[CAUT] New Delivery

[Richard Brekne]

Hi Folks.

We (the UiB music conservatory) just took delivery of a brand new 
Hamburg D to replace a 4 year old  Yamaha CF III that will now become 
the number 2 instrument on our concert stage.  We have a small concert 
hall and its a great place to compare the sounds of these two brands. 
Have to say right off that I have enjoyed the CF III quite a bit these 
past 4 years and have become very familiar with its character. But it 
has always had a difference that marks it as a Yamaha. A certain 
roundness to its tone that is rather hard to describe. It has all kinds 
of brilliance when you want it... but of a very different sort then a 
Steinway. 

Anyways.. the new instrument unpacked and a couple pianists eager to try 
it out.... I get to sit back and get a feel for the sound of this new 
addition to our instrument park. Holy moly.... what a beautiful sound. I 
mean as nice as the Yamaha is... this D had everything the Yamaha lacked 
and more. I've heard side by side comparisons in big halls and been 
impressed with the carrying power of Steinways, but this Yamaha is no 
slouch and has been through such a comparison and compared more then 
favorably with an aging D... which now has been re-hammered and would 
fair far better but thats a different story.  But in an intimate hall 
there are far more detailed characteristics that come immediately 
forward in such a comparison. That ofte times criticized Steinway Duplex 
functioning at its best contributes to the treble and high diskant so 
nicely its just incredible. The Yamaha simply does not do this, tho it 
has a similar front duplex arrangement... they just dont get that same 
sound.  I personally believe it has to do with the capo profile but 
thats another matter as well. And the bass !!!  Jesus Di Cristi !! You 
play these big huge loud chords with low bass tones booming through and 
you dont loose the individual tones in a mesh of overtones... There is 
this tubular tinge to the solidity of the bass tones that just eats the 
Yamaha bass right up.  And again... this is a particularly good Yamaha 
we are talking about.

Ok... I am the first to underline that when using words like "better" 
and "best" when describing subjective things like piano tone preferences 
that one is indeed totally in the world of the subjective... so I'd like 
to do that right now. This all says as much about what I like in piano 
sound as anything else.  But I was indeed blown away.

On the side of all this, we decided to try out an Essex upright... 123.  
I was anxious... and a bit nervous having heard so much negative about 
these.  Of course its brand new and time will tell... but initial 
reaction was quite pleasant surprise.  Very nice sound and touch.  We'll 
see what the first year of use will bring.

Cheers, and Happy Summer to one and all

RicB