The Development Story
In 1991, we embarked on our most ambitious piano project ever. The objective: to create a new generation of grand pianos for concert, conservatoire and studio performance.
They assembled a development team of more than 40 skilled and talented piano designers, technicians, craftsmen, pianists and other experienced staff who set about the task of deconstructing the concert grand piano, and rebuilding it from the ground up. Where traditional design was found to be the best way, they adhered to that tradition. Where improvements could be made, they were.
During this period every single aspect of piano design was evaluated, including manufacturing techniques, component combinations and soundboard performance. The best results were combined and multiple prototypes were tested during thousands of hours of performance evaluations some involving the worlds finest artists. Through their Global Artist Services Network, Yamaha was able to conduct tests in Paris, New York, Tokyo, London, Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai involving exhaustive comparisons between the CF Series prototypes and the finest instruments of other manufacturers.
Prototype Evaluation - Paris, August 2008
As the CF development programme neared its conclusion a collection of the worlds leading concert pianists, professors of the piano, head technicians of the academies and 20 Yamaha staff assembled for three days of extensive testing and comparison at La Salle Gaveau. These experts in their own fields were invited for their objectivity and candid opinions. These were not Yamaha "converts". At least not yet...
Multiple Prototypes of the CFX, CF6 and CF4 were each compared to the existing Yamaha instruments as well as pianos from the other leading manufacturers. In order to conduct the truest evaluation each piano was placed in an environment they would naturally be used for; the CFX on the concert stage, the CF6 and CF4 in smaller locations similar to a professor's teaching room or recital hall. The results were both astonishing and conclusive with a clear majority favouring one particular prototype of each of the 3 models, the one that became known as "the C prototype". The CF4, CF6 and CFX selected shared one thing in common - they had been constructed from the same combination of components and same high grade build quality, and it is that design that has become the New Yamaha flagship instrument. But still we were not satisfied...
The Pursuit of Perfection
Since the very beginning, Yamaha has kept in close touch with leading musicians from around the world. They wanted this new range of performance pianos to fulfil the hopes and dreams of today's and tomorrow's concert pianists. With a single-minded commitment to progress, the design team immersed themselves in further secret prototypes assessments in New York and Tokyo. This approach of careful study, brutal self-honesty and invaluable feedback from Artists and Professors led to further discoveries and additional adjustments - "The pursuit of perfection".
Moves Centre of Stage
As a final test of the CFX development, Yamaha offered its latest prototype out to the most demanding of stages - the ‘competition world’. Such competitions lay bare both pianists and instruments alike and now Yamaha was competing head on with other leading manufacturers. At the 2009 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, 15-year old acclaimed Korean pianist Cho Seong-Jin selected a prototype of CFX for his performances. He was awarded first prize.
Shortly afterwards, Yamaha sent the very first production model CFX to take centre stage in the USA at the prestigious National Chopin Piano Competition in 2010. It was selected by many of the competitors throughout the final stages and proved as successful as Yamaha’s traditional piano rivals. As the competition neared a tense conclusion, the CFX triumphed in the gifted hands of first prize winner Claire Huangci.
With the new CFX, Yamaha now moves centre of the stage.
Evolving Concepts
Every single component of the new CF Series instruments has been selected and crafted for performance. No compromises have been made. So, although the hammers used in earlier models, for example, set new standards, we still found room for improvement in felts and shanks. The soundboard with its new design, honed to perfection throughout the development programme, allows abundant vibrations whilst freeing it from stress.
Defining Innovation through Elegance
Whilst the majority of CF Series development concentrated on improvements within the instrument, our designers wanted to represent this milestone visually too. The unique design of the case side arm is a defining reference for the new range of pianos, and identifies the spirit of innovation with which the programme was undertaken.
The CFX concert grand is supplied with a satin matte finished lid and prop to eliminate reflections from stage lighting and distracting the orchestral musicians. The CF6 and CF4 are supplied with a high gloss finished lid.
