When choosing a piano there are a whole host of practical considerations to bear in mind including size of room, amount of use, type of player(s); however, key consideration should be given to quality of sound and touch.

This article explains the key components of the piano and the effect they have on the quality of instrument and discusses the popular models and recommendations.

Why an Acoustic Piano Acoustic pianos (as opposed to their digital cousins) offer a unique playing experience whereby the player truly feels the tone of the instrument – as the sound is generated through the natural process of vibrations through the piano. In addition, the feel and touch of the keys is unmistakable. Traditional pianos are also handsome cabinets that are often the focal point of a room as well as a good investment.

The Ranges We Stock
Over the past couple of decades piano design and manufacture has progressed dramatically with good quality models now available at a realistic price.

Over this period Yamaha has firmly established itself as the world leader in acoustic pianos, and for this reason we tend to sell more of these models than any other. We also offer the Kemble range of pianos (a favourite of many schools) that are made in the UK (but are a fully owned subsidiary of the Yamaha Corporation).

Yamaha pianos offer an unsurpassed level of quality across their range based on over 100 years of manufacturing experience coupled with massive levels of investment into the manufacturing process and research and development, unsurpassed levels of quality control, top quality raw materials and constant liaison with the world’s top pianists.

What makes a Good Piano There is no single element that makes a piano great; it is rather the combination of quality materials, craftsmanship and design. In particular, the specification and characteristics of a number of components is paramount.

The Frame The size of the frame is a key ingredient into the sound characteristics of an instrument. A larger frame enables bass strings to be longer and thus creates a more balanced tone and a deeper rich sound. However, the larger the frame the bigger the instrument and greater the cost – so a practical compromise must always be reached dependant on size of space, type of use and budget. A piano frame needs to support approximately 20 tons of tension from the strings, so the quality of frame is crucial to ensuring a good tone and durability. The frames of all standard Yamaha pianos are manufactured using a “Vacuum” process that creates frames of superior strength and accuracy.

The Soundboard The soundboard is so important that it is often called the “heart” or “soul” of the piano. The quality of spruce used on the soundboard and ribs, together with the quality of design and craftsmanship has a defining effect on the instrument’s sound. The soundboard acts as the instrument’s natural amplifier, resonating with the vibrations of the strings.

Strings and Hammers The string scale (length, thickness, placement and other factors) all have a major effect on the overall tone of the piano.

The type and quality of felt in the hammers (and their density and elasticity), and hammer size and shapes are key factors contributing to the type and quality of tone of the piano.

The hammers are central to the important “piano voicing” process whereby skilled technicians finely adjust the hammer shape and elasticity for all 88 keys, uniformly balancing the tone and volume over the total range of the piano.

Tone
The combination and design of all the above components (namely frame, scale design, and soundboard) all contribute to the quality of an instrument’s tone.

The size of the frame is not the overriding factor for a good piano. More critical is the quality of design and production of a well-balanced instrument.

The Action A good action is capable of transmitting the pianists feelings efficiently, comfortably and accurately (described as a good “touch”). The action should also enable players to perform rapid trills and note clusters as well as playing lyrical passages and extreme dynamics. The action is a very complicated manual mechanism that has over 1,000 potential adjustments to its set up. Key to a good touch is the quality of the action’s design and manufacture to ensure it is optimally balanced for a perfect touch.

The Yamaha Range
There are 26 pianos in the Yamaha range that can be quite bewildering to the uninitiated. We will therefore focus on popular choices of instrument for each stage of a player’s development and situation.

Entry-Level Uprights
Yamaha offer a choice of entry-level uprights – namely the C110A and C109. These are both particularly popular with schools (for practice rooms, classrooms and small assembly halls) and private homes with limited space.

They offer great value for money for a quality package and the Yamaha name.

The C110A The C110A (available in black only) is a robust and durable instrument in a modern style cabinet ideal for school use. The “celeste” (middle) pedal enables muted practice.

The C109 Slightly more expensive, the C109 offers a slightly more refined tone than the C110A and a more subtle and responsive touch. Consequently the C109 is a very popular choice for the home. We typically supply in black, although finishes are available at a premium.

Intermediate Level Uprights
Yamaha offer a choice of models for the immediate player incorporating their “P” and “V” series pianos. We particularly recommend the P112N model that represents exceptional value for a great specification.

The P112N Manufactured in the UK the P112N (112cm frame) has a more refined looking cabinet. It also features a better quality of frame and solid German Spruce soundboard that offers superior sound to the entry-level models. Available in a range of colours, the most popular is the “mahogany walnut satin” which is a discreet yet refined looking finish that can adapt to almost any surroundings

Advanced Uprights
The “U” and “S” series upright pianos are the pinnacle of the Yamaha upright range. Fantastic instruments, they offer the pianist excellent response, superior tone and exceptional balance.

The U1 The U1 is a very popular instrument used widely in specialist music colleges and conservatoires at the highest level. Manufactured in Japan it features a 121cm frame together with an advanced scale design and enhanced “under felted” hammers. Additional useful features include a two-piece top lid, one-piece “soft” fall (no trapped fingers), lock and lengthened music desk. For the advanced player this is an ideal instrument for the home.

Grand Pianos
Grand pianos are fantastic instruments that can both look and sound fantastic, in home or school.

Yamaha “grands” have a fantastic reputation for offering superb sounding and looking instruments at a realistic price.

The main ranges are the “G” and “C” Series. The G series are designed as entry level instruments – more suited to a domestic size room whereas the C (conservatoire) series are superior quality instruments for the discerning player, a music college environment or large school concert hall.

Particular models are as follows:

The GB1 Featuring a 4’11” frame the GB1 is a quality entry-level instrument with superb tone and balance for a small grand piano. Consequently it is a very popular choice for individual players wanting a grand piano in their homes for a realistic price.

The GC1 With a 5’3” frame (based on the C1 frame) the GC1 offers many of the features of the C series at G series prices. Made in Japan it offers an enhanced tone and build quality over the GB1.

The C1L The smallest (and most popular) of the C series pianos, the C1L has a 5’3” frame and offers a supreme touch and sound due to a very high level of specification (such as duplex scaling, tone collector and floating bridge) suited for players of the highest calibre.

Larger Grand Pianos
The C series has a range of instruments of varying sizes to cope with the requirements of pianists’ needs and larger rooms. We supply the full range up to and including the 9” Concert Grand!

Grand Piano Finishes
Overwhelmingly the most popular finish choice for grand pianos is black, although the GC1 and smaller C series instruments are available in a choice of additional colours.

Piano Accessories

Stools
We offer a choice of stool style to suit your piano in a variety of finishes and fabrics.
Please call for information.

School Conversion Kits
The school conversion kit is a pair of stabilising brackets that can be attached to the base of an upright piano to enable it to be safely and easily wheeled around, and prevents the instrument from being pushed over when not located against a wall.

These are to be strongly recommended for school uprights to conform to HSE guidelines.

We also supply “A” frames that fit to the legs of grand pianos to enable them to be moved around school halls safely and easily together with an assortment of covers (for uprights and grands) to fit a wide range of models.