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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
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I am buying a 1973 Yamaha U1 piano. How good are these pianos and what is the expected life expectency of this piano.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,559
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*huge generalization* -- if kept in a decent environment and serviced regularly, and not used in an institutional environment, I'd guess around 45-50 years. Many parts would need to be adjusted and replaced during that span of years, some of which will approach a large % of the piano's used value. Most people don't bother to do this kind of preventative/necessary maintenance on their uprights, so older used ones can be rather on the "thrashed" side.
Note: if neglected/abused, it is possible that the piano is at the end of its lifespan already.
The U1 has a great reputation as a decent sounding, decent feeling workhorse of a largish upright piano. Do yourself a favor and hire a piano technician to inspect it before purchase. Or at least buy Larry Fine's "The Piano Book" and read it cover to cover before buying.
We need more information. How do you intend to use it? What else can you tell us about it other than the year of manufacture? Keep in mind that there are a LOT of these U1's and similar pianos out there in the used market, so if this isn't the one-- just wait a little while and another will come along.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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I purchased a new Yamaha P9 in 1967, (a smaller piano than what your considering).
About ten years ago it developed a squeek in the soft pedal mechanism. The technician fixed it with a bit of dry lubricant. And then about a year and one half ago the squeek returned. Again, a bit of dry lubricant took care of it. The squeek episodes were the only mechanical problems that little piano ever had.
I recently upgraded to a small Yamaha grand, and so I sold my little Yamaha. I paid $750 in 1967 and sold it for $900.
That $750 was the best spent money of my life. I still feel guilty for selling it.
Tomasino
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do so with all thy might." Ecclesiastes 9:10
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Joined: Oct 2004
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I bought a UD1 around 1971 for $860, used it for teaching for about 18 years but maintained it regularly. It held up beautifully during that time and was very servicable. I sold it for $2500 when a friend gave me a 5' 10" grand which I now use for the teaching piano. The life span of the instrument depends to a great extent on its regular maintenance and replacing parts as needed since any moving part will eventually need some attention.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,654
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Originally posted by hari: I am buying a 1973 Yamaha U1 piano. How good are these pianos and what is the expected life expectency of this piano. You should post this in the Piano Forum. You'll get more of a response there.
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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