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I just bought a refurbished Yamaha U3 in MN, which is the first time I purchased a piano. Would anyone have suggestions on how to check the history of the piano from the serial number (H 2018021)?

Thank you!

You can go onto the Yamaha website and find out if your piano was made for the North America market. Other than that, I can't think of any other history you can find out. If it was refurbished, you may want to find out (from the previous owner) who refurbished it and speak with them about the piano.

I think a letter in front of the serial number means it was sold initially outside of N. America.

This piano was made in 1975.

U3 "H" was the gray market designation up to 1980
It changed to U3M up to the mid 80's and than to the U3A the newest scale design of the Yamaha gray market pianos
Refurbished is an ambiguous term. It means nothing
They could have remanufactured the entire piano
restrung,refinished case,changed hammers which I doubt or could have just filed the hammers and buffed the case.

All that said, you bought what is considered, absent any contrary information, a very good piano.

Enjoy.

Thank you for all your info which is very helpful!

With regard to "Pianobroker"'s info, does that mean a refurbished piano is lesser in quality compared to a non-refurbished one? Would the fact that it is 30+year old affect its performance?

I will check with the piano store about the history as well. Thank you all again!

Depends on what was done as for the refurbish.
I've sold hundreds of Yamaha and Kawai gray market uprights.
The majority of them are just detailed out with the original action ( filed hammers & buffed out case) In my opinion these are better than the completely R&R refurbished ones. These were in very ruff cond.(ex institution pianos whereas they had to completely remanufacture the piano.) The problem is the restoration level in the Asian countries is substandard. It is not the same as production of a new Yamaha or Kawai in the Hamamatsu factory. They can not refurbish a piano to the same level as an original NEW Yamaha or Kawai uprt. from the Hammamatsu factory(Precision level is not the same (Factory-CNC Refurbish-hand work) So hopefully yours is a low milage original in great original cond. with light refurbishment. Relax,It is a good piano

Thank you so much for your info!! I will enjoy the piano when it comes tomorrow:)

Congratulations on the new (to you) piano!