A New Kind of Upright: The Hailun HU-125A Crystal Clear Piano

Every once in a while, a piano comes into our showroom that you just have to stop and look at. This is definitely one of those pianos.

This is the custom Hailun HU-125A Crystal Clear Upright, a brand-new design now being offered by Hailun. It’s a 49.5" acoustic upright built with a beautiful clear acrylic cabinet and brass trim, and it gives you a view of the piano that you normally never get to see.

And I have to say, it is really fun.

See more of this piano

You Can Actually Watch the Piano Work

One of my favorite things about the Crystal Upright is that you can see what is happening inside the piano while someone is playing.

Normally, almost all of this is hidden behind the cabinet. With the clear acrylic design, you can watch the hammers move, see the action working, and see the strings and dampers responding as the pianist plays.

As a piano technician, I’ve spent a lot of my life with the cabinets taken apart and looking at exactly these things. But most people never get to see their piano this way.

With the HU-125A, the mechanics of the piano actually become part of the design.

It’s almost like a piece of kinetic art. You’re not just listening to the music—you’re watching this incredibly complex mechanical instrument create it right in front of you.

 

It’s Not Just a Showpiece

Of course, a piano can look spectacular, but ultimately it still has to be a good piano.

That’s what I really like about this instrument.

Underneath this very unique cabinet is a real Hailun acoustic piano. You still have the sound, touch, and responsiveness of a traditional upright piano.

At 49.5" tall, the HU-125A has a substantial scale for an upright, giving it a really nice, full bass and a balanced tone across the keyboard. The action is responsive and enjoyable to play, so this isn't simply something beautiful to put in a room.

It is first and foremost a musical instrument.

That distinction is important to me. The clear cabinet gets your attention, but the piano itself still has to deliver.

We Added a QRS Self-Playing System

Then we decided to make this particular piano even more interesting.

We equipped it with a QRS PNOmation self-playing system.

With QRS, you can control the piano from your smartphone or tablet, select music, and have the acoustic piano actually perform it for you.

Now combine that with a transparent piano.

Instead of simply hearing a player piano from across the room, you can stand there and watch the hammers and action moving as the piano plays itself. The clear cabinet makes the whole player-piano experience that much more fascinating.

And when you want to play it yourself, you simply sit down and play it like any other acoustic piano.

A Piano Designed to Be Part of the Room

I think there are certain spaces where this piano could be absolutely spectacular.

A modern home, luxury residence, hotel, restaurant, event venue, recording space, or anywhere that you want the piano to become a visual centerpiece rather than simply another piece of furniture.

Traditional piano cabinetry is beautiful, and we work with it every day. But I like seeing manufacturers willing to do something different while still respecting what makes an acoustic piano an acoustic piano.

That's what makes this new Hailun design interesting to me.

They haven't hidden the instrument. They've done exactly the opposite.

They've made the instrument itself the design.

 

This One Has Already Found Its Home

This particular Hailun Crystal Upright has already sold, and I’m excited for its new owners. It’s certainly going to be a conversation piece—but more importantly, it’s a piano that can actually be played, enjoyed, and listened to for years to come.

If you'd like a Hailun Crystal Upright of your own, get in touch with me. I'd love to help you customize one and create something that's uniquely yours.

— Brigham Larson, RPT
Brigham Larson Pianos