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Very nice piano, Brian. It fits very nicely into that room. Glad you got the C2X instead of the C1X.

What'd you do with the Kawai and Yamaha N1?

Traded the Kawai in for the Yamaha N1. Got a very good trade-in amount for it. BTW: For folks that have to have a digital piano for under $2K I would highly recommend the CN34.

Traded the N1 for the C2X. Different dealer, got about 80% back from what I paid for the N1 three weeks earlier.

Bottom line: Since a really good piano should be a lifetime purchase, get the best one you can (and then go one level beyond that ) For literally $60 more per month, I moved from a GC1M to a C2X.

What'd you think of the Yamaha AG?

OK, I'll tell you flat out: I hated it. Here is my summary after owning it for three weeks:

What I liked:
1) The grand piano action is very very good, much better than my Kawai CN34.
2) Well built, an impressive sight.

What I did not like:
1) Although they sampled the 9 foot Yamaha CFX Grand sounds, the speakers are not very good for something this expensive. The sound blares out at you, not around you. I found the sound harsh at times as well.
2) Ergonomics really stink. Without going into details, too many settings that you would tend to use over and over again are not retained when the unit is powered off. Other issues as well.
3) Expensive for what is still basically a digital piano.

What I really really HATED:
1) IMHO there are major issues with the way the sustain pedal interacts with some keys, especially when the key is pressed down simultaneously. On some keys, the pitch or timbre changes, on others the volume goes up! I'm not making this stuff up. I talked to Yamaha about these issues and although they were very attentive, they basically said it was working as designed.

The first hour I played the C2X I went through every piece that had these pedal issues, and on the C2X they exhibit NONE of these traits. It got to the point where I would cringe when playing these pieces.

But here's the great thing: Because of the issues I have mentioned above it was the final catalyst for me and my wife to go out and buy what we've always wanted for 25 years. Although this instrument has been in my house only 2 hours I love it already.

Bottom line: If I had to do it over again I would have swapped the CN34 for the C2X right away.

Oh well, live and learn...

It looks beautiful !!!

Enjoy - Enjoy - Enjoy

(Thingies just can't compete with pianos.)

Brian, it's beautiful - congratulations! What an exciting day for you!

(Happy birthday, Marty! )

Thanks, Jeanie!

Thanks JeanieA

A nice way for me and my wife to start our 33rd year of marriage!

Hi Brian,

Wow! What a great story. I'm so pleased you now have a wonderful piano. Even the highest end digital or hybrid pianos will never be the same as a full acoustic instrument. There is nothing quite like the sound, resonance, acoustics, energy and feedback you get from tapping strings wound tightly across a bridge attached to a well constructed soundboard - especially a when the board is horizontal as it is in a grand.

I hope you enjoy your instrument for many years. Remember to keep it well looked after with regular tuning and service etc. Best wishes....

Is today your anniversary, Brian? Double congratulations!

I've been married just a few years longer but never have I gotten an anniversary gift like this! Do you know the Anniversary Waltz? Very apropos, for BOTH occasions!

Sounds like I'd better learn it

BTW: After getting a few private posts we have turned the piano around 180 degrees so that the keyboard now faces out to the room. I think this will result in a better look, better sound, and the bench will never be in the way of folks walking around the piano to get to my office.

I'll re-post pics of the room tomorrow morning.

Updated photo with the Piano's final room placement. Thanks to my private "helper" (He knows who he is!)

Brian, I'm curious, were you supposed to have caster cups for the wheels? Did you intentionally opt not to have them put on?

Grandman;

Because the piano sits on a carpet already, I was advised by my dealer that casters were not necessary either for stability or sound quality. Plus, he said having casters would make it much more difficult to move the piano.

Well boy was he right! Not only have I had to move the piano a bit here and there for room placement a few times, I'm having a floor outlet installed under the piano (for the piano lamp) and overhead lights as well. So it will be moving again.

Of course, if you have hardwood floors or a very nice area rug (like my teacher has) casters are a very good idea.

Brian,

The piano you have has very small casters. Those have a habit of punching through carpeting and into the padding. I would recommend using caster cups when the piano is moved for the electrician.

Despite the fact that those casters look like they should be used to roll the piano, they really aren't designed for that. They are a furniture design element left from previous eras, before pianos had heavy iron plates. Even on a hard flat surface, they put a lot of strain on the leg fittings. Moving on carpet can really be asking for trouble. Look at a few photos of some other grands and you might see large, dual, locking casters on the legs. Those are the ones which are designed to actually roll the piano.

With a small grand, the best way to move it is to invite some strong friends over, and chill the beer. One person at each leg will do it for a piano of that size.

Thanks for the advice Marty!

My piano has caster cups that have 3 casters each, but once in place, the carpet will be indented permanently. I've even used an industrial steamer, and it doesn't help much. I think the piano will stay put for some time.

Yes, but even without the caster cups, carpet will be indented by the piano caster wheels. But like you said, the piano isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Indentations do occur as the piano sits. There is no doubt about that. However, the use of caster cups prevents perforating the carpet layer. Whether the 'divots' can be removed depends on the materials used for the carpet construction. Natural fibers with a natural backing stand the best chance for success.

Trying to roll any grand, with small casters, across carpeting is asking for trouble.