Yamaha U1 vs U3: Which Used Upright Should You Buy?
Teachers recommend both. The U1 is the compact standard; the U3 is the bigger, deeper sibling. Here is how to choose between them on a used budget.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US Piano Connection · Updated October 19, 2026
When a piano teacher tells a family to 'find a used Yamaha U-series', they mean one of two pianos. The U1 is a 48-inch upright and the U3 is a 52-inch upright, both built in Japan for decades with a consistency that makes a thirty-year-old example a safe buy. They share an action design and a reputation; they differ in size, bass, price and in how much piano you actually need. This guide lays out the differences and where used prices for each sit today.
Side by side
| Yamaha U1 | Yamaha U3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | About 48 inches (121 cm) | About 52 inches (131 cm) |
| String length and soundboard | Shorter bass strings, smaller board | Longer bass strings, larger board: more depth and sustain |
| Tone | Bright, clear, even; the classic practice-room sound | Fuller bass, more dynamic range, closer to a small grand |
| Touch | Responsive full-size upright action | Same action family; many players find the U3 slightly weightier |
| Room | Fits apartments and studios; easier to move | Wants a larger room to open up; heavier to move |
| Who it suits | Students through advanced, most homes | Serious students, teachers, players who want upright-maximum sound |
| Used price | Lower | Higher for the same age and condition |
The years that matter
- 1970s examples are now fifty years old. Still excellent pianos when maintained, but inspect hammers, strings and tuning pins carefully.
- 1980s and 1990s U1s and U3s are the heart of the used market: fully broken in, decades of life left, and plentiful enough to be choosy.
- 2000s and later examples carry near-new pricing. Yamaha also moved some U-series production outside Japan in later years; the plate and serial number confirm origin.
- Serial numbers date any Yamaha to the year through Yamaha's own lookup. Our serial number guide shows where the number is.
Grey-market imports: the question to ask every seller
Large numbers of used U1s and U3s in the United States were built for the Japanese home market and imported used. They are real Yamahas and often fine instruments, but they were seasoned for Japan's humidity, Yamaha's US parts and warranty support does not cover them, and dealers price them below a US-market equivalent. Yamaha's serial-number lookup tells you which market a piano was built for. Ask, check, and pay accordingly.
A refurbished grey-market U3 can still be the right buy if it was reconditioned by a competent shop and priced as a grey-market piano. The mistake is paying US-market money for one.
What U1s and U3s are asking right now
The U1 and U3 model guides list every example currently for sale on this site with its asking price and year, which is the fastest way to see today's gap between the two. For context, the current median asking price by brand from live listings is below.
| Brand | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha | $8,470 | $400 | $85,995 | 510 |
| Steinway & Sons | $54,500 | $1,500 | $230,000 | 305 |
| Kawai | $8,990 | $648 | $185,000 | 218 |
| Baldwin | $8,970 | $10 | $54,385 | 142 |
| Steinway | $65,000 | $1,699 | $250,000 | 117 |
| Roland | $3,100 | $400 | $18,650 | 69 |
| Schimmel | $29,238 | $6,500 | $172,363 | 57 |
| Young Chang | $5,245 | $1,500 | $19,996 | 52 |
| Samick | $4,212 | $999 | $15,380 | 50 |
| Boston | $14,450 | $4,795 | $49,200 | 38 |
| Casio | $2,799 | $650 | $7,500 | 36 |
| Mason & Hamlin | $22,990 | $1,495 | $65,000 | 36 |
| Wurlitzer | $2,995 | $100 | $8,880 | 33 |
| Pearl River | $6,795 | $1,500 | $21,437 | 31 |
| Kohler & Campbell | $5,194 | $1,499 | $9,995 | 30 |
How to choose
- If the piano will live in an apartment or a small room, choose the U1. The U3's extra bass is wasted in a space that cannot hold it.
- If the player is advanced, teaches, or wants an upright to live with for twenty years, choose the U3. The tonal headroom is what you are paying for.
- If budget decides, a well-kept U1 beats a tired U3. Condition and tuning history outrank the model number.
- Play both if you can. The difference is immediate in the bass octave and in how the sound blooms on a held chord.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Yamaha U3 better than the U1?
- It is bigger, with longer bass strings and a larger soundboard, so it has more depth and dynamic range. Whether that makes it better depends on the room and the player; the U1 is the right choice for many homes.
- How much more does a used U3 cost than a U1?
- The U3 asks more for the same age and condition. See the U1 and U3 model guides for the live listings and prices on this site today.
- What is a grey-market Yamaha U1 or U3?
- A piano built for the Japanese market and imported used. Fine instruments, but not covered by Yamaha's US parts and warranty support and seasoned for a different climate, so they sell for less.
- How tall is a Yamaha U1?
- About 48 inches, or 121 centimeters. The U3 is about 52 inches, or 131 centimeters.
- What year Yamaha U1 should I buy?
- 1980s and 1990s examples offer the best balance of price, remaining life and availability. Confirm the year with Yamaha's serial-number lookup.
- Is a Yamaha U1 good enough for an advanced student?
- Yes. The U1's action and tone carry players through advanced repertoire; the U3 adds headroom rather than capability.
- Where is the serial number on a Yamaha upright?
- On the plate under the lid, to the right of the tuning pins. Yamaha's lookup dates it and tells you the market it was built for.
- Are there other U-series models?
- Yes. The U2 sat between the two, and later models such as the U5 and the YUS series continued the line. The U1 and U3 remain the most common used.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US Piano Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, the marketing firm behind appointment-based piano sale events across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (mover quotes, tuning fees, rebuild costs) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.