C5s can play and sound better than new ones, I haven't wavered.
A good USED C5 Yamaha remains my personal choice.

In fact, I'm sooo close to making David an offer to buy his piano. SERIOUSLY!
My wife and I have discussed that and the only thing that stops me is that it would be replacing the baby grand in my teaching studio. There's no room anywhere else for it here. And Can You Imagine ?
This glorious Yamaha C5 with sticky fingered kids pawing at it day after day.

Hey! Maybe I'll just give up Teaching?!?
My own lifelong ambition fulfilled - a Decent grand piano on which to continue my own Pursuit of Perfection.
David and me both heading down the same road ......

Want to buy the C5 ?
Better make an offer quick!           Can I interest you in a 1982 Kawai baby grand?

(03) 9783 6439 Col "OzPianoman" Mullin

learn more about used Yamaha pianos...








FOOTNOTE : Piano has now been SOLD.
If you have a Yamaha C5 or similar which you would like featured on pianoadvisory.com pages, then please contact OzPianoman.
From LA to Cleveland Ohio, from Perth to Darwin and Outback QLD too ... Since 1998 the Piano Advisory has assisted piano buyers and sellers find the right piano solution. May I help you as well?