YamahaYUX

Yamaha YUX — an upright 131 cm high, black and high gloss.

131 cm is about as tall as uprights for the home are built. The YUX stands at the top of the YU range and is meant for professional daily use: music school, practice room, small stage — and equally a living room where somebody plays seriously.

That height is the whole point: the longest bass strings and the largest soundboard an upright can give, and with them a bass that comes closer to a small grand than to a compact piano. Three pedals — the right holds the note, the left softens it, and the middle one lowers the felt strip for quiet practice.

Black high gloss shows dust, fingerprints and every bit of window light. Dust it dry and softly, and without spray cleaners.

The piano stands against the wall: 153.5 cm wide, 65 cm deep — an 80 cm door takes it, but it asks more depth of room than a slim model. 240 kg means movers as soon as it goes above the ground floor, and in an old building it is worth a look at the stairwell first. Not by the radiator, not in the sun. If you play in the evening and have neighbours, an acoustic instrument can have a Silent System fitted, and you carry on with headphones.