Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Potential condition and cost of renovating a 1977 Yamaha U1?

There's a private ad here for a 1977 Yamaha U1, listed at about $1600. It's missing a sostenuto pedal and the seller says it has been inspected by a technician who says it's in "very good shape, perhaps in need of some inside cleaning". The seller says she bought it in 1980s for approx. $2000.

It looks very cheap so I'm looking for some expert advice. This is a 650 km drive for me if I want to go have a look at it, so I don't want to bother unless it's worth it. Say I'd go over, and it plays nicely with no apparent damage. What is the potential cost of renovating it if it has never been renovated before? I.e. my question is - what would I need to pay a technician to restore it to crisp condition?

http://www.mypianofriends.com/image...TON-eff71b617011530d7cd98661fabcb2d2.pdf may be of some help to guestimate - I am certain sooner or later someone in the trade here on the forums might have something more pertinent to say perhaps but without laying eyes and hands on the piano no estimate anybody makes from here can be accurate

I agree with Goss that no one who hasn't examined the piano, preferably a technician, can give you any idea of the cost to "renovate" this piano. I would also take with a grain of salt any seller who says that a technician says... etc. This is a 40 year-old piano and its condition - and hence, what it needs in the way of refurbishing/renovating/repairing - depends upon what use it has had and in what environment it has lived for the past 40 years.

To me, I am not sure that this piano would be worth a 650 km drive. I would check local (reputable) piano dealers for used pianos before jumping on this one.

Regards,

It Likely needs new pins, bass strings and either new hammers or a good voicing.

It possibly would be cheaper to get a newer piano, if you are considering doing a lot of work.

It probably never had a sostenuto pedal, that is, a middle pedal that holds the dampers up on the notes that are being played when the pedal is pressed.

Again, mileage differs _a lot_ but when we were looking around for our options, we came across several cheap U1's somewhat newer, going for around 1800€ with notes attached a refurbishment was not required but would improve the piano, and two of those were tagged at around 800-1200€ by the dealer... Again so many different components which could be better or worse. It could be a real good find, and it could turn out to be a little less cost effective than you would want or expect even with the input from all the nice folks here.

Ask the seller for all the information they can supply, photographs, perhaps some recordings, show interest but reserve and haggle =]

U1's are one of the best sold pianos ever - people like them and want them. The seller has likely offered it to a dealer or has been approached by one, and the asking price is probably higher than what a dealer would offer most certainly..

Thanks for all the replies. The going rate in Sweden for "completely restored" U1's from 1975-1980s is about $3600. So who would not jump at an opportunity of getting one for less than half the price

I don't know anything about the piano market in Sweden. Here in California I wouldn't drive that distance to see a U1, as they are a very popular piano. Used piano value depends on condition. So it is possible the $3600 pianos are actually a better value.

It is also possible the piano you are looking at is in nice condition and offered at a great deal.

The completely restored U1s are probably not in much different condition from this one.

there you go ^^ Get some more info, and haggle who knows, you might end up with a very sweet piano - or learn a lot in the process