The Yamaha U series is one of the most successful model lines in piano manufacturing. It has been the upright piano of choice for decades amongst music conservatoires, teachers, pianists, technicians and enthusiasts alike. Since the first models appeared in the 1960s, the Yamaha U series has gone from strength to strength. This equates to over 40 years of continuous production for two specific upright piano models. While such comparisons can be made with other manufacturers in terms of grand pianos, for an upright piano model to be in production for so long is rare and a substantial achievement. So what is behind the popularity of these two models? There are a number of factors, all of which come together to create a high-quality piano that is value for money.
Yamaha U1 1985
All Japanese Construction and Quality Control
Japanese manufacturing is world renowned for its aesthetics, high attention to detail and quality control. For the Yamaha U series there is an exacting demand for the highest quality materials and construction methods. Every Yamaha U1 and U3 will have undergone a series of stringent quality control tests, from the selection of woods, to the construction of the mechanics and final regulation. This is an important point; a piano is a complex construction of thousands of parts that need to work perfectly together. Cost cutting anywhere along the production line will inevitably lead to end results that will not be reliable.
The popularity of the Yamaha U series is largely based upon this quality control. Schools and colleges recognize this factor and will purchase several U1s or U3s without even seeing the instrument, as it is understood that the pianos simply need to be tuned and perhaps regulated on arrival. Everything inside the box, so to speak, has been taken care of.
High-Quality Raw Materials All Yamaha U1 and U3s are constructed using a single piece of sawn spruce for the soundboard. For centuries Spruce has been the wood of choice for its acoustical properties, and it is commonly used in the construction of fine-stringed instruments. In the past, cheaper upright pianos used a type of plywood for the soundboards, but the results are never as good as one piece of wood resonating with the string vibration. The Yamaha U series uses traditional materials that have long been prized for their qualities in piano production: Spruce soundboard Beech bridges Pine back-posts White wood hammers Cast-Iron frame
The construction of the Yamaha U1 and U3 are, by piano standards, incredibly simple and yet efficient. The design is actually quite traditional with only minor differences, such as an aluminium action rail. Good Quality to Cost Ratio The combination of cheaper manufacturing costs with high-quality materials has made Yamaha one of the most competitive piano manufacturers in the market. Every piano has a quality to cost ratio. If you pay next to nothing for your piano, you are usually buying something that has low-quality parts and construction. The resulting instrument will be functional but will not inspire, either tonally or performance wise. If you go to the upper end of piano manufacturers where cost is not an issue, nearly all of those pianos will be handmade using high-quality materials, so you can afford to be picky. Most people seriously considering a piano purchase will have budgets up to $10k. At this point, you are spending a serious amount of money. This is an investment purchase and so you are expecting the best quality for your money. Unlike their Chinese counterparts, Yamaha and other Japanese manufacturers can boast a long history of high-quality manufacturing and raw materials. Their labour costs will still allow them to price slightly lower than European competitors, providing a very appealing product. Yamaha U1s and U3s have long been associated with maintaining high-quality output comparative to the amount of money you spend. There are cheaper upright pianos out there and there may be slightly more expensive pianos with more preferable tonal qualities, but ultimately the U series have excellent tonal balance and responsive keyboard actions that are built to last. They are working tools for advanced pianists who don’t have space for a grand piano and excellent pianos for beginners who need to develop a solid technique. This next point has caveats because piano ownership and favourite brands are hugely subjective. For example, some people would say that the tone of new Yamaha pianos has been described as too bright, with preference given for warmer sounding pianos from European manufacturers. However, this a gross generalization that any amount of demos on other pianos will soon reveal. There are warm sounding Yamaha pianos and there are bright European pianos. A piano can be voiced to sound brighter or warmer by any good piano technician. Age can also affect a piano’s tone, with older pianos sounding warmer than newer ones. More importantly, no two pianos sound the same. It is virtually impossible to create uniformity of sound in a production line. Wood is an organic material subject to natural variation that will inevitably have some bearing on the final product. 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. They are built to last and sound good even after years of bashing the keyboard. Yamaha’s renowned consistency in manufacturing is a big selling point. For this reason they represent an excellent investment. Many professional pianists have a Yamaha U3 as their practice piano if they do not have space for a grand piano. Not all professional pianists are multi-million selling artists with a Steinway concert grand in their living room for practice! Most are hard working, passionate individuals who cannot afford the space of a bigger property.And yet they still need an upright piano that has an excellent responsive action, and tonal depth. They need a piano that will provide tonal and performance qualities as close to a grand piano as possible. Owing to its cabinet height, the Yamaha U3 has a larger soundboard and even longer bass strings than some baby grand pianos. Larry Fine noted in his best selling publication The Piano Book, that in some cases it is better to purchase a large cabinet upright piano rather than the smallest baby grand, as the tone will nearly always be superior. The Yamaha U3’s price and performance qualities make it the practical choice for many pianists.
Many piano teachers will advise parents to purchase a Yamaha U1 or U3 over other manufacturers. As an impartial piano retailer, we can safely say that many teachers are now purchasing and also recommending Kawai – another excellent Japanese manufacturer – and a few other European manufacturers. But the Yamaha U series, new or secondhand, still represents a sound investment for children learning the piano. It will also have few if any technical problems during a child’s years of study, again making it a good investment.
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.
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 5k, which is an excellent resale value for an upright piano.
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. Where are U1s and U3s made?
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.
If you are interested a view and test out a Yamaha U1 or U3H, feel free to come down to our showroom. Please contact us for an appointment today!
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