Yamaha U1

Colour: Polished ebony

The Yamaha U1 is the upright most teachers name when they are asked what to buy. At 121cm it is a full-size instrument with enough string length and soundboard area to give real weight to the bass, and the U series action is quick and even enough to take a player from first lessons through to diploma level without ever being the thing that holds them back.

It is also the best supported piano in the country. Any tuner will know it, parts are readily available, and a well-kept U1 holds its value better than almost anything else on the used market. This example is finished in polished ebony with three pedals, priced at £6,475, and 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

Why do so many teachers recommend the Yamaha U1?

Because it is predictable in the best sense. The action is even across the whole keyboard, the tone is clear enough that a student can hear exactly what they are doing, and the instrument stays where it is put between tunings. A teacher recommending a piano to a family they will not see again wants something that will not develop an odd note or a heavy bass, and the U1 has a sixty-year record of not doing that.

What do the letters after U1 mean, such as U1H or U1M?

They denote the production series rather than a different model, and they are a rough guide to age: the suffix changed as Yamaha revised the line over the decades. The basic design, at 121cm with the same scale, stayed consistent. The practical differences between series are smaller than the differences between two individual pianos of the same series in different condition, so judge the instrument in front of you rather than the letter.

Is a used U1 a better buy than a new entry-level piano?

For most players, yes. A well-prepared U1 will out-perform a new budget upright on action feel, tonal quality and long-term durability, and it will hold its value far better. We sell new pianos as well, so we are happy to stand a U1 next to a new instrument at a similar price and let you decide with your hands rather than on our say-so.

Will a U1 hold its value?

Better than almost any other used upright. Demand from teachers, students and schools is steady, the model is universally recognised, and condition rather than fashion sets the price. We take pianos in part-exchange, and a U1 kept in good order is one of the easier instruments to trade up from later.

How far can a student take a U1 before they need a grand?

A long way. Plenty of players work through the full graded syllabus and into diploma repertoire on a U1. The point at which a grand becomes necessary is usually about the action rather than the sound: fast repeated notes and very controlled quiet playing are easier on a grand. Until a player is regularly meeting that kind of writing, a good U1 is not the limitation.