Yamaha grand silent piano? advice needed!

iaio80 · Post by **iaio80** » 04 Jul 2007, 13:20

I'm planning to buy my fist grand piano, and I'm exploring what there is out there. I was considering to purchase a new Yamaha grand piano. As I'm living in a flat, in order not to have angry neighbours, I was thinking to the silent series. This could offer the possibility of a private practise, but at the same time the beauty of the real piano when wanted. Does anybody have an experience in using these pianos? Is real that the touch is different when the piano is switched in digital? I haven't have the privilege yet to test them personally in a showroom. and what would you recommend, an acustic piano with foams at the walls, or a acustic/digital piano?

Another wander is the model. I was thinking about the A1LS (4'11'') or the CG1S (5'3''). Does enybody know what are the differences (in addiction to the lenght.)??? Witch one is better?
Thanks in advance to anybody who will help!
Dario.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 04 Jul 2007, 19:50

Silent upright the setoff and the checking are altered to accommodate the silent system, the change is there in both silent and acoustic mode. Some don’t notices it other do. Now on grand’s it’s a tad different the jack in the action has an extra lip and a second set of trip buttons which only come into play when you use the silent system. So in acoustic mode the action is the same as a normal action of the same model much better system.

If you can afford the GC1 it is better than the A1 in the treble the action is better in the A1 but the C1 is much, much better than the Gc1 and the A1

The A1 is the entry level to the C pro range GC1 and the GB1 are Yamaha budget models

Barrie

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 04 Jul 2007, 22:40

It really is not worth buying an A1LS. The much cheaper GB1 uses the same frame, but is made in Indonesia rather than Japan. That and a few reductions in casework frills cut costs.

The bargain of the range is the GC1. It uses a C1 frame and comes out of the same Japanese factory.

What is a CG1S?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 04 Jul 2007, 23:15

PianoGuy wrote:
What is a CG1S?

Silent version RRP £13399.00

Barrie,

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 05 Jul 2007, 07:00

No, that's a GC1S.

A. Anderson · Post by **A. Anderson** » 05 Jul 2007, 09:21

I'm currently buying an upright piano, which I also want with the silent function, but since I'm not keen on yamaha pianos I've been advised that the silent function can be fitted to almost any new-ish upright model. I don't know if that is the same for grand pianos, but worth checking - don't feel you are forced to buy Yamaha unless you particularly want to.

iaio80 · Post by **iaio80** » 05 Jul 2007, 10:06

Dear All,
thanks for the replies, they were very useful.
The other option I've considered is the Yamaha GB1, acustic, with a digital sistem like the QuietTime. Now, I don't know if this sistem is applicable to a grand piano, and how is it's performance (and the cost)... and I either don't know if it is available here in the UK! I know, I'm a little confused now, so that's why it is nice to talk and clarify my mind.... Does anybody have experinece in fitting a digital system into an acustic piano? Does it work fine? Does it affect the acustic quality and the touch? Everything is getting so complicated!!! Thanks. Dario.

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 05 Jul 2007, 13:17

I haven't seen anything which explains what happens when things go wrong with these silent systems - as they are bound to sooner or later. Who would fix them? Aer there going to be hundreds of piano owners in ten years time with half-functioning silent systems and nobody to fix them/get spare parts.

Hmmm.....

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 05 Jul 2007, 18:32

iaio80 wrote:Dear All,
thanks for the replies, they were very useful.
The other option I've considered is the Yamaha GB1, acustic, with a digital sistem like the QuietTime. Now, I don't know if this sistem is applicable to a grand piano, and how is it's performance (and the cost)... and I either don't know if it is available here in the UK! I know, I'm a little confused now, so that's why it is nice to talk and clarify my mind.... Does anybody have experinece in fitting a digital system into an acustic piano? Does it work fine? Does it affect the acustic quality and the touch? Everything is getting so complicated!!! Thanks. Dario.

Retro fitting in to a grand is not as straight forward as an upright. Where as on the factory fitted silent system on a grand, the action is not affected as explained above. This is not the case with retro fitting a silent system on a grand there are problems and if it is a new piano your guarantee is voided.

If you are trying to save money then I would opt for an upright a big one with a factory one fitted or….

QuietTime is good but not the only one on the market, the Gabore one is quietist of them all in tests done a few years ago

Barrie,

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 05 Jul 2007, 18:45

Openwood wrote:I haven't seen anything which explains what happens when things go wrong with these silent systems - as they are bound to sooner or later. Who would fix them? Aer there going to be hundreds of piano owners in ten years time with half-functioning silent systems and nobody to fix them/get spare parts.

Hmmm.....

The system are made up in 3 parts the stop rail, the key sensor and the control box all can be changed However, like most electrical items they are being updated and parts may be a problem.
The Yamaha one uses inferred sensors passing by a gate on each key. The new retro fitted ones now use little inferred sensors for each key. So say the inferred sensors packed in on your yam. The big problem would be the handshaking with old and new kit if something went wrong

Yamaha give 2 year garr on electrical parts the others give 5 yea

iaio80 · Post by **iaio80** » 06 Jul 2007, 12:52

Actually this is really a good point. The piano will last for the whole life, not sure about the eletronic parts..... Another point is, as the tecnology is generally progressing, in 10 years the eletronic system can be obsoltete. Maybe there will be a better sound generator, or a better tauch response, or a new music standard, or whatever.... It's unlikley that the acustic parts and movements of the piano are going to change so much as the eletronic part.
In order to keep the neighbours happy, the alternative seems to have an almost acoustic-proof room, despite the dedication of a whole room to the piano, carpets and foams at the walls. Is really this system working properly?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 06 Jul 2007, 17:27

iaio80 wrote: the alternative seems to have an almost acoustic-proof room, despite the dedication of a whole room to the piano, carpets and foams at the walls. Is really this system working properly?

That is harder than is sounds and very expensive to kill the Bass going into next door

Barrie,

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 06 Jul 2007, 21:00

I got an acoustic piano for playing during the day and a clavinova for the wee small hours.

I thought about getting a silent series piano but decided against it as I'm not convinced I wouldn't end up with an instrument full of obsolete electronic crap in 5 year's time which nobody will buy.

The Clavinova is ok as a night-time practice instrument and I've stuck it in my bedroom so I can just fall backwards off the stool and into bed when the need for oblivion becomes overwhelming.

Yeah, so the Clavinova will be obsolete in 5 year's time but hey, it's just a Clavinova so I'll throw it over the wall into next door's garden.

davidw · Post by **davidw** » 01 Aug 2007, 09:19

iaio80 wrote:I'm planning to buy my fist grand piano, and I'm exploring what there is out there. I was considering to purchase a new Yamaha grand piano. As I'm living in a flat, in order not to have angry neighbours, I was thinking to the silent series. This could offer the possibility of a private practise, but at the same time the beauty of the real piano when wanted. Does anybody have an experience in using these pianos? Is real that the touch is different when the piano is switched in digital? I haven't have the privilege yet to test them personally in a showroom. and what would you recommend, an acustic piano with foams at the walls, or a acustic/digital piano?

Another wander is the model. I was thinking about the A1LS (4'11'') or the CG1S (5'3''). Does enybody know what are the differences (in addiction to the lenght.)??? Witch one is better?
Thanks in advance to anybody who will help!
Dario.

Hi

I am selling a YAMAHA C1LS silent conservatory grand which I bought new 3 years ago. It's totally "as new" with very light use.

If you think you may be interested please drop me an email to david@musicserv.plus.com

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Yamaha grand silent piano? advice needed!

Yamaha grand silent piano? advice needed!

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