Yamaha Design “Synapses” P-37E

2018 / PIANICA


A pianica for grownups.

Well-Made

The case is molded from biomass plastic, and the keyboard is manufactured in an unpainted high gloss finish. This unadorned use of material lends the instrument a warm, nostalgic quality combined with refined elegance.

Reconstruction

Traditional pianica designs have a simple, boxy structure containing excess interior space that makes the instruments unnecessarily bulky. In our new design, we have shaved off as much of this unnecessary bulk as possible, resulting in a pianica whose outward form follows the functions of its working parts. A unique, robustly-shaped mouthpiece makes for ease of player interface, while a newly added hose connector and other improved features add to the capabilities of an instrument newly crafted to maximize playability and convenience.

Pride

The storage case features a three-way strap that allows for the option of hand-carrying or wearing it slung over the shoulder. This makes it perfectly suited for convenient portability in urban lifestyles involving a lot of movement on trains and bicycles.

Dual-View

When performing on a pianica, the instrument is visible in its entirety. Points and surfaces that make contact with the player’s fingers and body are gently rounded so that a relaxed playing experience can be enjoyed even when the player prefers a style clutching the instrument in both hands and holding it against their chest.


Mami Sato
Mami Sato
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory

Piotr Stolarski
Piotr Stolarski
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory

Kunihiro Takei
Kunihiro Takei
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory

The pianica isn’t just for schoolkids anymore.
We’ve made one adults will love, too.

The P-37E is a 37-key pianica designed and built with adult and professional performers in mind. Distancing our design from the stereotype of the pianica as something used primarily by schoolchildren, we have instead sought to create an instrument that is imbued with sophisticated “cool” while at the same time preserving something of the warm nostalgic associations it will have for many adults.
Our design concept for the body structure is inspired by the simple but unique structure of harmonicas, which use stacked layers of metal strips to produce sound. In the simple box-like structure of earlier pianicas, there is a surfeit of excess space in the instrument that has no bearing on the sound produced. We approached our newest design by first shaving off as much of this unnecessary space as possible, down to tolerance levels of tenths of millimeters. Exposed screw holes and other unsightly structural elements were either eliminated or refined in a way that allowed them to function as part of the instrument’s exterior appearance. As a result, we were able to get away from the boxy, screw-fastened molded plastic of traditional designs and create a pianica with a structure and appearance more befitting a musical instrument.
The pianica’s case is constructed of unpainted biomass plastic, a material we also use in our recorders. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it is also capable of producing sound with a tone that is superior to that of the ABS plastic traditionally used in pianica construction. We make the most of that quality in our new pianica, which is available in two colors: a chic black, and a brown evocative of the instrument’s warm tone.
For many of us, a pianica was our first experience with playing a musical instrument. The P-37E is a design that combines the warm familiarity of the pianica of our childhood with a musical instrument that also looks fresh and sophisticated in the hands of an adult player. We hope you can enjoy playing our pianica while re-experiencing the joy the instrument once brought you as a child.

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