Yamaha U1 review

Full review

Walk into almost any music school, conservatoire practice room or teacher's studio and you will find a Yamaha U1. At 121 cm tall it is a full-size professional upright, and it is built for consistency: a clear, focused tone and an action regulated evenly from key to key.

The U1's sound is brighter than the Kawai K-300's. Some players love the clarity, which helps when learning to hear inner voices. Others find it hard-edged, particularly in rooms with wooden floors and little furniture. A good technician can soften the hammers slightly (called voicing) if needed, so play both before deciding.

The soft-close fallboard and muffler pedal are standard. At 228 kg it needs the same careful handling as any large upright.

One real advantage of the U1 is resale. Because demand is steady, a well-kept U1 holds its value better than most pianos, and the market for reconditioned U1s is huge. That makes it a safe purchase if your circumstances might change. If you need to practise on headphones as well, look at the U1 SH3 silent version below.