[bikini]

We are looking for a silent piano for our 7 yr old son who is starting lessons. I played for a few years as a child without progressing much, however, am interested in giving it a go. Our 2 yr old is very sensitive to music and we think she will play later on.

So... as my search goes on and the prices keep going up, I am faced with choosing between the U1, Kawai 121 or the Schimmel 116. (The last salesperson I spoke to was very keen on the Schimmel, however, it's more expensive than the U1 and Kawai.

Can anyone advise on important points to consider when try to choose between them. We'd like to have the option of keeping this piano if the family takes to it, or ensuring that the resale value will not plummet. The tones on the pianos I've heard go from brightest on U1 (which can be a bit sharp to the untrained ear on training hands), to rounded (or muddled-I'm not an expert) on Kawai to deep and round on the Schimmel.

Thank you!

Bikini Chowder

[Barrie Heaton]

The silent system on the Schimmel and the Yamaha is the same system and is better than the Kawai system

As to the pianos they are all good makes the U1 and Kawai are taller pianos and should have better bass than the Schimmel but they are both quite bright compared to the Schimmel but they can be voiced and toned down.

All of the makes will resell well at the moment quite a few dealers have not put their website prices up on the Yamaha models to reflect the new prices so you can hold them to that price

Myself I do like the Schimmel 116 for the size it has a nice sound but pricey

Barrie,
_________________
Barrie Heaton
Web Master UK Piano Page

[Grenache]

Hi,

I'm also considering a U1 Silent model. I've played a U1 without the silent mechanism, and it sounded and felt great, but I've heard that some people don't like the silent mechanism.

I want to be able to practice late in the evening, and have tried the practice pedal but the sound was quite muffled and I found it a bit difficult to hear well, so the silent model might be better, and I might also use the MIDI out for other voices occasionally.

Is the feel so different that you would recommedn against it, or am I not likely to notice? I play for my own enjoyment, I'm only at grade 2.

Thanks
Grenache

[Barrie Heaton]

The touch is different the set off has to be set to 4-5mm and the checking to 17mm were as on normal U1 you are looking at 3mm set off and 15mm checking.

You tend to notice this if you are gentle player or if your hand span is at its limit on some cords but you get use to it

Your best bet would be a Silent Grand they have an extra set of set off buttons so the touch is not affected in normal mode

At the end of the day you need to sit at one and play it for some time to see if you are happy with the difference

Barrie,
_________________
Barrie Heaton
Web Master UK Piano Page

[Openwood]

In September I bought a U1 for the main music room at the secondary school in which I teach and I'm completely satisfied with its performance. We often have choral or instrumental rehearsals in the room at the same time as someone is practising on the U1 in silent mode - it works a treat.

OK, the sound is electronic but for practice purposes I've found both that and the touch to be perfectly acceptable.

We used to have a P112 with a practice pedal in the music room but I was never that struck with the effectiveness of it. It did take the edge of the sound but I'm not sure it would have stopped neighbours complaining late at night. Also, I found the total absence of dynamic or tone colour which comes with using the practice pedal really frustrating. At least with the silent system you can keep those contrasts. And your family can watch crap TV to their hearts' content whilst you're at it.

I haven't tried the other makes mentioned in the original post but I can certainly vouch for the effectiveness of the U1.

[Openwood]

[sussexpianos]

you then have the problem that if you sell a piano and you have it toned (its only one way as to make them harder is not ideal), you loose what the piano is renouned for and people will be expecting a different sound. Yamaha have a bright clear, open sound and poeple who like that sound will be expecting all Yamaha's to have that. Kawai have a more rounded European sound if they have been toned right. I do remember a soft sounding Yamaha U1 which had been toned down for a customer, they then decided they didn't like it and the shop had it for over a year before they sold it as it wasn't what poeple wanted from a Yamaha.