From garyisanidiot@yahoo.com Wed Apr 16 07:14:03 2003
Subject:Re: Why $1000 doesn't sound like $2000

Re: the speakers in the Yamaha P200/P250,

(First off, to keep this from straying off the Clonewheel topic, I'd
like to mention that while my CX-3 was being serviced, the P200 did a
good job of satisfying my Hammond fix. Sure, the leslie/vibrato ain't
all that, but I'll give credit for having editable drawbar configs).

When I got my P200 about 6 mos. ago, I remember telling the salesman
that I didn't give a rat's bee-hind about the speakers, since I
already had an amp and mixer for my other gear. I have since changed
my mind and here's why:

Feel.

Sit down at a real grand piano (you know, the kind that weighs over
700 lbs. and will set you back about 5 figures). Close your eyes and
bang out the opening from Greig's Concerto in A Minor or anything
similar. You will feel the vibration of the strings thru your
fingers. Do the same thing on the P200 and you'll feel something very
similar. The speakers built into the P200 help duplicate that
experience (the true hammer action doesn't hurt either).

Now run some arpeggios or scales from one end of the keyboard to the
other. You'll notice the bass notes tend to favor your left ear and
the upper register notes favor your right ear, because that's where
the sound is coming from. The speakers (in stereo mode) do the same
thing.
Also, the speakers are located close to where the edge of the
soundboard would be on a real grand, further adding to the effect.

Sure, when gigging the speakers are superfluous, and the P200's 30w
amp isn't going to be enough to use as a monitor in a live situation.
But for a practice piano, you can't beat it. Sure, it would be great
if Yamaha offered a stage piano without the speakers, but there have
been previous discussions on this list about manufacturing and
marketing; let's just say that it makes economic sense to make the
fewest number of products that will suit the greatest number of
people. If they had to market 2 different pianos, one with speakers
and one without, the price would go up on both because they wouldn't
sell as many of either, but they'd have to set up their manufacturing
for 2 units instead of one, with all the extra costs involved.

And if anyone out there has a P200/P250 and is contemplating a case
for it, get the Yamaha YCP200. You won't be sorry. It's custom-made
for Yamaha by SKB, and it is all that and a bag of chips. I showed it
to a buddy of mine, and told him when I die they can bury me it that
thing.
Paid close to $300 and it was worth every penny.

- Dave

Bluzhd@a... wrote:
> I gotta say-
> I just picked up a P200 and-
> I LIKE the speakers!!! .....