Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Seeking Opinions on a Yamaha upright

I am generally familiar with the function and quality of the Yamaha Grands - but here is the question:

Does anyone here have a learned opinion on the ten-to-twenty-year-old Yamaha studio uprights? I am looking at one that my grandchildren would use for early learning. Model M216 .

I am particularly interested in [1] whether the actions are considered better than average, [2] whether they require frequent (or INfrequent) tuning, [3] is their build quality high, like the Yamaha grands?

If all you have to contribute is “Have a qualified technician check it out”, please do not bother - that is obvious!

Thanks,
Ed

I'd look at the U series Yamaha verticals if quality is paramount for you.

Yamaha actions are usually trouble free and reliable. Some models seem to have a better tuning stability than others. The U1 has a very good balance of reliability and musicality.

I agree with Supply. Yamaha actions are usually trouble free. Have you played it? And of course don't skip the obvious step.

Thank you, Bob and Jurgen, for your timely responses and advice.

To clarify, I have a specific, used piano at which I have been looking. Now, I am about to demonstrate my supreme ignorance here, so get ready!

The USED Model M216 that I have in mind has a Serial Number that starts with U1 xxxxx. Does the beginning of that serial number indicate that this would be in the “U series”, as Bob advises; or perhaps a member of the U1 group that Jurgen states is a quite nicely balanced instrument?

In any event, I am seeking opinions ON THIS PRECISE MODEL and instrument.

Thanks again for your help thus far.
Ed

Hi Dave B.,

Thank you for the additional vote on the Yamaha actions. I have played it, and it acts fine, and frankly sounds much larger than its physical size might imply! It has a very nice, full range of dynamics.

The current owner mentioned that it was properly tuned about two years ago. Quite universally, the pitch has slipped about 50 cents. (Of course, I have no way of knowing if it was brought to 440 at the time it was last tuned.) I suppose I am hoping to hear if this general lowering is anything to be concerned about, or a common characteristic of these.

Any additional insight will be greatly appreciated.
Ed

My parents bought a Yamaha upright in the 1980s. It was I believe a console model that they no longer make and stands about 40-some inches tall. I know that it isn't the exact piano you are looking at. However, for the record it still plays nicely and maintains relative tuning well. In other words... my parents haven't had it tuned in at LEAST 2 years and it only drives me slightly crazy to play on it. The fact that the piano you are looking at has not been tuned in 2 years does not mean that it won't hold pitch - all pianos are meant to be tuned more often than that. The piano can't be held responsible for the owners procrastination (I tell myself that when I play my parents piano too).

Piano owners often claim they were tuned more often or more recently than they actually were. Perhaps they are a bit embarrased about neglecting it. Technicians run into this a lot.

SuzyQz....if your parents piano slightly bothers you and it hasn't been tuned in a couple years, it might be somewhat of a novel idea, but you could get it tuned for them as an xmas or birthday present. I have a few customers who routinely do this for a person who is hard to buy a gift for. They give them a gift card for a tuning.

Thank you SuzyQz and Emmery,


A little further clarification - With the exception of four or five real "beaters", the entire pitch spectrum seems to have slipped one-quarter tone. That fact seems strange to me, but I do not really know enough about it.

Ed

It's possible the last tuner left the piano flat, which would explain the evenness of the drop in pitch, but some pianos drop more evenly than others. Two years is a little short a time for this to have happened though, but we don't know what environment it has been in.
Anyway I doubt it is anything to worry about. A pitch raise will sort it out.

The U1 in the serial number indicates it was manufactured in South Haven, Michigan, not that it is a U series unfortunately. http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/Text_WithCatMenu_XC.html?CNTID=12173

Thank you, Phil, for the research. It moved from South Haven, MI; to Syracuse, NY, where it stayed! Now that fact could serve to explain any number of strange anomalies!

Ed

It's hard to go wrong with any Yamaha but of course some are a little better or reliable than others. Here's a picture of one part that can go bad on certain models.The string that holds the hammer butt spring in place can break over time. Sometimes it will play fine without it but it might cause a clicking sound when played. There are different approaches to fixing it, either replace the string or the whole flange. I'm not sure one way is better than the other. It could be a little pricey to fix although the piano may be worth the investment. This is something the piano tech can check when they look at it.

http://qualitypianoservice.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ReplaceAsianHBF1.jpg

You're very wise to get some advice!

Thank you, Scott,

I noticed no clinking with any of the notes (well, other than that which normally goes on in my head.) I also saw no "ugliness" like the photo when I had the front removed. Thanks for taking the time to post the photo, and for the additional vote-of-confidence for the Yamaha.

Ed

Not a bad idea, though I think I'd have to arrange the tuning and be at the house for them... their problem is procrastination and not affordability. Mom has asked me for my technician's name and number more times than I can count!

Good luck with your Yamaha adventures, LoPresti!

Thank you, SuzyQz,

Just to close the proverbial loop on this, the owner and I have reached an agreement on price. Another Yamaha finds a new home . . .

Ed