Player Pianos

At the time of this writing, CORDOGAN'S IS THE ONLY DEALER IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES WHO IS AN ACTIVE, FULL AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ALL THREE OF THE MAJOR PLAYER SYSTEMS!  Such a distinction helps you to gain a unique, unbiased perspective on which is the best player piano system for YOU...not which one is "best" because it's the only one the dealer happens to carry.  The notion of one piano store being an authorized dealer for the Yamaha Disklavier, PianoDisc AND QRS, is like having Lexus, Infiniti and Acura all under one roof.  It just doesn't happen.  What Cordogan's has is such a unique opportunity for consumers that Cordogan's recently held a capacity-level press conference so that the manufacturer's representatives could each give a side-by-side presentation of their products to the press.

Cordogan’s knowledge of ALL the player systems, coupled with our ability to sell them, encourages us to share the features of each on a level playing field. With our large warehouse and installation factory (almost 30,000 sq. ft.), Cordogan's is equipped to handle service to any player unit on the market. Today’s player pianos are capable of endless features, including famous DVD performances (Norah Jones Live in Paris...Billy Joel Live at Yankee Stadium) seen & heard through your A/V system, while your piano actually accompanies it live. That’s just the beginning, but we’ll get into that later... Here is your crash course on the product that is taking music where no music has gone before.

WHAT ARE THEY?

It's a fascinating concept - CD's...Compact Flash drives, even iPod's containing data (and sometimes additional audio accompaniment for your stereo) somehow gets miraculously turned into beautiful music by the piano in your living room. Paper rolls laced with holes accomplished this feat for decades, but digital media has now taken their place. In the same fashion CD's replaced vinyl, digital data has turned the paper piano rolls of yesteryear into musical nostalgia. Computer-operated player pianos are entertaining, educational and they are very popular. In many areas, player pianos represent more than 50% of all new grands sold to residential customers. And their popularity has just begun!

HOW DO THEY WORK?

Electronic solenoids (piston-like devices) tucked behind each key receive information from an on-board computer telling each key solenoid when to fire, how hard to fire and when to let go. Pedal information on some player systems is also transferred in this same manner. The key solenoids are capable of reproducing 127 volume levels, delivering authentic performances from Herbie Hancock to Horowitz... and we do mean literally "from" Herbie Hancock to Horowitz, as there is software available of their original performances captured digitally - not just someone else performing their works or imitating their styles.

WHAT’S THE LATEST?

While 3.5" disk drives have been the primary means of basic systems for over a decade, CDs now exist in almost all models. CD's are often joined by a secondary medium such as a Compact Flash drive or the seemingly obsolete (but strangely useful and convenient) 3.5" diskette. The reasons for NEEDING two active drives are lengthy and somewhat complicated. Among other things, a dual drive system is necessary for downloading music from the internet and it's needed to work within the guidelines of ASCAP & BMI (artist protection groups) -- which in turn, allows you the full benefits of player piano technology.

Some systems have built-in thumb drives, hard drives, home network capabilitities...even iPod connectivity. Yamaha actually offers over a dozen channels of "Disklavier Radio" for their player piano systems, where data streams into your Yamaha Disklavier player piano through your wireless network.  Add a high speed internet connection and video conferencing software to your player piano and you can be watching a performance on your monitor, listening to your piano perform a concert that's taking place live in some distant land.

Some player pianos allow for the option to record a pianist's performance.  How wonderful would it be to chart your child's progress or archive the beautiful music of an elderly relative?  Is there any greater keepsake than such musical performances?  The Yamaha Disklavier's recording capabilities are indeed so accurate that Yamaha sponsors an "e-competition" where contestants from all over the world can record their performances on a Yamaha Disklavier and upload them to Yamaha, where they are then adjudicated on a Disklavier by a panel of judges at that year's host location.  You have to see this video to believe it.

Some differences between systems are visibly obvious -- like how PianoDisc's 228CFX has a built-in 3.5" diskette drive and its sleeker little sister, the PianoCD doesn't. Others are more subtle, like how the QRS Ancho system has a full LCD display & built-in sound card to accompany the onboard CD & Compact Flash drives; unlike its little sister model, the "Petine" which only has a three-digit LED display and no sound card. Please consult a Cordogan's representative to hear about the important, distinctive features between ALL player piano models.

The biggest hurdle that you'll likely face is that most piano stores (more specifically the salespeople in them) really don't understand the technology and what these systems are capable of doing. You may find yourself amazed that your knowledge of technology will produce simple questions that piano salespeople cannot answer. Hopefully the salesperson will defer to a company colleague who can answer them. If such a person does not exist at within that company, you haven't found the right piano store and you may wish to contact us!

Consumers in some markets are also faced with the challenge that not all products are represented by their local dealers so you'll never get to see the premier models from the two major retrofittable manufacturers (PianoDisc's 228CFX and the QRS Ancho) -- let alone Yamaha's Disklavier. QRS has chosen to offer the top-of-the-line Ancho model only as a limited distribution product that necessary Call or stop by a Cordogan's location to get educated on differences between the player systems.

As a customer of Cordogan's, you will receive a GIANT, FREE MUSIC LIBRARY! Cordogan's is proud to be the only dealer in the world who offers a private and ever-growing library of thousands of songs for you to download to your player piano! Customers receive a password to our Downloadable Player Piano Song Library containing music that Cordogan's has either purchased the rights to redistribute, acquired the rights to redistribute or music that is public domain but had been reformatted for player piano systems. Purchasing this much music could cost thousands of dollars -- if it were even available for purchase. Cordogan's offers hundreds of titles that aren't available through ANY manufacturer's library!



While it is true that current player piano systems are designed to function with virtually any piano, some pianos don't function well enough to allow the technology to shine. These systems will "play" almost any piano, but they can't improve the tone or touch of your piano. Only a fraction of pianos available (new or used) is of a quality level that can reproduce the artistry of these digital performances. So before you decide on purchasing a piano to be outfitted with a player piano system, consider the quality level of the piano itself. Reading this website is a good place to learn about the various quality levels of pianos. By purchasing a player piano system, you are purchasing a concert pianist who will now reside in your home - on cue at your command. The piano you own...or are considering owning, should be of a quality that would allow a fine player to perform well. This doesn't mean it needs to be a 9' concert grand, but it should be a well-made piano with a strong reputation for performance.

The piano quality level needed for a player piano's performance debunks the oft-heard "Well, nobody in our home plays, so I don't need a good quality piano". The fact is that if you want a player piano system -- whether it's factory-installed or retrofitted -- you DO need a good piano.

CAUTION:  GEEK ALERT! HUMAN VS. COMPUTER -- WHY PLAYER SYSTEMS CRY FOR A GOOD PIANO!

Consider this: when a human sits down at a piano on any given day, they can instantly and instinctively make adjustments in their playing technique to accommodate the playability of the piano's action.  In regions like Chicago where there are distinct seasonal changes, the pianist may have to press those keys a little harder in the summer...and a little lighter in the winter.  A computer can't make on-the-spot adjustments in its playing technique. These systems don't know if it's humid, dry, hot, cold, but your piano sure does!  Better brands adjust to the seasonal changes better and maintain great consistency season to season, year after year. Shortcomings on player piano performances due to environmental issues include notes that don't make sound ("note dropout"), uneven sound (some notes are too loud or too soft), clicks, buzzes, rattles and tuning instability. In other words, buy as good of a piano as you possibly can, especially if a player piano system is involved. The player system can only perform as well as the piano is capable of allowing it to perform.

ARE USED ONES AVAILABLE?

Yes, but they come and go pretty quickly, so it's certainly worth checking with us.  To put everything in perspective though...

• Finding a good used piano you want is difficult.
• Finding a good used piano in the brand you want is more difficult.
• Finding a good used piano in the brand and size you want is even more difficult.
• Finding a good used piano in the brand, size, finish, age, condition and price range you want involves a time-consuming piano-hunt.
• Finding a good used piano in the brand, size, finish, age, condition and price range you want, WITH a player system already installed, configured the way you want, with current technology, well...how much time do you have? :)

Used player grands often sell before they arrive in our showrooms, to customers who have been entered in our database. If you'd like us to begin the hunt for you, please contact us with your wish list. We'll let you know when one becomes available. The other option, and one with a much greater degree of flexibility is to find the perfect used piano and have us install the player system configured to your needs. Cordogan's has a huge selection of used grand and vertical pianos, all reconditioned or rebuilt with thorough warranties.

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

Purchasing the best player piano for your money requires nothing short of an expert to help you. The technology in these systems is rapidly evolving, and the dealer you choose needs to be on top of it all. If you would like to see and hear all these features, stop by Cordogan's, or if you're from another area, please feel free to call 773.383.1734. Cordogan's ships player pianos all over the country!

Please take a virtual look at our new, state-of-the-art player piano showroom, complete with a multi-media demonstration with a plasma TV, 5.1 surround sound. There's nothing like it in Chicagoland!

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