Photo: Curtis Adams

Which Yamaha upright piano is best?

Many professional pianists have a Yamaha U1s and U3s have been for decades the upright piano of choice for high-level music institutions. This is because the U series models offer a clear and resonant tone, coupled with an excellent responsive action. The pianos are hard-wearing and easy to maintain and tune.

thepianoshopbath.co.uk - The Yamaha Piano Buying Guide

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Good Resale Value

Yamaha U series pianos have an intrinsic market value that holds well, simply because it is such a well-known and respected series. Many smaller piano manufacturers make very good pianos, but depreciation on the piano will be variable and depend on prior knowledge of the brand by the customer. At the time of writing this article in 2019, a new Yamaha U3’s approximate RRP is just below £10k. It is very common to find second hand Yamaha U3s from the 1980s onwards selling between £3k and £5k, depending on age and condition. There are also considerations to be made over whether you buy from a respected independent showroom or privately. Although privately you may find one cheaper, from a showroom it will be difficult to find a U1 or U3 for less than £3k, which is an excellent resale value for an upright piano. By comparison, smaller name English manufacturers made in the same period will have a markedly lower market value.

FAQ’s

This section will try to address common questions posed about the Yamaha U1 and U3 models. They have been compiled from years of being in the trade, while also keeping an ear to the online forums minefield. This guide is designed to be an active publication, with regular updates to keep it relevant. If you have a query or topic that you think worth publishing here, please do get in touch.

What are the main differences between the Yamaha U1 and U3?

The main difference is the size, the U3 is 10 cm taller and 3 cm deeper. This allows for longer strings, particularly in the bass, and a bigger soundboard. The result is a richer overall tone that gives more tonal options to the pianist. However, the U1 is usually significantly cheaper than the U3 but still has the high quality, all-Japanese construction of the U series. If your budget can stretch to the U3, it is usually preferable to purchase this model for the increased tonal range.

Which one is better?

The Yamaha U3 has a superior tone and Yamaha themselves do not play down that the U3 is the superior model. This does come at an additional cost. The U1 and U3 have almost identical actions and either one would be good for advanced piano studies. A piano cannot improve your playing but it can help you focus on your playing, so that you’re not having to worry about whether the piano will perform the same way every time. We usually recommend buying the largest piano you can afford, as you will appreciate the larger tonal depth, especially if you continue to develop as a player. Both are high-quality upright pianos and you may actually prefer the tone of a U1, so try a few and let your ears decide.

New U3 versus old U3?

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If your budget permits a new piano, we would always recommend going with that option. A new piano automatically has a longer life ahead of it, which will increase its value to you and also to any potential future buyer should you wish to resell. It will have the latest design features too. while these won’t make or break your playing experience the new Yamaha U series features soft fall lids and long music stands, which are not found on older models. The design differences between older and newer Yamaha U series pianos are not substantial enough to have significant impact on the quality of the tone and performance. When we talk about secondhand pianos, there are many options worth considering. For instance, if you find a U3 built in 2007, at the time of writing that would be only 12 years old, which in piano terms is still relatively new. At this point you would want to make some enquiries: how often was it played? What was the proficiency of the current owner? Was the piano regularly tuned and kept in a correctly humidified room, out of sunlight? If the price is good and it has seen minimal use, you could be onto a bargain. Your next step should be to call a respected piano technician for a second opinion and take it from there.

Can I buy a U series piano from the 1970s or 1980s?

The short answer is yes, but as with any piano you need to make a couple of checks. It all depends on the condition of the piano, whether it has been properly maintained and how much play it has seen. We have come across some pretty spectacular examples which look like they have hardly been played and these pianos will go on performing well for years to come. You will also find that older U series pianos will sometimes sound more mellow than newer counterparts. This is due to a combination of older strings, more worn-in hammer felts and an older soundboard. When choosing a secondhand piano, you will want the right balance of tonal qualities that you like (bright or warm), coupled with a minimal amount of wear and tear from playing. You can do a few initial inspections yourself. Inspect the piano under the lid and check for rust on the tuning pins or strings, check to see how worn the hammer felts are. Hammer felts can be refaced by a qualified technician but rusting parts are potentially more serious and will require replacing at some point. If you are satisfied with your own initial checks, then it is time to call a qualified and recommended piano technician for an impartial assessment. They will charge you a small fee, but this is nothing in comparison to the potential work bill you could be faced with if you unknowingly purchase an instrument that needs repairs.

Where are U1s and U3s made? Are some models made in other countries?

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All Yamaha U series pianos are manufactured in the Hamamatsu factory in Japan. Although Yamaha manufacture other piano models outside of Japan, in China and Taiwan, the U series are reserved exclusively for manufacture in Japan. This is because a big part of the U series’ branding is based on exclusive manufacture in Japan.

Can I buy a Yamaha U3 or U1 online without seeing it in person?

The answer is yes, but with caveats. If you buy a new piano it will come with a manufacturers’ guarantee and protection from faults. Modern online retail has a 14-day refund period as part of all purchases and that includes pianos. In the case of Yamaha, you will have peace of mind knowing that the instrument you order will be of high-quality construction with a good action and a clear, resonant tone. However, if you buy direct you are completely in the dark about the tone of the piano and how the action responds. These aspects of piano preference are so subjective and personal that you can only understand them by playing the instrument for yourself. Both of these features can be adjusted by a technician post purchase, but ideally you would want to avoid this extra cost. This is why we always recommend playing the piano before you purchase it. In the case of schools, trying a piano before purchase is simply not practical or even desired. Many educational institutions simply need to get the pianos in so their students to can start to practice. In this case they will look for a brand and model that is well established and known for its excellent construction and performance. This is where brands like Yamaha can come in and provide peace of mind with their guarantees. What if you are a private individual who is interested in a piano but cannot get to the showroom for whatever reason? First, ask lots of questions over the phone with the showroom. You will get a good sense of their knowledge and customer service. Second, some showrooms will be able to offer you a trial period for your piano, something usually arranged on a case-by-case basis. Failing this, you can arrange to have a technician assess the piano for you and any credible showroom will accommodate this.

thepianoshopbath.co.uk - The Yamaha Piano Buying Guide

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