Yamaha A1

Colour: Polished ebony

The Yamaha A1 is a compact grand of 151cm, a little under 5ft, which puts a genuine grand action and a full 88-note keyboard into a room that could not take a larger instrument. The A series ran for a relatively short period and shares much of its design thinking with Yamaha's better known C series, which is why these come up for sale far less often than a GB1 or a GC1.

The grand action is the real difference. The hammers fall back under gravity rather than being returned by a spring, which gives faster repetition and much finer control of quiet playing than any upright can manage. Finished in polished ebony and priced at £7,995, this example 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 do I need for a 151cm grand?

As a rough guide, allow about 2.3m from the front of the keyboard to the tail of the piano once the stool is in place, and about 1.5m across. That is less than most people expect, and a grand of this size sits happily in a normal sitting room. It is worth measuring the route in as well as the room itself, because the legs and lyre come off for the move but the case does not.

Is a small grand really better than a good upright?

For action and control, yes, and that is the honest reason to buy one. A grand repeats faster and lets you shape quiet playing in a way an upright cannot. For sheer tone, a 151cm grand and a tall 131cm upright are closer than people assume, because the upright has comparable string length. If your priority is bass depth, compare them side by side. If it is touch, the grand wins clearly.

How does the A1 compare with a Yamaha GB1 or GC1?

The GB1 is Yamaha's entry-level grand at a similar length. The A series sat above it and borrowed more from the C series in its scale design and construction, which generally shows in a fuller, less thin tone through the bass. The GC1 is a slightly longer and more recent instrument. The A1 is the rarer of the three in the UK, so it is worth playing one when you get the chance.

Where were Yamaha A1 grands built?

The A series was a Japanese-built line, but Yamaha has produced instruments in several countries over the years and the only reliable answer for any individual piano is its serial number. We are happy to look this one up and confirm its year and place of manufacture before you commit.

Does a grand need different maintenance from an upright?

The basics are the same: two tunings a year in regular use, and sensible placement away from radiators and direct sun. A grand action has more adjustment in it, so periodic regulation makes more difference to how it feels than it would on an upright, and the lid and finish on a polished ebony instrument want a soft cloth rather than household sprays. None of it is onerous, and we can arrange a tuner near you.