Why the Yamaha U-Series?
For decades the Yamaha U-series have been somewhat of an industry standard, providing some of the most consistent and reliable pianos on the market. To this day are often a go-to recommendation for piano teachers, schools, and conservatoires. Offering a signature bright, sparkling tone and responsive touch, many people often find themselves looking for the Reconditioned Yamaha U-Series models as an alternative to new instruments.
At Millers, we believe that that reconditioned Yamaha U-Series can represent excellent value for money and are a fantastic choice for students or more advanced players moving up from a digital piano.
U1
The smaller of the U-Series models, ideal for home use. Perhaps best suited to those either upgrading from a digital piano to an acoustic, or for those looking for an instrument that will help carry them through the majority of their graded studies. Reliable and durable, a well reconditioned U1 is a wonderful choice and brings with it Yamaha's signature bright tone and sound.
h 1210 x w 1530 x d 620 (mm). Weight: 228 Kg
Browse ModelsU3
The 'big brother' of the U1, yielding a louder, more developed tone as the sound has added room to breathe. Generally regarded as the finest U-series model. The U3 is ideal for those looking for an upright acoustic with added projection and colour to the sound combined with control whilst still maintaining the durability and longevity that the U-Series is so well known for.
h 1310 x w 1530 x d 650 (mm). Weight: 246 Kg
Browse ModelsHave you found another Yamaha U-series model number such as a U2, U100, UX1, UX3, YU1, YU3, YUS and wonder what the difference is? We've seen them all during our time and can help.
Confused about serial numbers?
Read our guide to everything Yamaha U-series.
Inside The Yamaha U-Series: A Piano Buyers Guide
For 40 years, the Yamaha U-Series has long been regarded as one of the most sturdy and reliable pianos on the market and to this day are often a go-to recommendation for teachers up and down the country. But are these pianos still what they used to be? Explore our buyers guide to find out!
What makes our Yamaha U-series different?
We have travelled the world in search of the very best pianos for our clients, visiting factories, meeting with technicians and master piano builders. We know and understand what goes into making a great piano and have curated a range of some of the finest instruments. You can read more about our story here.
Our experts from the showroom team and experienced technicians in the field are constantly feeding back to us on instrument quality. This allows us to make the right buying decisions for our clients. All of our Reconditioned U-Series pianos are inspected by our highly skilled and experienced technicians upon arrival to ensure they are suitable for sale, they are then prepared before delivery and come with a full 5 year guarantee.
Our Showroom team then take the time to understand your requirements, exploring everything from touch and tone to design and how the piano might fit into your home. They will present and demonstrate a range of instruments so you can get a feel for the, quality, and value you will achieve. Because we are have a range of instruments across different manufacturers, new and secondhand we can be certain you make the right choice.
Yamaha U-Series Range
What Is A Reconditioned Piano?
As pianos are primarily made from natural materials such as woods, wools and leathers, these materials do degrade overtime and after prolonged use, some components will begin to deteriorate and thus will need to be replaced.
A piano generally has a lifespan of around 50-80 years before some form of restoration work is needed.
Whilst new U-Series pianos are still being produced, many teachers and pianists will recommend buying reconditioned or secondhand U-Series as are far more affordable.
There are 3 main types of 'reconditioned' U-Series that are typically on the market and it is important to understand the difference between them all when making a purchase decision.
Different Types Of Reconditioning
1
'Reconditioned'
If you only see or hear the word 'reconditioned' when discussing older pianos, this can sometimes be a bit of a red flag as without an independent technician's advice and receipt of the works done, it can be impossible to tell how the piano has been 'reconditioned'.
Whilst 'restoration' may mean a full refurbishment done to a high standard, it may also just as likely mean simply shaving the hammer heads. We would generally recommend having these instruments inspected by a technician before purchasing them.
2
Manufacturer Reconditioned
This is another red flag in the piano world, unless you have a receipt of all restoration works that have been done to the piano.
Just because a piano is ‘manufacturer reconditioned’, this does NOT necessarily mean it’s been refurbished by the manufacturer who actually made the piano.
For this reason, these pianos must be judged on a case by case basis and you should seek a piano technician's advice before purchasing.
3
Yamaha Certified Reconditioned
One of the easiest ways to tell if a piano has been reconditioned is to check the cabinet or inside of the piano and look for a sticker or certificate that says the piano was ‘Yamaha Certified Reconditioned’.
Many assume this means the piano was refurbished in Japan by Yamaha, but this is not necessarily the case. These pianos will have likely been reconditioned by a subsidiary of the Yamaha Service Corporation elsewhere in the world.
All of our Reconditioned U-Series pianos are inspected by our expert technicians upon arrival to ensure they are suitable for sale. Each piano comes with a full 5 year guarantee and is tuned before delivery.
All of the below are checked and maintained by our technicians upon arrival.
- Loop Chords
- Tapes
- Key Tops
- Bushings
- Practice Felts
- Case Work
- Refaced Hammers
- Strings Cleaned
- Dampers Cleaned
- Pedals And Brass Polished
Things To Consider When Buying Reconditioned Yamaha U-Series
We would almost always recommend bringing an independent piano technician with you when considering buying a reconditioned Yamaha U-Series piano in order to ensure the piano is suitable. It may also be worth considering a brand new piano. Despite being well known, many Yamaha U-Series pianos are over 50-60 years old and can generally cost around the same as a brand new piano.
If you are purchasing a reconditioned Yamaha U-Series, be sure to ask for:
1 ) A receipt of any known works done to the piano
2) Where the piano was made - (Contrary to popular belief, not all U-Series are Japanese made!)
3) The age of the piano - if it is over 30 years old, ask about any refurbishment works that may need doing or have already been done.
For more information, read our guide to buying secondhand pianos here.
Understanding Yamaha U-Series Serial Numbers
As the Yamaha U Series have been produced so widely across numerous decades and in various factories around the world, it can be difficult to understand how old the piano is. The below guide gives a very rough overview on how to can begin identifying U-series serial numbers and which ones to look out for.
K=Thousand, M=Million.
122k-809k: These pianos were made in the 1960s and are generally best avoided, these pianos were made in the infancy of the U-series name where aspects of the production and design were still being worked out.
978k -1.9m: Produced in around 1970-1975, these pianos can still be of good quality, providing a full refubishment works has been done.
1.9m-5.3m: Pianos with serial numbers between these figures are what is known as the 'Golden Era' of U-series production, many being made between 1975 and 1995. These are often the most sought after for reconditioned U-Series due to their excellent tone and quality materials. These are the most common types of U-series we have at Millers.
5.3m-6m+: These pianos are still relatively modern and will have only been produced from 1996 onwards, so in piano terms are still relatviely young. Many will be in excllent condition and as such, are often more expensive.
Want To Learn More About The Yamaha U-Series?
Want to practice silently? No problem.
Consider the optional Silent System for your acoustic piano combining the best of digital and acoustic technology. Our specialist team can fit in the showroom or even in your home if you change your mind.
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