[CAUT] Yamaha T118

[Jeff Tanner]

First report we heard of the new Chinese P22s was that installation of Dampp Chaser systems wasn't possible without cabinet modification. I haven't seen a Chinese model yet myself. I agree with the others who dislike the one piece cabinet front of the T116, especially on days when my back is cutting up.

Yamahas aren't the only pianos on the planet, though. Besides Kawai and Boston, SMC is making some pretty darn good pianos these days and has a 12 year warranty rather than 10. The Pramberger Signature series PV-118S has similar cabinet design to the P22, Renner hammers and has a richer bass, and the cabinet is actually made of wood as opposed to whatever that stuff is Yamaha uses. So far I've found the tuning stability to be excellent, even during the 1st year out of the box. This cabinet is also available as a Sohmer 47S and Kohler & Campbell something, though there may be differences in hammer felt. The Pramberger also comes in 121 and 131 models that resemble the U1 and U3 cabinets.

The Pramberger Platinum JP116 is the upgrade studio model. The practice pedal design leaves the mute rail quite easily removable (love it! - works like changing a roll of toilet paper). It has Renner blues and a Bechstein scale. Excellent instrument and looks exquisite in satin ebony. JP121 (49") and JP131 (52") are also available. The 131 has full sostenuto.

Jeff Tanner
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dennis Johnson 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 9:06 AM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Yamaha T118


  Hi Bill-


  I'm not exactly sure why, but I like the P22's coming out now (as of last year) better than before.  They seem to cooperate better right out of the box.  Our piano faculty much prefer the faux sostenuto bass sustain over the felt mute strip,  which the P22 has over the U1.  We would not purchase a T118.  I don't like the one piece front either.  


  take care,


  Dennis Johnson
  St. Olaf College
  __________









  On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 6:57 AM, Barbara Richmond <piano57 at comcast.net> wrote:

    The case design (including the music rack) of the P22 is a winner in institutions, I think.  The T118 has that funky all-in-one piece front & fallboard which may or may not be an issue.  Otherwise, they both tune up nicely.  

    Barbara Richmond, RPT
    near Peoria, Illinois


    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "wbis290" <wbis290 at aol.com>
    To: caut at ptg.org
    Sent: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 6:28:43 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
    Subject: [CAUT] Yamaha T118


    List,

    Can you tell me what experiences you have had with Yamaha T118s? We are ready to get at least one new piano and are not sure about P22s or T118s. We have gotten U1s and love them but with the economy the way that it is we have had the budget cuts that many, if not most, have gotten. We have had Steinways and found the U1 to be a better instrument. I have also had experiences with Bostons at another university that I had worked at and was totally unimpressed with them. We do have Boston grands at ONU and nobody likes them. We do have two old Yamaha P2Cs at ONU that are 37 years old and are still going strong even after being used in practice, teaching, and classroom use. I just needed to install new hammers. It is because of this durability that we are going with Yamaha. I know that they are not perfect, but no piano is. Thanks for your help.

    God bless

    Bill Balmer,RPT
    University of Findlay and Ohio Northern University

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