I had a Youg Chang (1988). it was magical. my mistake : to have sold it for a 1m74 (1989) Schimmel... an error. The Young Chang was better.... better.... Young Chang have the "Steinway" bell sound... underrated Pianos
Plastic on a piano makes a _HUGE_ difference, depending where the plastic is! I was so surprised to hear the guy with bad sinus drainage and the ponytail said that! When I was in the market to buy a reasonable new upright piano 20 years ago, I went to a local place that’s been open for more than 100 years. The salesman actually told me upfront that makers of the new pianos they had on hand all had plastic sticks holding the hammers, and that action was directly affected by that because they didn’t hold firm after striking the strings, there was too much give. I played a few Yamahas and I could tell the difference even though I’m not a professional pianist. He also said that the backs were basically made of plywood lengths glued together which didn’t vibrate nearly as beautifully as an older piano, so I left with a solid wood piano in the construction of the action and the soundboard. I’ve absolutely loved it!
I notice this as I am in the market recently, Samick ones are the worst with basswood keys, Chinese piano like Hailun and Pearl River laminated and Yamaha is all spruce, didn't know what the Young Chang keys are made but played pretty well, comparable to Yamaha. Sound wise the newer Young Chang would also be equal to Yamaha, they would be my buy new since they are like 30-40% cheaper than Yamaha; used would depend on the deal I get.
I had the pleasure of playing a few of these great pianos back in the late 80's while working at a music store. Back then, their craftsmanship actually exceeded Yamaha.
Just came across this as your title caption gave some hope of solving a curious finding of mine a couple of years back. I came across a baby grand in an outdoor shopping village in Venice a couple of years back. When I saw the name on the fallboard I didn’t recognise it and expected the piano to be a honky tonk given the varying weather conditions it’d be subjected to. To my surprise I found it pleasurable to play and actually sat for quite awhile to explore its surprising tone and abilities! I have a strong partiality to Steinways and your video has finally solved this mystery for me!! Thank you so much for your very informative and educational presentations!!
I still have my Young Chang U121. Bought it around the mid 80s. Played for about 5 years and that’s about it. I played with it last week. Still pretty new and needs tuning and all that jazz.
We have a Young Chang piano at house that wass transported across the pacific ocean from Korea in the early 2000's or late 90's from my grandparents place. it was probably the first piano that my mom had in Korea. Now its here at my aunt's place. My mom since 1994 has been playing on a Steinway Grand piano.
I learned more a lot from your video, thank you! We have had a YC grand since '90s (G-150). It now has multiple frozen keys. Our new piano tech described an issue of poor quality metal of YC action brackets during that era - and that YC had been replacing the faulty part as of a few years ago. Four months ago, I sent email to YC and have heard nothing. Today, I tried to make "contact" on YC home page and link is dead. Is YC out of business? Would greatly appreciate any info. Thank you.
I still have the Weber W-46 upright that I bought in 1993-still plays and sounds great, and I’ve probably spent more on moving it around the country than I had to plop down to buy the thing.
Informative. I see a lot of used Young Chang pianos here in Cebu, Philippines. Was hoping to pick up a used one to learn on... this vid gave me a much better idea about the company.
In the early 90s when I was in grade school, I had a really tall, used studio upright Young Chang piano in ebony. I thought it was too huge for my Iittle room, and that it looked ugly, but it SOUNDED phenomenal. I think the piano must be from the 80s. When I moved to US, my mom got me another used upright Young Chang, and I'm guessing the piano was made in the 90s. It sounded great, but the sound quality was not as impressive as the studio upright I had back in Korea. But the aesthetics - the cherry gloss finish, engravings, ornate curving - makes for a very pretty furniture piece. The appearance belies the small sum my mom paid for it, and my guests think it's some fancy vintage piano. Even the piano technician thought it was a expensive piano when I sent him a picture. I had been wondering whatever happened to Young Chang. I had assumed that both the popularity and quality waned after they moved the production overseas, but I didn't know for sure. I have a personal affection for Young Chang, because they were dependable pianos for me when I was growing up when my parents couldn't afford more expensive brands. I still have the second piano in my home and get it tuned. It still sounds great.
I'm sure the 98 IMF crisis had some impact as it impacted every sector and citizen. Citizens were literally asked to donate their gold to help the country survive and they stepped up. 227 tons stepped up. Worth about $2.13billion. And it'd be hard to find Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and some other companies not involved in something as they are literally in everything; from frozen food to apartment buildings. Korea's growth was directly correlated to their support from the SK government. It has its pros and cons, but these family-run conglomerates known as "chaebol" were given properties and assets previously owned by Japan during the 35-years of forced occupation. Park Chung Hee, a SK Military General turned unelected "President" essentially became an absolute dictatorship who set the groundwork of politically and financially supporting these chaebols as part of his economic development plan, rapidly transforming SK from an agricultural nation to an industrialized country up until his assassination. His legacy is complicated with many older generations seeing his iron fist as a necessity that directly led to the country's rapid development, while others view his anti-democratic regime as a continuation of the pain and injustice that Koreans had faced during the Japanese occupation. Protesting knowing that they faced death for a democratic and freely elected government. And now we have....gangnam style/kpop. I know this drifted off-topic but thought some historical/political context would be beneficial to those interested.
I have an old 52" Yung Chang (yes, spelled "Yung"). Have had it for about 8 years and still love it. Stays in tune well and very nice action and tone. Always thought it was a fluke. Not sure why it's spelled Yung instead of Young. Anyone know anything about that?
Great discussion. However - at 19:56 you said YC was the first to bring in German engineering into their design. Not so! *In 1983, Samick brought in Klaus Fenner, one of the world's most renowned piano designers* to provide scale design and technical assistance for Samick's grand pianos. October of that year, Samick had completed a new dedicated grand piano factory, and in 1984 the company debuted its first Fenner-scale designed piano. That design won the prestigious Gold Prize award from the French piano specialist magazine Diapason in 1985. (I have an '87 Samick baby grand piano.)
I have a 5'8" Asian manufactured Chickering. It's a good piano with an offset balance rail, and strung like a Bosendorfer. Each treble string is tied off individually. It's also claimed to have a "German Scale" I think it's probably a Samick, but maybe Young Chang. Do you know who might have manufactured it?
The Bergmann lineup was the entry level made in China. You can get an actual Young Chang or Yamaha or Kawai delivered nationwide by calling Alamo Music at 210-224-1010. If you have already bought your piano enjoy! They all need good homes!
I. Learned To Play On Young Chang Baby Grands, Story & Clark Uprights, Kohler & Campbell Uprights & Nancy Hart Grand Uprights. Now Everybody Is Playing Keyboards & Digital Electric Pianos Or Using Instrumental Soundtrack CDs.!
So I'm confused. Did they go out of business or were they bought out....or...did the change their name? Like u guys but answer the question you asked, the give history. I love the history so well explained.
They are still out there but not too many dealers any more in the US as the industry has shrunk and dealers chose to stay with the mainstream brands like Yamaha, Kawai, and Steinway.
You mentioned Hyundai there for a second and the car company, but apparently they've had a music division for some time. My church in Alabama when I was in high school (2002-ish) bought a new Hyundai baby grand piano for our new building. It was a really short model, less than 5 feet. I wasn't really that impressed with it - muddy sound and the high notes fell out of tune after only a couple of months. I'd never seen one before, and haven't seen one since. Still not quite sure what to make of it!
Interesting! I forgot or never knew Essex manufacturing went from YC to Pearl, will have to investigate serial numbers. The one Essex I have has a poor action. My YC customers have been decent.
@@richardyoung641 Because that’s when Steinway “DNA” was brought into YC. Joseph Pramberger who was a 2nd generation Steinway employee joined YC in 1995 and redesigned the pianos. So I guess 98 was when these came into the market, before the company fell into difficulties with competition from Pearl River etc? His father, Anton, spent 25 years in Steinway as a pattern maker, designing and creating the equipment required for making fine pianos.
Pramberger was a hack scale designer. It's all marketing. All Yamaha did was use Steinways scale design and figure out what the MINIMUM amount of "redesign" they had to do with the overall scale dimensions they had to do in order to avoid a lawsuit and they did it. Young Chang was too late to the game, so every Asian piano after that ends up suffering even more. It's like making a copy of a copy of a copy. Eventually, you end up with a very bad copy no matter how you slice the bread.
I had a Wurlitzer stencil, continental sized piano made in 1993. It was built by Young Chang. The action was stiff and made practicing incredibly frustrating. It was pure junk!
I had a Youg Chang (1988). it was magical. my mistake : to have sold it for a 1m74 (1989) Schimmel... an error. The Young Chang was better.... better.... Young Chang have the "Steinway" bell sound... underrated Pianos
Plastic on a piano makes a _HUGE_ difference, depending where the plastic is! I was so surprised to hear the guy with bad sinus drainage and the ponytail said that! When I was in the market to buy a reasonable new upright piano 20 years ago, I went to a local place that’s been open for more than 100 years. The salesman actually told me upfront that makers of the new pianos they had on hand all had plastic sticks holding the hammers, and that action was directly affected by that because they didn’t hold firm after striking the strings, there was too much give. I played a few Yamahas and I could tell the difference even though I’m not a professional pianist. He also said that the backs were basically made of plywood lengths glued together which didn’t vibrate nearly as beautifully as an older piano, so I left with a solid wood piano in the construction of the action and the soundboard. I’ve absolutely loved it!
I notice this as I am in the market recently, Samick ones are the worst with basswood keys, Chinese piano like Hailun and Pearl River laminated and Yamaha is all spruce, didn't know what the Young Chang keys are made but played pretty well, comparable to Yamaha.
Sound wise the newer Young Chang would also be equal to Yamaha, they would be my buy new since they are like 30-40% cheaper than Yamaha; used would depend on the deal I get.
I had the pleasure of playing a few of these great pianos back in the late 80's while working at a music store. Back then, their craftsmanship actually exceeded Yamaha.
Agreed
Just came across this as your title caption gave some hope of solving a curious finding of mine a couple of years back. I came across a baby grand in an outdoor shopping village in Venice a couple of years back. When I saw the name on the fallboard I didn’t recognise it and expected the piano to be a honky tonk given the varying weather conditions it’d be subjected to. To my surprise I found it pleasurable to play and actually sat for quite awhile to explore its surprising tone and abilities! I have a strong partiality to Steinways and your video has finally solved this mystery for me!! Thank you so much for your very informative and educational presentations!!
I still have my Young Chang U121. Bought it around the mid 80s. Played for about 5 years and that’s about it. I played with it last week. Still pretty new and needs tuning and all that jazz.
We have a Young Chang piano at house that wass transported across the pacific ocean from Korea in the early 2000's or late 90's from my grandparents place. it was probably the first piano that my mom had in Korea. Now its here at my aunt's place. My mom since 1994 has been playing on a Steinway Grand piano.
I learned more a lot from your video, thank you! We have had a YC grand since '90s (G-150). It now has multiple frozen keys. Our new piano tech described an issue of poor quality metal of YC action brackets during that era - and that YC had been replacing the faulty part as of a few years ago. Four months ago, I sent email to YC and have heard nothing. Today, I tried to make "contact" on YC home page and link is dead. Is YC out of business? Would greatly appreciate any info. Thank you.
Never getting rid of my 1936 Steinway Model D
As always great content and definitely appreciate the educational side as well in learning about the brands and their back stories.
I still have the Weber W-46 upright that I bought in 1993-still plays and sounds great, and I’ve probably spent more on moving it around the country than I had to plop down to buy the thing.
Informative. I see a lot of used Young Chang pianos here in Cebu, Philippines. Was hoping to pick up a used one to learn on... this vid gave me a much better idea about the company.
Accurate info.... thanks guys!
Have a 6' 1 Young Chang Pramberger, great piano
In the early 90s when I was in grade school, I had a really tall, used studio upright Young Chang piano in ebony. I thought it was too huge for my Iittle room, and that it looked ugly, but it SOUNDED phenomenal. I think the piano must be from the 80s. When I moved to US, my mom got me another used upright Young Chang, and I'm guessing the piano was made in the 90s. It sounded great, but the sound quality was not as impressive as the studio upright I had back in Korea. But the aesthetics - the cherry gloss finish, engravings, ornate curving - makes for a very pretty furniture piece. The appearance belies the small sum my mom paid for it, and my guests think it's some fancy vintage piano. Even the piano technician thought it was a expensive piano when I sent him a picture.
I had been wondering whatever happened to Young Chang. I had assumed that both the popularity and quality waned after they moved the production overseas, but I didn't know for sure. I have a personal affection for Young Chang, because they were dependable pianos for me when I was growing up when my parents couldn't afford more expensive brands. I still have the second piano in my home and get it tuned. It still sounds great.
I'm sure the 98 IMF crisis had some impact as it impacted every sector and citizen. Citizens were literally asked to donate their gold to help the country survive and they stepped up. 227 tons stepped up. Worth about $2.13billion. And it'd be hard to find Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and some other companies not involved in something as they are literally in everything; from frozen food to apartment buildings. Korea's growth was directly correlated to their support from the SK government. It has its pros and cons, but these family-run conglomerates known as "chaebol" were given properties and assets previously owned by Japan during the 35-years of forced occupation. Park Chung Hee, a SK Military General turned unelected "President" essentially became an absolute dictatorship who set the groundwork of politically and financially supporting these chaebols as part of his economic development plan, rapidly transforming SK from an agricultural nation to an industrialized country up until his assassination. His legacy is complicated with many older generations seeing his iron fist as a necessity that directly led to the country's rapid development, while others view his anti-democratic regime as a continuation of the pain and injustice that Koreans had faced during the Japanese occupation. Protesting knowing that they faced death for a democratic and freely elected government. And now we have....gangnam style/kpop. I know this drifted off-topic but thought some historical/political context would be beneficial to those interested.
I have an old 52" Yung Chang (yes, spelled "Yung"). Have had it for about 8 years and still love it. Stays in tune well and very nice action and tone. Always thought it was a fluke. Not sure why it's spelled Yung instead of Young. Anyone know anything about that?
named after the film director
maybe a rare misprint that got by the employees without realizing, don’t really know
Might be bootleg.
Jai-Young Kim and Jai-Chang Kim
Nobody was named Yung
It sounds like you got a Chinese knock off of a South Korean manufacturer
Great discussion. However - at 19:56 you said YC was the first to bring in German engineering into their design. Not so! *In 1983, Samick brought in Klaus Fenner, one of the world's most renowned piano designers* to provide scale design and technical assistance for Samick's grand pianos. October of that year, Samick had completed a new dedicated grand piano factory, and in 1984 the company debuted its first Fenner-scale designed piano. That design won the prestigious Gold Prize award from the French piano specialist magazine Diapason in 1985. (I have an '87 Samick baby grand piano.)
I have a 5'8" Asian manufactured Chickering. It's a good piano with an offset balance rail, and strung like a Bosendorfer. Each treble string is tied off individually. It's also claimed to have a "German Scale" I think it's probably a Samick, but maybe Young Chang. Do you know who might have manufactured it?
Interesting. Thanks guys.
Tried out a 2001 Bergman TG model today. Absolutely loved the sound and feel. Should I buy it? At a piano store for $6900
The Bergmann lineup was the entry level made in China. You can get an actual Young Chang or Yamaha or Kawai delivered nationwide by calling Alamo Music at 210-224-1010. If you have already bought your piano enjoy! They all need good homes!
No
Didn't do it. Ended up buying a new Kawai GL10. Love it! ❤️
I played a concert grand once in a good space and was impressed with the warm sound but clearly there were action problems
hello, how to know the year of my young chang piano was made?, I´ve looked for inside and outside i´ve found yet...
Holy shit I didnt know about the key length stuff. It all makes sense now when I loss my train of thought and place when playing. It's so weird
I. Learned To Play On Young Chang Baby Grands, Story & Clark Uprights, Kohler & Campbell Uprights & Nancy Hart Grand Uprights. Now Everybody Is Playing Keyboards & Digital Electric Pianos Or Using Instrumental Soundtrack CDs.!
I have pg185 and love it , 6'1 grand
So I'm confused. Did they go out of business or were they bought out....or...did the change their name? Like u guys but answer the question you asked, the give history. I love the history so well explained.
They are still out there but not too many dealers any more in the US as the industry has shrunk and dealers chose to stay with the mainstream brands like Yamaha, Kawai, and Steinway.
@@pianomanic71 I believe in 2018 Hyundai bought them
I’ve got a Carl Ebel by samick and would love to know something more about the history of Samick. Young Chang is definitely interesting to hear about
It would be nice to learn about the Winter brand. I learned on one back in the seventies and I know nothing about them.
I used to have a winter piano as a child during the 80's. Qiute small and awfull sounding 😂
You mentioned Hyundai there for a second and the car company, but apparently they've had a music division for some time. My church in Alabama when I was in high school (2002-ish) bought a new Hyundai baby grand piano for our new building. It was a really short model, less than 5 feet. I wasn't really that impressed with it - muddy sound and the high notes fell out of tune after only a couple of months. I'd never seen one before, and haven't seen one since. Still not quite sure what to make of it!
I’ll m pretty sure he is mispronouncing the brand Hailun. It’s pronounced Hai•loon not Hal•yun.
I have a young chang baby grand
Are they saying a 1994 is not as good as a 1995 because that’s when the new guy came into the business?
Interesting! I forgot or never knew Essex manufacturing went from YC to Pearl, will have to investigate serial numbers. The one Essex I have has a poor action. My YC customers have been decent.
Interesting commentary. Which years of YC pianos are desirable vs. ones to avoid?
Avoid yc from '90 to '98
@@wesaneonato5783 why..just interested
@@richardyoung641 Because that’s when Steinway “DNA” was brought into YC. Joseph Pramberger who was a 2nd generation Steinway employee joined YC in 1995 and redesigned the pianos. So I guess 98 was when these came into the market, before the company fell into difficulties with competition from Pearl River etc? His father, Anton, spent 25 years in Steinway as a pattern maker, designing and creating the equipment required for making fine pianos.
We had a Young Chang upright at home and I hated it. The action was really really stiff.
Pramberger was a hack scale designer. It's all marketing. All Yamaha did was use Steinways scale design and figure out what the MINIMUM amount of "redesign" they had to do with the overall scale dimensions they had to do in order to avoid a lawsuit and they did it. Young Chang was too late to the game, so every Asian piano after that ends up suffering even more. It's like making a copy of a copy of a copy. Eventually, you end up with a very bad copy no matter how you slice the bread.
I own a YC G-185 and G-213, and a Balwin SD10. I'll put my G-213 up against any quality piano, especially Steinway.
Very interesting.
Just bought an '84 G-213 and couldn't be more excited to take delivery.
they collaborated with Steinway (who visited Korea) to build the YC (wikipedia, i believe)
I had a Wurlitzer stencil, continental sized piano made in 1993. It was built by Young Chang. The action was stiff and made practicing incredibly frustrating. It was pure junk!
I have a creamy pearl color young chang upright, have had it for 40 years anyone want to come to Ohio I will make a good deal :)
Dudes, nobody would be a Steinway dealer and a Young Chang dealer. Young Chang's suck.
terrible pianos-always have been