Hello,
This afternoon I spent another three hours at a decent piano store, this time at a nice fourth-generation family business. It was the third piano reconnaissance mission in four weeks.
I really hoped to get more clarity this time on my action upgrade options and on what would be the best next step for me. But it remains a difficult case. A new discovery for me was the Yamaha CLP-745, which I kind of liked action-wise, perhaps even somewhat better than the Kawais I focused at so far. This was a bit of a surprise, because none of the other Yamaha models could please me. On the other hand, not yet fully convinced by this Yamaha find either.
After fighting with all those digitals (yes, that's how it felt!) I went into the next room. There stood a used Grotrian Steinweg 132 Concertino upright from 1989. I sat at it. And I played. And it played itself. I only had to caress the keys and music was there. Not that it was a light action per se, it just spontaneously worked with a lovely, accurate, reliable immediacy. No fighting, worries and problems disappeared, the sun came out so to speak, and only music and expression were left. A piano of 33,000 euros new or 14,000 for this used one. Oh boy, that's not where I am right now. But, I didn't know that some select uprights can be that super good. Better even than quite a few grands.
Anyway. It seems that digitals and I are a difficult match. To be continued.
Cheers and happy playing,
HZ
