New stand/triple Pedal unit modified for my P125

David B

Since I'm going to be using my Yamaha P125 as my primary (for I don't know how long) while my N1X is in storage, I decided to dress it up a bit with a new stand and triple pedal unit from Yamaha. Unfortunately, when I set it up I realized that the pedal was uncomfortably close to my foot. It felt too confined and would have been painful to play for any protracted period of time. I thought about different ways to modify the pedal unit and finally settled on some scrap wood I had laying around.

Using the hardware that came with the pedal unit I attached 2x2's where the legs would normally mount.

Then I capped them off with some 1" pieces.

Then I stained (leftover ebony) and tapped them for the M6 bolts that I had to buy (cost a couple dollars).

Finally mounted with more room for my leg. Much more comfortable.

I'm very happy with the modification. The piano can't sit flush against a wall anymore and would have to stick out a few inches, but I think that's ideal anyways. I'm taking a trip to Oregon next week to drop this piano off in my new office. It looks a lot better than the Z stand I was using.

God Bless,
David

Drew-r

David B

Nice retrofit DavidB.

So, all told, you gained about 3 extra inches for legroom / feet reach… ?

I’m curious, from the floor to the bottom side/edge of your P125, how many inches of underside clearance do you have?

Among the various APs Ive sat at, and my cabinet DP, they are all around 26-27 inches clearance from floor to underside, but is there a standard? As opposed to the aforementioned underside clearance for knees, when it comes to pedals/feet reach, one can always move the bench closer or farther …. assuming this suits your arms reach, but is there a ballpark standard reach for pedals?

HZPiano

Neat work, David B !

Cheers and happy safe driving,

David B

Drew-r So, all told, you gained about 3 extra inches for legroom / feet reach… ?

It's a little less than three, but it feels a lot better. I can always add more if I need to later.

Drew-r when it comes to pedals/feet reach, one can always move the bench closer or farther …. assuming this suits your arms reach, but is there a ballpark standard reach for pedals?

It's ~9" from the end of the pedals to the key-slip on my N1X and now 7" on my P125.

Drew-r I’m curious, from the floor to the bottom side/edge of your P125, how many inches of underside clearance do you have?

From the floor to the tops of the white keys is 29" and from the floor to the bottom of the piano is 24".

God Bless,
David

CyberGene

I just noticed how far inwards (is this correct in English?) the pedals on the N1X are and how much I actually like them that way. I recently sat at my mom's upright (the piano I grew up playing on) and felt uncomfortable with the pedals that are way too forward and I felt uncomfortable.

David B

CyberGene Are you saying that the pedals on the upright are too far away compared to the pedals on the N1X that are closer to you?

I think the pedals on the N1X feel just right to me also. I actually never noticed it before until I got this P125 stand/pedal unit and felt the pedals were too close.

God Bless,
David

9190

CyberGene This is also the reason why I don't like Uprights, where the sheet music stand is usually very uncomfortable too: both low to the eye, and just above the keyboard, often my hands hit it (in addition to the fact that the pedals are too close to the performer. So I felt cramped behind the uprights in every way, they were like toys to me). I always avoided practicing on them in my later years of studying. So I do not at all share the admiration of some people for the design of some top models (CS11, CLP-785, NV5S, NU1X) in the style of acoustic uprights, on the contrary, for me it is a disadvantage.

The N1X is perfect (well almost, there is no adjustable distance to the sheet music stand). It's a pity that they don't make this design (including the keyboard lid, which forms a true fallboard) for regular, non-hybrid digital pianos.

CyberGene

David B Are you say that the pedals on the upright are too far away compared to the pedals on the N1X that are closer to you?

The opposite. On the upright they are too close to me and I have to sit farther away from the piano but then I’m too far from the keyboard… Uprights are indeed not very ergonomic.

P.S. I think my upright was OK for me when I was a kid though.

David B

CyberGene P.S. I think my upright was OK for me when I was a kid though.

Yeah, that's how I felt when I setup my P125 stand/pedal unit. I thought this is designed for a child.

Pete14

Well, what’d you expect from an entry-level P125, a perfectly-designed pedal?

Something has to give at this price-point, and if it’s the ‘pedal-design’, so be it.

It seems like you guys have been spoiled by Yamaha’s bang-for-buck; perhaps it’s time I contact them, and ask for their prices to go up, “the P-515 should sell for no less than $2,500, I say!”

At that price-point ($2,500 for P-515), I will personally make sure you guys get a ‘perfectly-designed’ pedal!😁

David B

Pete14 Something has to give at this price-point, and if it’s the ‘pedal-design’, so be it.

Actually, it's the same pedal unit the P515 uses. It's only closer to the player because the P125 is narrower in depth compared to the P515.

God Bless,
David

Pete14

David B

I stand corrected, but never shall I correct standing!😉

Deleted

I put a FC-3 aux pedal next to my P-515 pedal unit and use that instead, because it is both lower and longer. With the correct bench position there should be no issue with the pedal position on the depth axis, however most people sit too close to a piano, because they learned to sit the same way in front of a computer.

David B

After playing a little today I decided to extend the pedal unit out another 1". Now it's ~8" from end of the pedal to the key-slip, which is very close to my N1X.

It has to sit ~3" from a wall now, but is still within reason and looks normal from the front.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano

David B ,

I'd always like some air between piano and wall anyway, so nothing lost and much gained!

Cheers and happy DIY,

David B

The P125 and most of my other piano related stuff is on its way to Oregon. I should be setting it up in the new office on Wednesday.

My N1X is all alone in the basement now. I'll have to start thinking about how to prepare it for transport.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano

David B ,

I reckon all of that feels weird to say the least…

Cheers and happy transitions,

Pete14

P-125a?

David B

Pete14 P-125a?

I saw that on YouTube. That's same P125 video Yamaha uploaded 4 years ago. I don't know why they uploaded it again with "a" attached.

David B

HZPiano I reckon all of that feels weird to say the least…

Yeah, a bit sad. I really like my basement (man cave). It was used for piano, reloading (ammunition), exercising, building things, and playing with the boys. Because it's partially underground the temperature and humidity is always perfect. It is warm in the winter and cool in the summer down there. I don't think we'll ever find a home as nice as this one especially in the current crazy market here in the U.S.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano

David B I don't think we'll ever find a home as nice as this one

Your family's commitment to service (this time in Oregon) must be huge. I commend that!

Cheers and happy transitions,