Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Thoughts on Yamaha C2 Versus Re-built Mason and Hamlin???

I've tried this one:

http://tucson.craigslist.org/msg/4457420483.html

And it was really nice. Great tone.

But I have to say, after trying a C1 as well (they both have similar actions), that although the action is nice on these Yamahas, the action leans towards the heavy side.

Heavier than the rebuilt M&H that I also tried, that was also 5' 8". Heavy enough for me to feel that the weight of the keys will prevent my trills from being very fast.

This would be a problem for me, because my trills are already a bit weak.

Or is this heavier action something that you can get used to, with extended time with the instrument?

Thanks for any feedback. I'm going to buy one of these soon....

It might be a matter of regulation? Or maybe replacing parts..
I can't imagine that it is meant to be so heavy that it limits your playing.

A rebuilt M&H seems in a different league though.

The rebuilt M&H had a similar feel to a rebuilt Monteserrat by Daniel Ley. A very nice action, that was not too heavy, that almost has a "clicking" feel to it, for lack of a better description.

The Monteserrat goes for about $14k new, while the M&H is used, with a cracked soundboard (but no separating ribs), and goes for $4500. The M&H was rebuilt by Renner piano of Houston:

"Piano has had the Soundboard refinished, refinished plate, replaced felt and buffing hardware. Replace strings, replace pinstock, replace tuning pins, replace dampers, replace hammers replaced keytops, check action. Replace caster wheels."

Surely these rebuilt actions will be superior to any factory built piano?

Definitely not (Maybe a few exceptions, don't want to step anybody on the toes..). I would like to see a rebuilder match Fazioli.
Most high end pianos have a very good action which when well regulated play so well that only the best players can distinguish very good from even better.

Also, if I understand correctly the action is checked, not rebuilt.

Well, I didn't mean against Fazioli! I meant against the factory built Yamaha C1 and C2.

But yes, good point. The action was only "checked", which i assume only means it was looked over for any problems. This M&H was apparently build in the 1920's.

Factory build Yamaha is very good even out of the box. Factory prep by Yamaha and Kawai is good.

Interesting observation. Now that I have three weeks under my belt with our C2X, I do notice that the action is a bit heavier compared to my teacher's rebuilt 1973 C3. Not enough to affect my playing, but interesting none-the-less. I will ask the tuner when he/she comes out in two weeks about the feel of the action, to see if it can be regulated or if that is simply part of the process of breaking in.

BTW: If I had my druthers I would prefer the action to be in the middle of both pianos.

LOL - Usually the action is located near the keyboard end of the piano, rather than in the middle. Though, on an upright, it is pretty much in the middle.

Where's Malcolm when you need him?

I can dream can't I

P.S. Who would have thought that Malcolm's crazy dad would eventually be "breaking bad"