Yamaha U1 Upright Piano – Made in Japan
Key Features & Description — Yamaha U1 Upright Piano (Made in Japan)
Here’s what makes the Yamaha U1 (Japanese-made) special:
1. Origin / Build Quality
The U1 is crafted in Kakegawa, Japan, according to Yamaha.
It uses very high-quality materials, with great attention to detail and craftsmanship.
2. Dimensions & Physical Specs
Height: ~ 48″ (121 cm) for the standard U1.
Width: ~ 60″ (153 cm).
Depth: ~ 25″ (62 cm).
Weight: ~ 503 lbs (228 kg).
3. Tone / Soundboard / Frame
Soundboard: Made of solid spruce.
Ribs (under the soundboard): Also spruce, which helps with resonance.
Back posts: 5 spruce back posts — gives structural stability.
Frame: Uses Yamaha’s “V-Pro Vacuum Shield Mold” process.
Bridge: Two-piece separated bridge construction.
4. Action / Keys
Keys are made from seasoned spruce for durability.
White key surface: Acrypet™ (a type of synthetic material)
Black key surface: Phenolic resin (very durable).
Action rail: Aluminum — helps resist changes due to humidity.
Fallboard (keyboard cover): Soft-close mechanism so it doesn’t slam shut. Heid Music
5. Pedals
3 pedals: Soft (“una corda” or soft), muffler/sostenuto, and sustain/damper.
The middle pedal is often a “muffler” (sometimes also called a practice or mute pedal) in U1s.
6. Strings / Hammers / Tone
Bass strings: Copper-wound for a warm, rich low end. Yamaha Pianos
Hammers: Under-felted hammers (Yamaha’s U-series design) tuned/materials chosen for optimal tone + durability.
The scale (string length, tension, etc.) is refined such that the U1 offers a balanced tone across all registers.
7. Soundboard Wood Seasoning
The wood for the soundboard is “seasoned for destination,” which means Yamaha pre-conditions (ages) the wood to be stable in different climates.
8. Strings / Pins / Tuning
Tuning pins: Cut-thread tuning pins, for stable tuning.
String quality: High-tensile steel, and Japanese strings (per Yamaha spec sheet) for reliability.
9. Finish & Aesthetics
Comes in several finishes: Polished Ebony, Satin Ebony, Polished Mahogany, Satin American Walnut, Polished White. Yamaha Pianos
The cabinet is traditional but elegant, with brass (or chrome depending on finish) fittings.
10. Durability / Reliability
Known for very high durability — back posts, quality frame → long-term structural stability.
Aluminum action rail helps prevent humidity-related warping in the action.
Soft-close fallboard protects the keys from damage or injury.
