Soundboard with the latest innovations in crown making
The soundboard amplifies the sound of the string vibration, causing it to reverberate throughout the entire performance space. The C2X espressivo uses only carefully selected European spruce for its soundboard. By adopting the curved crown innovations used in the CFX Concert Grand Piano, the soundboard features exceptionally high vibration efficiency, and is superbly strong yet light in weight. Moreover, great care has been taken in making detailed adjustments and optimisation considering both the overarching concept of the C2X espressivo and its particular size. This gives the instrument depth in the mid-to-low frequencies and a remarkably rich melodic range, as well as a three-dimensional sound that envelops the player while maintaining a solid, resonant tone.
Exclusive hammers with high elasticity
The hammer plays the most crucial role in creating the timbre and tonal quality. Yamaha wholly develops and manufactures its hammers in-house, carefully selecting the finest materials and meticulously crafting them. The C2X espressivo features a newly developed, exclusive hammer that matches the refined soundboard and body.
In addition to using the highest quality German felt – the same as used on the CFX – the knowledge acquired through developing the CFX has been fully utilised in techniques that optimise the elasticity of the material. Specifically, Yamaha has employed special methods in shaping the bonded materials and followed rigorously exact temperature and other conditions during the binding process, as well as making further refinements to the processing of the raw materials. The result is a rich sense of tonal colour, with a widely varied gradation of dynamics from delicate to powerful, and from deep bass to brilliant treble.
Refined action for capturing every detail of your musical performance
Yamaha has developed the entire action of the C2X espressivo in-house. To ensure the optimum response, the C2X espressivo has adopted the knowledge gained in developing the action for the CFX, and the contact points of each part have been optimised so that the full playing strength can be passed on to the strings without any loss or hindrance. A new shape has been adopted on the upper surface of the capstan screw to reduce initial friction, and the roller provides optimal elasticity, made from material and of a shape that has minimal difference between the static and dynamic friction forces, thereby improving how the action follows the player’s technique. In particular, it has achieved a smooth touch response that accurately corresponds to even the most delicate finger movements, making it possible to more.
Expertly crafted rim supports
This all-important part that comprises the piano body is crafted by laminating a number of thin layers of wood to create solid support. As has been accomplished on our high-end SX Series, the C2X espressivo effectively reduces the number of layers bonded together by thickening each sheet and lessening the number of adhesive surfaces. This results in greater vibration efficiency of the wood and smooths the transmission of sound, delivering richer low and mid-range tones and a pleasant, deep timbre that evokes the natural warmth of wood.
Careful voicing and regulation by skilled artisans
Even after the hammers are fitted into the piano, they still require more modification to fully reveal their potential. The elasticity of the hammers must be precisely adjusted manually by expert artisans to match the individual characteristics of each piano and to create the desired sound. A tremendous amount of time has been devoted to meticulously fine-tuning the resiliency of the hammers, specifically developed for the C2X espressivo, to realise the full potential of the intricate mechanisms. The result is a full, solid tonal quality that can be expressively varied from bass to treble, in a smooth, balanced manner. Moreover, skilled artisans use a special shaping process to adjust details in the action and the behavior of the damper, precisely preparing the entire piano by hand, considering the condition of the piano body and each of its minute parts.
Hand-wound bass strings
The strings used for the bass section are made of exceptionally pure copper wrapped around a steel core string. As with the high-end SX Series and now on the C2X espressivo, skilled artisans spin each individually selected copper wire by hand, delicately adjusting the balance and tension. The result is a combination of superb precision and suppleness, creating a beautiful bass with a clear, sonorous sense of pitch and power.
Specially designed music desk
This iconic music stand was designed specifically for the C2X espressivo. With functional openings on both sides for sound to escape and project, the sound more readily reaches the player’s ears, making it possible to perform while sensing and responding to sonic details previously unnoticed.
For players seeking versatility, theC2X espressivo is also available with Yamaha’s SILENT Piano SH3 system, which enables seamless switching between natural acoustic sound and a silent mode featuring a highly detailed digital reproduction of the CFX.
