128cm high vs Yamaha YUS 131cm

Sloping music stand on the Yamaha to let the sound out slighly from the front, giving the acoustic impression of a grand piano.

The first difference to note is the Yamaha has an opening in the music desk which allows a portion of the sound of the piano to leave the case much like a grand piano.

It certainly has a very big sound, it does have stays on the top panel which you can raise to let more of the sound out, this is more typical on a top quality upright piano:

Both piano sare similiar age, 2013 Yamaha/2011 Hoffman. It is like buying a new piano that has been worn in. There is minimum indentation on the hammers, just enought to wear in.

The amount of wear can usually be noted quickly noted by looking at the front of the hammers.

Both pianos are ‘hardly worn in’. Meaning since they were bought a few years ago, they were not overly played. But just enough to be ‘played in’.

The Hoffmann has a wonderful celest system, which is very easy for the piano tuner to remove. The Yamaha has a screw in the celest rail, which can wear out with multiple tunings and start to loosen. The Hoffamann wins on detail here.

The regulation is very consisten on both pianos. Daper strings are very tight, potentially too tight on the Yamaha. The dampers should come off when the hammer reaches half way along its travel, but are coming off too early on the Yamaha, causing some unwanted weight on the touch.

Although hard to see, the damper is starting to come off and can be seen in the video. Around minute 2:20.

The dampers add weight to the touch adding another component needing to be pushed by the players hand, this is unecesarily early and needs regulating to move later in the hammers travel.

Hoffman goes past half way which means less work for the pianists fingers.

Heavy springs are good for the damper to have enough force to stop the string. Too much means extra weight for the hands again. This also is a manufacturing decision. Also concerning longevity, need for regulation on weaker strings etc.

The bass tone. The Yamaha possibiliy has a ‘bigger sound’ however, most pieces and playing happens in the middle of the piano, where Marcus focuses his attention. Harmonically both are comparrable, the Hoffman potentially has more richness of harmonics to it.

Tone wise they are both very good, the Hoffmann may be slightly richer, the touch may be the defining point. For our stocklist please see this page. To view our pianos please see our map.