I'm going to be buying a grand piano soon, and I would like some help on the differences between the Yamaha G series and C series.

What are the main differences between the Yamaha G and C series?

Any help would be appreciated.

The G series is one inch shorter than their equivalent C series of today. The G series were discontinued a while ago. Some of them were relatively nice pianos, but not as refined as the C.

The G-series ended, more or less, when the C-series was extended in the mid-1990's. Before that, there were parallel models like the G3 and C3. This is what Rotom is referring to. The last G3 was 6'0" at the time it was discontinued and the C3 was 6'1". The scale design of the G1 was bolstered to make the C1, the G2 became the C2. Around the same time, the C6 was added.

Separately from that, think of the C-series as generally more robust construction. Also, when I think of the G-series, I think of a mature line with most innovation going to the C-series instruments. One of the most apparent scale differences is the addition of duplex scaling (ex. G2 -> C2) accentuating certain harmonics. The merits of this does fall under the category of personal preference, but most makers use duplex scaling in their medium and larger pianos (if not all of them).

I like the cleaner tone of the G2's and G3's, but in other ways, the pianos are more average.

While the G series is no longer made Yamaha was come out with a GC series. I have a GC2 which is the same size as a C2, 5'8". There are some minor cabinet differences, the C2 is built for commerical and institutional use where the GC2 is for the home. There are minor differences in the sound board and I believe the keytops are slightly different. The lid on the C2 is beveled but not on the GC2. The C2 locks but the GC2 does not. If you played both pianos side by side you might not notice a difference however the prices are considerably different. It is difficult to get a real sense of the differences from Yamaha's website so I'd recommend you go to your local dealer and have a salesman point out the differences.

If you are looking at a C3 or larger there isn't a GC model equivelant.

Somewhere I read that they had different woods used in the rim. One had alternating types of wood in each ply, and the other not. Sorry, I can't remember the specifics.

A friend of mine who is a piano dealer/restorer/tech had a G3 and a C3 side by side in his shop a year ago.

We both tried them and listened while the other was playing. Frankly there was very little difference in the sound and action. Certainly not enough (we felt) to warrant the increased cost of the C over the G.

Now if the piano was to be used in a music school or where it received heavy use, the C version (C for conservatory) would stand up better (so I was told by a Yamaha dealer when I bought my G2), so it may then be the better choice.

I believe that the rim of the C model was a bit thicker (memory).

G

Regarding the tone and basic sound and control of dynamics:
I find the C's to be slightly richer, the G's to have a more pure, less complex tone. When you play loudly, they have a similar amount of power, but still have their basic characters of tone, as I described above. Both have very good control of soft dynamics, and both are very nice pianos, if in good/great condition. However, the G's I've seen when compared to an equivalent C have a tubbier bass, and this gets more noticeable as the size of the G series gets larger.

This is my experience with C's and G's, it may not be yours!
(the comparisons are with C2's and G2's, C3, G3, C5, G5, C7 and G7)

The differences in the G series and the C Series have changed over the years. When the C3 first came out it differed from the G3.

They were different scale designs.

The C3 had a rim made of alternating hardwood and softwood plys as opposed to the G3s all softwood ply rim. This provided better projection over distance.

The C3 used denser hammers (Royal George) with walnut cores and tapered hammershanks in the treble end; the G3 did not. This also affected projection.

The C3 used a magnesium-alloy plate; the G3 used regular cast iron, both were V-Pro.

The C3 used a better grade soundboard (tighter grain).

There were other rather minor differences.

And most important of all, the C series was made on a differnt assembly line by craftsmen who were more senior that those making the G Series. This affected voicing and regulation rather significantly in the early years.

Over time some of the C Series upgrades were incorporated into the g Series.

As previously mentioned, the G series is no longer available. The earliest C series i've had in my shop was from 1971 and the newest G i've had was 1994. So there was a significant overlap in manufacturing. Two things to note that i've witnessed: One is that the rim on the C is wider near the tail, the G is more 'curvy' making for larger soundboard area (in the C)and subsequent 'bigger' sounding piano in the same sized cabinet. Second difference is in the new ones... hammers are NOTABLY different and improved (in the last 5ish? years) to be more warm - not the strident 80's Yamaha brass sound. New ones are much more refined tonally in the C's. I wrote a small blog about this (and took pics) for any who care to see about the time Glenn NK was in my shop. It can be found here:
http://www.pianohq.com/piano-blog/page/5 - called Where's Waldo
Cheers

My 1978 vintage Yamaha C7 has an odd shaped tail end. It is not rounded symmetrically but has a kind of tapered curve.

Great information on the differences between the G and C series! I think either can be a very nice piano.

Rick

11 fingers

If you're considering second hand, then condition and age are more important than whether it's a G or C series. Both the G and the C have definitely had significant design improvements over the years.

If you're considering new:

Better hammers and undefelted, - C series only
Redesigned treble bridge and capping - C series only
Ivorite keytops and wood composite sharps - C series only
Tone collector - GB1 no, GC1, GC2, C1, 2 3 yes
Prop stick - only 2 position on GC series, 3 position on C
Safety prop - only on GC1,GC2 and above
Bevelled edge to top lid - C series only
Soft close fallboard - C series only
Locks - C only

Regards.

I recently played a G-3 and a C-3 (both used) side by side, for the most part it's the mileage not the model, because I would have picked the G-3 on sound alone.

Before Yamaha produced C series pianos they had the G series. Did the senior craftsmen work on these pianos in the early 60's? I have heard both good and bad about these "early" grands. I can only think that Yamaha made it's first grand in 1902 and in 1904 won a medal for excellence at the St. Loius world expo. They should have known how to make a decent piano by then or?

Search as I might I can't find any early Yamaha grands, that is to be expected as in 1903 Nippon Gakki produced 21 pianos. Interesting to note that it could be considered that Yamaha didn't really start making pianos after WWII. Some might say that was the infusion of capital by the US government to Yamaha after the war that started the ball rolling that eventually out competed and dismantled the US makers. That and the Japanese education ministry mandated music education for Japanese children, instantly creating a massive market for pianos.

My 1994 G2 has a three position prop stick, a soft close fallboard and a lock. It's also 5'8" rather than 5'7". So apparently some changes were made from the earlier models.

For many people specifications and stuff only make sense if they provide consistent, noticable improvements to existing models.

For example, the earlier Steigerman Premium series grands benefitted hugely the moment they were choosing Renner hammers.

In case of other makes this may or may not be that easy or same experience.

Personally I have often found the G-series warmer sounding than the later C-series,this is strictly an opinion based on my own, general experience with these pianos.

Wondering if my observation about the 2 series Yamahas was merely coincidental and/or what others think.

Norbert

Are there any differences between the GC1 & 2 compared to the C models besides size?

11 fingers

Please see my earlier post for spec. differences.

Regarding sizes, new models GC and C are the same lengths.

My GC2 has a soft close fallboard like the C2. The legs on the C series have a spade foot where the GC series have a straight tapered leg.

In Japan there were many many different scale designs incorporated in the G2,G3,C3 and ?.To make it more confusing there were scales that that were strictly designated for non gray market and than those for the domestic gray maket in Japan. And than there were scales that overlapped and were in simultaneous production for the US and and for Japan. The Japanese were constantly making changes sometimes very sublte. There were 15 different bass string scales for the Yamaha G2 over the years.
Also age dictated the actual scale of certain G and C series grands though there were scales that extended past a certain year. It is like Yamaha had a few extra plates left over so they decided to make more ex. G3B(s)and ?

The G1B,G2B,G3B,G5B did not have duplex scaling though the C3B definitely did as all C series grands.If I remember correctly the non graymarket "J" series also did not have duplex scaling. Memory fades now and than!.

A major difference performance wise in a C series grand aside from the later G1 and G2 evolving into the early C1 and C2.