Merriam Piano’s Brands Of The World:
YAMAHA
Company Website: Yamaha.com
Owner: Yamaha Corporation
Country of Origin: Hamamatsu, Japan
Year Established: 1887
Related Brands: Bosnedorfer, C. Bechstein, Fazioli, Kawai
Warranty: 10 years parts and labour, applicable to the original purchaser only.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
When one thinks of multinational corporation Yamaha, diverse might be the first word that comes to mind. They’re famous for all types of products beyond musical instruments, including electronics, motorcycles, and power-sports equipment among others, Yamaha actually began as a reed organ manufacturing company in 1887 under the name Nippon Gakki Ltd. Founded by Torakusu Yamaha, they would soon begin producing some of Japan’s first pianos, both uprights, and grand pianos – with the design and engineering assistance I should add, of a yet to be famous Kioshi Kawai.
After the death of Torakusu in the late 1920s and the onset of new ownership, the company decided to intensify efforts to diversify, and ultimately set the stage for expansion into other endeavors beyond piano and organ manufacturing. This process would be further realized in the 1950s with the founding of Yamaha Motor C. Ltd. In the 1960s, Yamaha’s production of pianos expanded greatly as they began large scale exporting to North America, and along with the now well-established Kawai, their instruments became a viable high-quality alternative to more expensive American and European made instruments. And in much, the same way that Toyota and Honda forced a new quality standard on the North American Auto industry, Yamaha together with Kawai and later the Koreans in the 1980s, spelled the end for companies like Aeolean-American, Heintzman, and Baldwin who were still focusing on simpler, less reliable, and ultimately less musical instruments.
Yamaha produces upright pianos in a variety of sizes and 3 levels of quality. The entry-level B series uprights are produced in Indonesia, whereas the professional quality U series and premium version YUS series uprights (newer designs, more modern technology) are produced entirely in Japan. The 48” U1 has been one of the most popular uprights in the world since the 1970s, and easily the most popular upright piano available on the used market. Yamaha also produces a hand-made upright piano, the SU7, to compete with the European dominated high end upright piano market.
Grand pianos are also offered in various levels of quality. The entry-level 5’ GB1K is the only grand piano produced in Indonesia, representing Yamaha’s entry-level option. The larger mid-level G series options are the GC1 (5’3”) and GC2(5’8”), with both being built in Japan. Yamaha’s professional grand offering consists of the CX series, with various sizes starting with the 5’3” C1X, up to the 7’6” C7X. Improvements over the G series featured in the CX series are better quality materials, thicker rim, and more production time, though the fundamental designs are similar.
Yamaha offers two different lines of premium grands; the hand-made CF series featuring more advanced scale design and superior quality material to the CX series, and the SX series which is essentially the production version of the CF series grand pianos.
Today, Yamaha is the single largest producer of musical instruments in the world, has expanded far beyond pianos, manufacturing many other types of instruments including guitars, drums, woodwinds, and more. Piano production occurs in Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese factories, with pianos available in several different quality levels. The Japanese produced pianos, in particular, are very popular in teaching studios and institutional settings due to their consistency and high build quality, with very noticeable differences from the Indonesian and Chinese produced instruments. Although it’s difficult to characterize an entire brand in a few words, musically the Yamaha’s tend towards a brighter sound with less tonal variance through their dynamic range, which has made them a popular choice for pop and rock recording, although more recently the Japanese manufactured instruments have started compensating with softer hammers.
In addition to a more advanced scale design, improvements in the CF series grands include laminated rims of maple and mahogany, higher quality tapered solid spruce soundboard, and upgraded hammer design, bringing their spec more in line with its directly competing line, the Shigeru Kawai.
There’s almost no missing Yamaha has a brand regardless of what musical instrument you’re shopping for, whether acoustic or digital pianos. And when it comes to piano shopping, no matter where in the world you are and whether or not it’s ultimately what you take home, there’s a very good chance you’ll be playing a Yamaha.
YAMAHA MODELS & PRICE
MODEL | SIZE | DESCRIPTION | MSRP (USD) |
---|---|---|---|
YAMAHA UPRIGHTS | |||
b1 | 43″ | Continental Polished Ebony | $4,799 |
b1 | 43″ | Continental Polished Ebony with Chrome Accents | $4,999 |
b1 | 43″ | Continental Polished White | $4,999 |
M560 | 44″ | Hancock Satin Brown Cherry | $7,199 |
b2 | 45″ | Polished Ebony | $6,749 |
b2 | 45″ | Polished Ebony with Chrome Accents | $6,949 |
b2 | 45″ | Polished Mahogany/Walnut/White | $7,159 |
P22 | 45″ | Satin Ebony/Walnut/Dark Oak | $7,549 |
P660 | 45″ | Sheraton Satin Brown Mahogany | $9,129 |
P660 | 45″ | Queen Anne Satin Brown Cherry | $9,129 |
b3 | 48″ | Polished Ebony | $8,259 |
b3 | 48″ | Polished Ebony with Chrome Accents | $8,459 |
b3 | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/Walnut/White | $9,129 |
U1 | 48″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $11,399 |
U1 | 48″ | Satin American Walnut | $13,499 |
U1 | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $13,499 |
YUS1 | 48″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $15,599 |
YUS1 | 48″ | Satin American Walnut | $18,799 |
YUS1 | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $18,799 |
SU7 | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $39,999 |
U3 | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $14,559 |
U3 | 52″ | Satin American Walnut | $16,599 |
U3 | 52″ | Polished Mahogany | $16,599 |
YUS3 | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $18,899 |
YUS3 | 52″ | Polished Mahogany | $21,799 |
YUS5 | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $20,999 |
YAMAHA SILENT UPRIGHTS | |||
b1SG2 | 43″ | Polished Ebony | $8,799 |
b1SG2 | 43″ | Polished Ebony with Chrome Accents | $8,999 |
b1SG2 | 43″ | Polished White | $8,999 |
b2SG2 | 45″ | Polished Ebony | $10,749 |
b2SG2 | 45″ | Polished Ebony with Chrome Accents | $10,949 |
b2SG2 | 45″ | Polished Mahogany/Walnut/White | $11,159 |
b3SG2 | 48″ | Polished Ebony | $12,259 |
b3SG2 | 48″ | Polished Ebony with Chrome Accents | $12,459 |
b3SG2 | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/Walnut/White | $13,129 |
U1SH | 48″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $15,399 |
U1SH | 48″ | Satin American Walnut | $17,499 |
U1SH | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $17,499 |
YUS1SH | 48″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $19,599 |
YUS1SH | 48″ | Satin American Walnut | $22,799 |
YUS1SH | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $22,799 |
U3SH | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $18,559 |
U3SH | 52″ | Polished Mahogany | $20,599 |
U3SH | 52″ | Satin American Walnut | $20,599 |
YUS3SH | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $22,899 |
YUS3SH | 52″ | Polished Mahogany | $25799 |
YUS5SH | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $24,999 |
U1TA | 48″ | Polished Ebony | $17,399 |
YAMAHA TRANSACOUSTIC UPRIGHTS | |||
YUS1TA | 48″ | Polished Ebony | $21,599 |
YUS3TA | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $24,899 |
YUS5TA | 52″ | Polished Ebony | $26,999 |
YAMAHA DISKLAVIER UPRIGHTS | |||
DU1ENST | 48″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $28,199 |
DU1ENST | 48″ | Satin American Walnut | $30,299 |
DU1ENST | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $30,299 |
DYUS1ENST | 48″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $32,299 |
DYUS1ENST | 48″ | Satin American Walnut | $35,799 |
DYUS1ENST | 48″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $35,799 |
YAMAHA GRANDS | |||
GB1K | 5′ | Polished Ebony | $14,999 |
GB1K | 5′ | Polished American Walnut/Mahogany/White | $17339 |
GB1K | 5′ | French Provincial Satin Cherry | $19,179 |
GB1K | 5′ | Georgian Satin Mahogany | $18,359 |
C1X | 5’3″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $37,999 |
C1X | 5’3″ | Satin American Walnut | $46,369 |
C1X | 5’3″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $46,369 |
GC1M | 5’3″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $23,999 |
GC1M | 5’3″ | Satin American Walnut | $30,599 |
GC1M | 5’3″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $30,599 |
C2X | 5’8″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $43,999 |
C2X | 5’8″ | Polished Ebony w/Chrome Accents | $45,699 |
C2X | 5’8″ | Satin American Walnut | $53,399 |
C2X | 5’8″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $53,399 |
GC2 | 5’8″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $28,959 |
GC2 | 5’8″ | Satin American Walnut | $33,859 |
GC2 | 5’8″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $33,859 |
C3X | 6’1″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $57,999 |
C3X | 6’1″ | Satin American Walnut | $69,999 |
C3X | 6’1″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $69,999 |
S3X | 6’1″ | Polished Ebony | $77,999 |
CF4 | 6’3″ | Polished Ebony | $105,599 |
C5X | 6’7″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $63,899 |
C5X | 6’7″ | Satin American Walnut | $77,799 |
C5X | 6’7″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $77,799 |
S5X | 6’7″ | Polished Ebony | $84,999 |
C6X | 7′ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $71,199 |
C6X | 7′ | Satin American Walnut | $85,999 |
C6X | 7′ | Polished Mahogany/White | $85,999 |
CF6 | 7′ | Polished Ebony | $119,999 |
S6X | 7′ | Polished Ebony | $95,599 |
C7X | 7’6″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $82,999 |
C7X | 7’6″ | Satin American Walnut | $99,999 |
C7X | 7’6″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $99,999 |
S7X | 7’6″ | Polished Ebony | $104,999 |
CFX | 9′ | Polished Ebony | $179,999 |
YAMAHA SILENT UPRIGHTS | |||
GB1KSG2 | 5′ | Polished Ebony | $18,999 |
GB1KSG2 | 5′ | Polished Mahogany/Walnut/White | $21,339 |
C1XSH | 5’3″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $41,999 |
C1XSH | 5’3″ | Satin American Walnut | $50,369 |
C1XSH | 5’3″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $50,369 |
GC1SH | 5’3″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $27,999 |
GC1SH | 5’3″ | Satin American Walnut | $34,599 |
GC1SH | 5’3″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $34,599 |
C2XSH | 5’8″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $47,999 |
C2XSH | 5’8″ | Polished Ebony w/Chrome Accents | $49,699 |
C2XSH | 5’8″ | Satin American Walnut | $57,399 |
C2XSH | 5’8″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $57,399 |
GC2SH | 5’8″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $32,959 |
GC2SH | 5’8″ | Satin American Walnut | $37,859 |
GC2SH | 5’8″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $37,859 |
C3XSH | 6’1″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $61,999 |
C3XSH | 6’1″ | Satin American Walnut | $73,999 |
C3XSH | 6’1″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $73,999 |
C5XSH | 6’7″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $67,899 |
C5XSH | 6’7″ | Satin American Walnut | $81,799 |
C5XSH | 6’7″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $81,799 |
C6XSH | 7′ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $75,199 |
C6XSH | 7′ | Satin American Walnut | $89,999 |
C6XSH | 7′ | Polished Mahogany/White | $89,999 |
C7XSH | 7’6″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $86,999 |
C7XSH | 7’6″ | Satin American Walnut | $103,999 |
C7XSH | 7’6″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $103,999 |
YAMAHA TRANSACOUSTIC GRANDS | |||
C1XTA | 5’3″ | Polished Ebony | $45,499 |
GC1TA | 5’3″ | Polished Ebony | $31,999 |
C3XTA | 6’1″ | Polished Ebony | $65,999 |
YAMAHA DISKLAVIER GRANDS | |||
DGB1KENCL | 5’1″ | Classic Polished Ebony (playback only) | $23,999 |
DGB1KENST | 5’1″ | Polished Ebony | $28,399 |
DGB1KENST | 5’1″ | Polished Mahogany/American Walnut/White | $30,739 |
DC1XENST | 5’3″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $55,399 |
DC1XENST | 5’3″ | Satin American Walnut | $63,769 |
DC1XENST | 5’3″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $63,769 |
DGC1ENST | 5’3″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $41,399 |
DGC1ENST | 5’3″ | Satin American Walnut | $47,999 |
DGC1ENST | 5’3″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $47,999 |
DC2XENST | 5’8″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $61,399 |
DC2XENST | 5’8″ | Polished Ebony w/Chrome Accents | $63,099 |
DC2XENST | 5’8″ | Satin American Walnut | $70,799 |
DC2XENST | 5’8″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $70,799 |
DGC2ENST | 5’8″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $46,359 |
DGC2ENST | 5’8″ | Satin American Walnut | $51,259 |
DGC2ENST | 5’8″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $51,259 |
YAMAHA DISKLAVIER PRO GRANDS | |||
DC3XENPRO | 6’1″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $80,399 |
DC3XENPRO | 6’1″ | Satin American Walnut | $92,399 |
DC3XENPRO | 6’1″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $92,399 |
DS3XENPRO | 6’1″ | Polished Ebony | $117,999 |
DCF4ENPRO | 6’3″ | Polished Ebony | $145,599 |
DC5XENPRO | 6’7″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $86,299 |
DC5XENPRO | 6’7″ | Satin American Walnut | $100,199 |
DC5XENPRO | 6’7″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $100,199 |
DS5XENPRO | 6’7″ | Polished Ebony | $124,999 |
DC6XENPRO | 7′ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $93,599 |
DC6XENPRO | 7′ | Satin American Walnut | $108,399 |
DC6XENPRO | 7′ | Polished Mahogany/White | $108,399 |
DCF6ENPRO | 7′ | Polished Ebony | $159,999 |
DS6XENPRO | 7′ | Polished Ebony | $135,599 |
DC7XENPRO | 7’6″ | Satin and Polished Ebony | $105,399 |
DC7XENPRO | 7’6″ | Satin American Walnut | $122,399 |
DC7XENPRO | 7’6″ | Polished Mahogany/White | $122,399 |
DS7XEMPRO | 7’6″ | Polished Ebony | $144,999 |
DCFXENPRO | 9′ | Polished Ebony | $219,999 |
YAMAHA PIANO SERIAL NUMBERS
DATE OF MANUFACTURE | SERIAL NUMBER |
---|---|
JAPANESE PRODUCTION | |
1917 – 1930 | 1700 – 10163 |
1940 – 1950 | 31900 – 42073 |
1960 – 1970 | 124000 – 960000 |
1971 – 1975 | 1130000 – 1945000 |
1976 – 1980 | 2154000 – 3001000 |
1981 – 1985 | 3261000 – 3987600 |
1986 – 1990 | 4241000 – 4837200 |
1991 – 1995 | 4967900 – 5357000 |
1996 – 2000 | 5446000 – 5868000 |
2001 – 2005 | 5928000 – 6100000 |
2006 – 2010 | 6145000 – 6280000 |
2011 – 2014 | 6310000 – 6380000 |
2015 – Present | 6400000+ |
THOMASTON GEORGIA USA PRODUCTION | |
1983 – 1990 | T500101 – T132706 |
1991 – 1995 | T143101 – T189741 |
1996 – 2000 | 202945 – 251146 |
2001 – 2004 | 265755 – 299405 |
SOUTH HAVEN MICHIGAN PRODUCTION | |
1974 – 1980 | U101000 – U132000 |
1981 – 1986 | U141000 – U186000 |
INDONESIAN PRODUCTION | |
1995 – 2005 | J1600001 – J2212096 |
2006 – 2012 – Present | J2317402 – J2942840+ |
CHINESE PRODUCTION | |
2004 – 2010 | H0004000 – H0105429 |
TAIWANESE PRODUCTION | |
2004 – 2006 | YT277800 – YT285000 |
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