Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Yamaha Clavinova CLP-700 Series

I'm so jealous. And I've learned that my Yamaha supplier will not deliver a digital piano to my home before he has set it up in shop and let other strangers play on it to demonstrate the piano.
His argument being that he needs to test if everything is ok and he needs to USE the piano to demonstrate because there is such a lack of units available.

That is unnacaptable in my book. First, QA is supposed to be done before shipping the unit. Second I don't want any strangers banging on my keys. Demos are demos and should be considerate as such. I'm buying a NEW piano, not an used one. I'm livid about this as he said this was common practice in the industry. Why can't I get new stuff. This is almost as bad as going to a videogame shop to buy a new copy and the clerk goes in the back store to get the disc and put it back in an empty shell. It is NOT new.

Yeah there's no way I'd accept that. Is there any other dealers around?

I would never accept a demo unit as new. I've bought many keyboards, recording equipment, sound modules etc over the years from various retailers. They always had three categories: 1) new in box; 2) demo (also called floor model and sometimes open box) and these are usually discounted more that any discounts on new in box; 3) used which are trade ins and should be highly discounted.
I always buy new in box (and will check the box to look for obvious signs it had been previously opened). Only one time I bought an open box item (a sound system) and when I got it home and took it out of the box it was covered with either cat or dog hair) that went back immediately and I'll never buy open box again.

+1 agree with this. However I would accept a demo unit subject to price reduction, a check on condition and full manufacturer warranty.

Acoustic pianos however, are nearly always showroom models, and I would not buy one out of the crate. Maybe that's what the dealer is saying is normal.

I know right ! It seems to be a combination of the Covid shortage and the music shop failing to see my point.
To them, they do me a favor in testing the instrument before selling it to me as New. The employee went so far as to say it is better for them because this way they don't have to send a technician because they know the instrument has been tested by them. Sadly, they are the only Yamaha distributor in my region for the Clavinova line. And I have absoltly lost all trust that they will not try to open the box and do whatever they think is acceptable before reboxing the piano and shipping it to me.

Because of all that, I've decided to stick with my current DP for the time being. Even tho I'd really like to buy a CLP-745/775 or 785.

Not sure how Yamaha would react to that. Is there no other dealers that would be willing to ship to you without installation at least?

As much as i love my HP-704 (i'm also one off the guys who liked the older Roland soundchip better vs LX series), after hearing today the CLP-785 played by a skilled pianist, i couldn't resist and ordered one. That speaker system is just phenomenal, it sounds better than every "line out" youtube demo on the internet. You have to sit in front of it and play this thing. For me it's the best i've ever heard. Delivery time in 2 or 3 weeks in a sealed box. No CLP's 735,745 and 775 available here in Belgium in dec 2020...

Awesome!! Congratulations! I think you'll love it!

Me too. If the "open box" unit was returned then there must be a reason. And I'll never know the reason because I'll never go near an open box unit.

"common practice" lol, common practice my ass. I would avoid dealing with retailer saying such a things at any cost.

Even though the CLP-745 is not true acoustic action, can I get some additional thoughts on the key down-weight? When I transfer to play my repertoire on an actual acoustic grand, is it going to feel like I’m going from playing feathers on the Clavinova to playing an exercise machine on the acoustic grand? Will the Clavinova prepare my hands for the repertoire? Or will I feel like a lost child in a crowd?

The CLP-745 downweight is 62 grams at A0 down to 45 grams at C8.

Acoustic grands from Yamaha, Steinway, Fazioli, Bösendorfer etc are usually all around 50 grams to 46 grams (note that these are measured with the dampers lifted). Some Yamaha acoustics are slightly heavier than those other accoustic brands at around 54/55 grams.

You will easily adapt to playing on well-regulated acoustics from any of the top manufacturers. And even beastly heavy and non-well-maintained instruments will only take you a couple of hours to 'tame'. I learned that lesson the hard way: always practice on the exact instrument you will be performing on well ahead of the actual performance (4 hours ahead was cutting it ultra fine!).

Thanks Burkey. Was the down-weight you mentioned from a chart you could share with me or did you measure it yourself? Thanks for your help!

also worth mentioning that clp-745 is weighted in groups and not per key, but the difference is marginal

I measured two separate instruments.
Both had identical weighting.

Is Grandtouch on the 775 worth paying the extra money over the Grandtouch “S” on the 745? I ordered the 745, but I probably can change my order since it’s not delivered yet and not yet in stock.... Should I do this? Can you tell me as much as possible about your opinions between the touch of the two, for those who have played both?

(I didn’t realize 775 wasn’t available in the United States, so I guess I meant the 785.)

The speakers on the 785 is on another level compared to the 745 but the GrandTouch is arguably the most subjective keyboard action around this forum.

Yesterday i played 745 to the previous 645 model in the shop.
745 feels more light and plays faster vs 645.
Speakers just OK.( not a problem for those who play 95% with headphones).
785 feels just perfect, sounds just perfect( to me ).
There was no 775 model to try.

The 785 has longer keys, but heavier downweight - resulting in a similar feel in the middle of the keys on both instruments. 745 is lighter at the outside ends of the keys, whereas the 785 is easier to play up the other ends near the fallboard.

785 has bigger and better sound, but whether that's worth the 60% extra in price is up to your ears.

If budget is no consideration, then the N1X is the better option.