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Hello, I have a Yamaha LU-201C, made in Japan, 1989, in perfect condition and I am actually very happy with it. Now I have to choose as I need to add a silent system. I can
1) let build a silent system in my current piano;
2) exchange the piano for a B2 model (made in Indonesia) with silent system (paying additional 1500 Euro);
3) exchange the piano for a B3 model (made in Indonesia) with silent system (paying additional 2500 Euro).
My main point concerns the fact that I would like to have a good piano independent of the silent system, but as not much information about the LU-201C can be found on the web, I wanted to ask if someone can provide more information about the qualitative differences between the LU-201C and the B-series. Intuitively, as the LU-201C was made in Japan, I was hesitating about changing it for a piano made in Indonesia, without addition information. Thanks in advance

Hi Janebi, have you received estimates for the cost to add a silent system to your piano?

I feel the Yamaha factory system is superior to the aftermarket systems we get from PianoDisc and QRS PNOmation here in the US. I don’t know what country you are in or what systems are available to you.

I think you would be better off with a whole new piano with the best, factory installed system. Worry less about Indonesia/Japan and make sure the new one you choose is comparable in features (for example if your soundboard is solid spruce, make sure the new one has it too)

In the US it would cost $2500-$3000 USD to add a silent system.

If you love your LU Yamaha piano, I would buy a digital and keep your piano ;so you can use ear phones to play or practice
on the digital. Then at times you can just play your accoustic.
Does your LU piano have a practice pedal ? That can be a great help when practicing !
Do you like the B2 or B3 models when you play ? It is generally better to buy the piano with the silent system already added than to add it to a piano. Some say the silent system affects the pianos touch ? I do not know if that is true.
Adding it to your LU piano would expensive and you cannot be sure of the result.
There is also the P22 model ,I do not know if they come with the silent option.

Thanks a lot for your replies. Yes, the dealer asks 1500 Euro to add a Genio system to my current piano. The B2 and B3 will have a Yamaha system, which is already added in factory. Indeed, it will also be important to play and compare the piano’s and see what gives the best experience. I am not sure if there are qualitative differences between these piano’s concerning materials and mechanics. I am in Italy by the way.

About whether the silent system changes the pianos touch, I was told that it should not, but possibly there can be a difference between an added system and one already build in. I noticed some difference between the Genio (added) and Yamaha (factory add) systems when trying in the shop, with the Yamaha system (not really surprising..) being superior. But the quality of the piano itself and playing without the silent remains the most important aspect. The B2 and B3 (especially but more expensive) seem satisfying, but I am happy also with my experience of my LU-201C, just wanted to avoid regret of having made the wrong decision afterwards.

It does sound to me that you haven't played the B2 and B3 models and come to any conclusion about which you prefer as an acoustic - which you say is the most important thing for you. Until you have done that and decided which piano, as an acoustic, is your 'lifetime piano' or at least one you will be happy with for a long time I suspect any money spent on a silent system is likely to be wasted when you change piano (and if you stay here where we talk pianos all the time a piano change may be more likely).

Until you are really sure I second the earlier suggestion of supplementing your existing piano with a digital for silent purposes instead of looking at the (more limited) silent options.

Thanks for your reflections offering another perspective on the issue!

I am not sure about whether the P22 model is available, I will ask for that, thanks. Concerning the Yamaha pianos with factory system, the B2 and B3 with the factory system are the ones that regularly pass at my dealer/in my area. I also have a Yamaha p-45 digital piano, which is useful for some purposes, but it is different, of course. Maybe a higher-end digital model would be more satisfying, but I came to the conclusion that I need the possibility to play an acoustic piano at all hours (either silently or loudly).
What I actually don’t know is, can an added silent system be extracted again and build in another piano when I choose to change piano? Someone knows/did? It would be interesting if I could transfer it to another piano in the future, and keep this investment.

Lady Bird,

The P22 model has been updated, and can now be fitted with Yamaha’s SC2 silent system:

https://usa.yamaha.com/news_events/..._Piano_with_Silent_Piano_Technology.html

The P22 is quite a nice piano .I preferred the tone to the b series. Also made in Indonesia but quite a tough, a well made little little piano ,Musical too !

It seems that the P22 silent is not available in Europe.

Yes it can and that’s a good consideration.

Great, thanks!