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Dear all,

I am newly registered here, although I have been helped greatly by browsing the forums. I am looking at upgrading our second piano (actually the one we got first), a Yamaha GB1, with something that can work better with our first piano when playing two-piano pieces. Several possibilities have been sitting in my mind. One factor that I have been thinking also was that the only time of the day I can reasonably practice would be in the late evening, when the kids are already in bed. So a silent option would be very helpful. I do not need the player function.

I have been thinking about either 1) getting a regular acoustic piano, plus a digital piano/keyboard etc.; or 2) getting a silent grand. It appears that only Yamaha does the factory-installed option (Kawai's AnyTime grands do not seem available in US). The problem is, it is almost impossible to come across a Yamaha Silent Grand in dealers near where I live, although they do have quotes available.

A few years ago I think I played one of their upright silent (with SH I believe) and I think I am ok with the sound. I am wondering whether anyone on this forum has actually played, or owned, Yamaha's Silent Grand, especially their newer series (CX), and can provide their insight on the keyboard's touch. From my experience with their silent upright, I felt no difference between the acoustic mode and the silent mode. But in terms of the grands: is there any noticeable difference between their "regular" acoustic grands, versus the silent grand, under acoustic modes? That is, for example, does C3X feel different than C3X SH under acoustic mode?

BTW I am no stranger to Yamaha pianos; as a kid my parents were nice enough to provide me first with an upright then a C5 (of the early 1990s), plus some other school instruments. I recently visited our local dealer's showroom and played C3X, C6X, C7X, and actually fortunately enough to play the elusive CF6, and one of their concert rental CFX. Thus I am fairly familiar with a typical Yamaha action. Still the thought of not trying on a product somewhat unfamiliar is a bit scary.

Thanks in advance!

I played a couple of C2X (with/without silent), and could not detect any differences, but I'm hardly an experienced player. The same goes for C3/C3S (I did find some differences between more recent C3, say 2000 and more recent, and older ones - all without silent system fitted, though of course there the maintenance/condition will have an impact). The dealers insist there actually is no touch/action difference, but clearly they do have a vested interest.

There shouldn't be any different in acoustic mode. A silent piano is a normal piano with digital add-ons that do not affect normal acoustic play. In silent mode the hammers are blocked from the strings and sensors are used to tell the computer which pre-recorded samples from a concert grand to play to your headphones.

I thought about silent pianos before but I found out later that the whole family (even babies, or should I say, esp. babies) sleep just fine with piano practice in the background.

If you like your GB1 and would rather keep it, you could also consider an upright digital hybrid for headphone playing. Those with large polished ebony cabinets look just like the real thing.

Thank you, oldmancoyote.

Thank you, gnuboi. The reason I asked was that, I believe in the past on this forum, silent mechanisms would have to adjust some part of the action that would make playing pianissimo more challenging. Apparently newer systems fixed that.

I am also happy for you that your whole family would sleep just fine with your practice. This honestly is impossible in my household, not even with the GB1 (let alone the Model A).

Speaking of GB1, we actually don't particularly like it. It certainly served us ok for quite a few years now; we got it because that was what we could afford, space/finance wise. And for its size I think it does an ok job in sound it produces. I am looking to replace it in the near future. Options I have been considering are as in my original post. I am keeping it for now because it allows us to play piano duo, but 2-piano works also highlight/exaggerate the difference between the pianos. Getting a cabinet-style (or even those mini-grand) digital piano would take up too much space.

I always tell people that the add on systems that offer silent play will change the feel of the action just a bit when they are engaged. This is something that you will feel if you are a sensitive player - maybe just a little, but you will feel it.

While I have only played the Yamaha Silent systems on grands at NAMM, my impression was that there was not the same change in the feel that I experienced in add on systems.

Anyway, I hope that helps. Enjoy your search.

Rick is quite right. When I first started playing (I got my silent/acoustic after only 10 months of playing piano) I really didn't notice the difference much at all. Now, almost six years later, I do notice some difference. Not a lot but some.

Thank you Rich. From what you said, did you mean by the Yamaha Silent grands do not have the change at all, or the change of touch is just different from add-on systems (I assume that means aftermarket system like PianoDisc etc.?)

There is still a difference between a piano with silent system and one without. Factory install or not only makes a difference if the add-on system installer (the tech) is not doing it often and carefully.

If you look for it carefully, you will find a difference in touch/action between a new piano with and a new piano without silent function. Reason is that the hammers have to be slightly further away from the strings so that the blocking mechanism can be placed. This gives slightly less control and a slight difference in touch.

If that ever will have an impact on your playing... who knows. But in any case, the silent mechanism can always be removed and then the action adjusted, no matter of factory installed or not.

I am a beginner and I can feel the difference in a blind test :-), but only if I feel for it. And of course at my stage there is no difference in my playing... But not having a silent function would keep me from practicing at certain times, so I would always buy a piano with one.