Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum yamaha s6x vs s7x, s5x, c7x?

Hello All,

I get a nice offer of new yamaha S6X.
But, as usual here, can not try it first,
you have to order straight from Japan.

Has anyone tried it?
How good is it compared to S7X, S5x, C7x?
Please advise.

What’s a nice offer?

bigger discount for s6x price compared to other models

What is the cost of a flight to/from Japan? Should be a rounding error on the cost of such a large piano.

But exactly how much? I’m curious to know.

These are not the type of piano one should buy without playing first. It's kind of like signing up for a mail-order spouse!

Pianos are musical instruments, not appliances. Especially the higher grade pianos have personalities to them.

Great advice, Don.

I've bought a couple of pianos sight unseen and unplayed, but I payed relatively small amounts of money and I felt the bargain price was worth the risk. It paid off, big time, both times. I could not have been happier with the pianos.

On the other hand, I would never have the courage to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a new, high-end piano sight unseen and unplayed, regardless of the discounted price.

The comparison to what I did would be like gamiling away pocket change as opposed to your life's savings, in a manner of speaking.

Good luck!

Rick

They are beautiful pianos, without a doubt. I've tried the S5X and the S7X and I loved them. I still wouldn't buy one sight unseen, I'd like to be able to try the instrument I was going to buy first.

I thought there was a large piano store in Jakarta that sold some premium brands, but maybe I've got that wrong??

Hi tirta,

I have played several of each of the models you described, except for the S7x. I have only played one S7x and I believe it was the same piano Joseph Fleetwood played. (Actually, I think that is how he gave me coronavirus - TOTALLY JOKING!)

I can tell you that:

1) These pianos are very consistent from instrument to instrument from the factory

2) The hammers are quite voicable

Having said that, If you cannot go to make a selection somewhere, I would ask the piano to be brought in on approval.

This means that the piano comes in and you test it. You might love it straightaway. If there are changes you would deem necessary, give your feedback to a concert technician, give him time (go have lunch or dinner) and come back and approve the final piano.

Here is a video of the S5x and brief explanation of the technology used in these beautiful pianos - https://youtu.be/48zQXblwLZk

I told you I licked your chopstick. Which one of us had it first?

I agree always try first, no matter what plano.They probably are very consistent but it may just have something you do not like.

ok it seems I am not explaining well enough.
I agree that the best way to buy pianos is to try it first.
but it's not possible here, there is no floor models.
And there is no other alternative.
I have been looking for a new piano for more than 6 years without no result.
There is simply not much choice of good grand pianos here, used or new.

Yes, before covid happens, I have considered going to Japan and buying the piano there.
Now, I have to wait for the end of covid first.

However, yamaha indonesia does not want to help at all, I have to do the shipping all by myself.
So I have to make sure first how much is the shipping cost and the insurance.
but the tricky part is the taxes that I have to pay.
The tax regulations change a lot here.
so the total of all cost could be greater than the current yamaha price here.

so have anyone here tried playing s6x?
is it almost as good as s7x?
or better get S5x or c7x?

Is there a dealer in a nearby country that stocks any S series piano? If so, when possible after Covid-19 try and buy your piano there then ship it to your home. For me, my hearing is not as good or as discerning as yours, I would just order the S series I was interested in and know that a great technician can prep it to my exact taste.

Another suggestion would be to go through the “my new piano story thread”
because if memory serves me well, at least one person bought an S5X or S6X and gave a nice review.

Best Wishes

Why would you expect help from dealers and or Yamaha Indonesia?

You are trying to save some money by circumnavigating their service.

Go talk to the dealer, make them a reasonable offer and get your piano.

That is what I would do.

@Learux
You misunderstand.
I am not circumnavigating their service.
I am simply asking yamaha indonesia to choose and try the pianos in their factory in Japan first before they send it to Indonesia.
After that, I am buying piano at their asking price.
But they simply refused, I don't know why.

I asked kawai indonesia the same thing, and they agree to do it.
And I have read that other pw members here choosing their piano at the factory.
There is nothing wrong with it.

@j&j
yes I have read the thread.
IIRC he speak very highly of his s5x.
I've just want to know other pw members experience with SX pianos

Sad to say from a Yamaha fan, but perhaps you should set your sights on a Shigeru from the Kawai dealer. Plus, with a Shigeru, you get a visit from a Master Kawai technician. Although I’m not sure that applies in all locations. There are many forum members who specifically chose Shigeru pianos and we have a forum member who is a Kawai expert. Might be worth considering. Yamaha did change the rim for the redo of the S series to the SX series. It seems there just isn’t as much demand at that level.

Another option might just be to get a smaller CF Yamaha, like a CF4. I did try one and it was sensational and the price was deeply discounted.

Hi Tirta,

I think j&j gives great advice. Also, Kawai Shigerus are perhaps more comparable to Yamaha CF models than to SX models, in terms of overall quality. Personally, I would never change a Shigeru for an SX, given both were in perfect conditions, and I have no bias for one or another brand. All I know is that in this situation you could choose your Kawai piano, but not your Yamaha...

Anyway, the main question may be about your tone and touch preferences for a brand over another. Plus, if money is something that makes a decision, then you will have your answer.

And if you are just looking for people's opinions and experiences with both SX and Shigeru models, it is unlikely you are going to find anything negative about both lines in PW, as long as I can recall. So, I think it really comes to you.

Good luck on your piano quest!

Six years to find a piano is a long time to wait.

It sounds like the Indonesian Yamaha wants a payday without doing much of anything. I'd go back to them and let them know Kawai will play ball with you and ask Yamaha to reconsider you playing the piano first as part of the purchase decision.

I bought my last two pianos outside of normal channels due to the nonsense like you are dealing with, the last sight unseen, but there are more options in the U.S.

That being said, Yamaha's are very consistent pianos and their quality is very good.

My apologies, I misunderstood you.

I think what you are asking is very reasonable.

Maybe it is time to consider a different brand