Just purchased a Yamaha Avant Grand N1

[ganddalf]

I have been the owner of a Yamaha Avant Grand N1 (the cheapest model) for 6 weeks. When I ordered it, my plan was also to keep my upright Kawai K-3. My experience after these weeks, however, is that I'm using the Avant Grand 95% of the time simply because it is a much better instrument to play, and offers me a much better command of the music than does the upright.

Until recently I have been very sceptic to non-acoustic pianos. Of course I hear that the AG produces a somewhat "artificial" sound, but the action and keyboard feel is very similar to a grand piano. The action of the AG seems to be harder than the K-3 action, but still I can play more difficult passages with better control and even at higher speed with the AG. The greatest benefit, however, is the control of the sound level. With the upright I find the dynamic range to be rather small. It is very difficult to play anything except "mezzo forte" to "forte". With the AG the whole range from "pianissimo" to "fortissimo" is available, and it is much easier to make out middle voices in polyphonic music.

In other forums I have followed discussions where the Avant Grands have been compared with acoustic grands. I don't doubt for a second that the acoustic grands are better instruments and give similar or better action and dynamic range. Unfortunately I neither have space nor budget for an acoustic grand. Therefore I'm very happy with my new instrument, and I also think it is an option to consider for those who are in the market for an upright.

[jimbo320]

Congrats on your purchase. I played one awhile back and it was very nice. Sounded and felt like a full grand...

[ganddalf]

Thanks Jimbo,

I encountered a new problem, though. There is so much music I never managed to sound well with the upright that really sounds nice with the Avant Grand. Therefore I have problems limiting myself when comes to repertoire. Some years ago I gave up "Suite Bergamasque" of Claude Debussy, simply because I struggled with the fine nuances. After having played through it on the AG I got really optimistic that it would be possible for me to play it decently. But I also realise that there is a job to do to get there. After all there are four movements, all pretty difficult for an amateur player.

[jimbo320]

If trying to limit your repertoire is your biggest problem then double kuddos. (lol)
I was never a big fan of verticals, not even Yamaha. I always find the action on them to be stiff. I can imagine what you're saying is that your world of expression has become a renewed sense of melodic freedom...

[pbryld]

That Kawai must have been terrible.

[ganddalf]

The Kawai K-3 is ok, but it has its limitations. Before purchasing the Avant Grand I went to many music shops and tried various instruments, both uprights and grands. If space and budget limitations were no issue I would have bought a real grand - the Sauter Delta was just superb, but with a length of 1,85m and a price six times more than the AG it is out of the question.

I found that most uprights have many of the same limitations as the Kawai K-3. I liked a few of them (Yamaha U-3, one Sauter and one Schimmel), but all of them are much more expensive than the AG.

When I first tried the Avant Grand (the top model, N3) there was an expenisve grand standing in the same shop and I tried it for reference. I found that the AG was much better to play, and a music student who also was there (really talented guy) made the same conclusion. Possibly the grand was not properly adjusted and tuned.

I'm not trying to say that the AG is the best instrument available on the market. However I find that the smallest model is great value for the money, and I'm highly satisfied with the one I got myself.

[willvenables]

My concern is that these digital grands are being sold by music instrument shops who don't have a network of acoustic piano technicians to maintain them. They are as good as I can imagine a digital piano to be - but what makes them good is having a real piano keyboard and action - yet little/no attention is paid to the set-up and servicing of these mechanics where if they were 'acoustic' pianos, owners would talk about regulation etc. It is a hybrid piano but there is a lack of hybrid technicians out there. Perhaps digital piano makers, distributors and stores are looking short term? I don't agree with the pricing of these pianos though - sure, R&D has its cost, but it simply cannot cost this much to make a digital grand. Look at the prices of acoustic pianos and I just can't get my head around the obvious cost differences between digital and acoustic pianos when you look at material, build, finishing, storage, transport, set up / prep and delivery... Just dismantling even the very best digital piano... so much material and craftsmanship if missing.

The resonance vibration emitters in the keybed and pedals is a good trick and I must say I like this feature... it's another step closer to the real thing.

Congratulations on your purchase. It was the right choice because you chose it.

[ganddalf]

To some extent I share the concerns about servicing and maintenance of the Avant Grand. It seems to be extremely well built and the one I got is well regulated, but of course, I don't know how it will be after a couple of years' use. I'm going to do what I can do myself, i.e. keeping the humidity in the room right, and hope that the instrument will work flawlessly until I get the chance (space and economy) to acquire a real grand piano.

[lhorwinkle]

Companies that service Yamaha pianos must complete regular training offered by Yamaha. It's a great expense for the service person/company, but it's required to be a licensed Yamaha service shop. So I wouldn't worry about the availability of qualified service people. If in doubt, ask about training when you contact your local service agent.

[pytheamateur]

I once considered getting an Avantgrand as a practice piano, but got put off having read somewhere that it doesn't sound that good when listening through a headphone.

Have you tried playing with the headphone plucked in?  Is it very different?  One apparent biggest selling point is that they have incorporated some kind of vibration on the Avantgrand to simulate the fell of an acoustic grand piano when a note is played.  Is this feature available as well when using a headphone?

[ganddalf]

Keep in mind that I have the "economy model", N1. With this one the sound is definitely better through a headphone than when using the built-in loudspeakers. In fact I find the sound through the headphone to be very similar to a real grand piano.

The N1 does not have the "tactile response system" simulating the vibrations through the keys. Along with the key material, overall design and the loudspeakers this is the main difference between the N1 and the more expensive models N2 and N3.

I tried the N3 in the shop. It gives a better sound than the N1 and has a very good design. However, the price difference between the N3 and a decent grand (e.g. Yamaha GC-2) is so small that I would choose the Avant Grand N3 only if I had problems with space or had to play silently.

With the N1 it is different. The price of the N1 is in the same range as a middle class upright, but gives many of the benefits of a real grand. The more I use it, the more satisfied I get by its action. I practice a lot with headphones and find it all very satisfying.

[jimbo320]

Ganddolf,
If I may offer a suggestion? This practice amp would be ideal to use for great sound replication.
Use a splitter chord and use both channels. Your piano's output is stereo but the amp input is mono...

https://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/KT108.aspx