Yamaha GA1

The Yamaha GA1 is a baby grand in the truest sense: 4'11" from keyboard to tail, and the most compact grand piano Yamaha has built. For a great many people a grand is something they assume they have no room for, and the GA1 exists precisely to answer that. 

This is a Japanese-built example, finished in black polyester, the classic and most versatile choice for a grand. The GA1 was the predecessor to Yamaha's later GB1 and GB1K, sharing the same compact footprint, and it is no longer in production, so the used market is the only place to find one. This instrument has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery.

Available to purchase online or to try in person at our Oxfordshire showroom. Contact us to arrange a viewing or to discuss delivery and part-exchange options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much room does a baby grand actually need?

Less than most people imagine, but more than an upright. A grand needs to sit out in the room rather than against a wall, with the lid able to open and enough space behind the stool for the player to get in and out. At 4'11" the GA1 is the most compact grand Yamaha made, which makes it one of the easier instruments to place, but the honest answer is to measure your room and talk to us before committing. We do this often and can tell you quickly whether it will work.

Is a baby grand better than a good upright?

Not automatically, and we would rather say so plainly. A grand has a horizontal action, which repeats faster and returns under gravity, and that is a real advantage in the touch. But string length governs tone, and a tall upright of 121cm or more can have longer bass strings than a very small grand. So a compact grand like this will often be chosen for its action, its looks, and the way the sound opens into a room, rather than because it out-sings a good upright. We stock both and will happily let you play them against each other before you decide.

Was this GA1 made in Japan?

It was, and it is worth asking the question because it is not true of every small Yamaha grand. Yamaha has built instruments in Japan and, for some models and years, in Indonesia, and the serial number is what tells you which you are looking at. This example is a Japanese-built piano. We are always happy to show you the serial number and talk through the provenance of any instrument on our floor.

Where does the GA1 sit in Yamaha's grand piano range?

At the entry point. Yamaha's grands run up through the GC and C series to the concert instruments, and the GA1 sits below those as the smallest and most affordable way into a Yamaha grand. It was built to a price and it is not intended to compete with a C series piano. What it offers is the experience and presence of a grand from a manufacturer with Yamaha's consistency, in a footprint that makes it achievable.

What is involved in delivering and looking after a grand?

Grands travel on their side with the legs and lyre removed, then are reassembled in the room, which is specialist work and something we arrange for you. Tell us about doorways, tight turns, and stairs when you enquire so the move can be planned properly. Once settled, a grand wants tuning twice a year in normal use, plus one extra tuning a few weeks after delivery as it acclimatises. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, and it will look after you.