<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jun 13, 2007, at 9:31 AM, Barbara Richmond wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; ">The C7 is indeed on the list of possibilities--especially since I think the C7 at the church I attend could possibly be the nicest one in the world. </SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"></FONT> </DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV>Hi Barbara,</DIV><DIV>I learned something recently I had been previously unaware of. Speaking with a Yamaha dealer, who is also an RPT (how rare is that?), I learned that the C6 was actually Yamaha's response to complaints from artists that the bass of the C7 overpowered the rest of the instrument. Must have been a while back, because I have 15 year old Yamaha product brochures with the C6 in them. But it was an interesting point. As a general rule, I have always assumed Yamaha used that extra few inches and price point to sell the C7 over other 7' pianos. But this dealer/tech said he has sold way more C6s than C7s, because it is a better balanced piano. Just something to consider.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I also want to ditto Wim's point about stage size and logistics. I recently advised a local church that a Steinway B might be easier to deal with logistically than the 9'. (If you don't really need it, 9' of piano can just get in the way sometimes) The pianist and music director agreed with that point and they eventually went with the B. If you have room for the 9 footer, that is probably what I would advise, and all the collective advise you have received in favor of the 9 footer is exactly why. I had a B on stage recently as an option while I was rebuilding the action of our preferred D. Even small chamber groups and single voice performers didn't even give it a glance. They seem to rather prefer to have a 9 footer closed, with an eraser under the lid, or the short stick than lower themselves to using a 7' piano.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>But if you are seriously considering the Yamaha C7 or C6, since the Sauter plug has been thrown in, I have to plug the JP Pramberger JP-208B (6'10") as a legitimate contender. It makes piano tone from the mid range that has color I've never heard anywhere else. I'd definitely put it in the Yamaha C6, Kawai RX6, or Boston GP-215 class or better. Worth consideration.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Can't leave out Mason & Hamlin either.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Jeff</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Jeff Tanner, RPT</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>