Disklavier

In a message dated 1/27/2000 3:47:16 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
mfontana@... writes:

<< As for the Pro option,
 I have yet to see a Disklavier Pro in person.  A prominent Yamaha dealer 
 shooed me away when I asked about it, saying that those models are never
 displayed in stores and that "customers who truly require a Pro series
 unit already know they need it so there is no need for a demo".  Well! >>

Funny, I got a similar response at one of the local dealers near me. The 
dealer said he would never stock one of them. This in a city of 750,000. He 
also questioned why I would want one. Oh, well -- some just don't get it. I 
would definitely want to try out a Pro and compare it's abilities with my 
current Disklavier (DC6 Mk II) before I would ever agree to trade up and 
plunk down the serious chunk of change needed. 

I am also really attracted to the new Silent System feature on the newer 
Disklavier lines. Here's the blurb from the Yamaha website for those of you 
not familiar with this feature: 

"Built-in Silent System Offers Privacy and Aids Multi-Track Recording 
The proprietary Yamaha Grand Silent System adds a versatile new dimension to 
the DC6PRO. With the touch of a button, you can prevent the hammers from 
striking the strings, while generating real-time digital piano reproduction 
through headphones. Using 30 megabytes of memory, the digital piano even 
recreates the harmonic resonance that results from incremental use of the 
sustain pedal."

The sampled grand sound sounded quite good to me on headphones when I tried 
it on one of the upright models. The idea of being able to practice on my 
Yamaha grand in the middle of the night without waking others, yet still 
having the acoustic piano touch response, is extremely appealing to me. 

If I was buying new, or if there truly was a trade-in option that didn't 
require as much cash as I've figured I would need to throw at it, I would buy 
a Disklavier Grand Pro with the Silent System. But until I hit the lottery, 
it's probably not in my future. I can dream, though.