Yamaha GC1 vs C1X: two grands around 161 cm, two different instruments.
Yamaha’s UK size reference lists GC1 and C1X grands at 161 cm. Separate USA model pages list different key surfaces. Those are useful facts; they do not establish that one used piano sounds better, has a particular service history or is available at Music Companion.
Published 23 October 2026 · 2 minute read · Written for buyers, not for any one instrument
Similar size, different instruments.
The GC series and the CX series are separate lines in Yamaha's grand piano range. The GC1M and C1X share a similar case length of approximately 161 cm, and the USA examples also share a published mass of 290 kg. They belong to separate series and their maker entries list different key surfaces. Do not infer further differences without the exact model reference.
Yamaha's UK size comparison page lists both models in its grand piano range. GC and CX are separate model lines; this guide does not rank their quality or price. Neither series designation alone establishes the sound, feel or condition of a used instrument.
What each page publishes.
GC1M (from Yamaha USA GC series specs):
- Dimensions: 149 W × 101 H × 161 D cm
- Weight: 290 kg
- White key surfaces: acrylic resin
- Black key surfaces: phenolic resin
C1X (from Yamaha USA CX series):
- Weight: 290 kg
- White key surfaces: Ivorite
- Black key surfaces: wood composite
Both references are from Yamaha's USA product pages. Other regional pages may list different specifications or variant names. These are current model references, not specifications for every used GC1 or C1X from every production year.
The difference you feel under your fingers.
The key surface is the part you touch. The GC1M and C1X entries use different surface-material labels. Check the actual keys and ask about their condition and replacement history. Neither is natural ivory; both are synthetic. Ivorite is a Yamaha material name; neither that name nor a specification establishes the current surfaces fitted to every used example.
On a used instrument, the key surfaces may show wear, replacement or refinishing. Check the actual keys at the viewing rather than assuming they match the current model reference. The key materials guide explains what the terms mean.
The used instrument is what matters.
Neither specification page tells you how a used example sounds, holds its tuning, or feels under your hands. A well-maintained GC1 and a neglected C1X are not assessed from the series name alone. The used grand assessment guide and the viewing gallery comparison method apply to both.
If both models are on the floor, sit at each one and play the same passage, softly and loudly, before you look at any specification. The viewing gallery is open for exactly that.
GC1 and C1X, answered.
Are a Yamaha GC1 and C1X the same piano?
No. They are separate model names in Yamaha’s GC and CX lines. The UK size reference lists both at 161 cm, but matching length does not identify their model, variant, parts or current condition.
What measurements are listed for the GC1M reference?
Yamaha’s USA GC1M table lists 149 cm width, 101 cm height, 161 cm depth and 290 kg mass. These are regional model references. Confirm the actual used instrument and do not substitute an electronic variant’s figures.
What key surfaces do the maker examples list?
The USA GC1M table lists acrylic-resin white surfaces and phenolic-resin black surfaces. The USA C1X model entry lists Ivorite white surfaces and wood-composite black surfaces. A used instrument may have replacement surfaces, so check its records and actual keys.
Can GC1M, GC1 SH3 and GC1 TA3 specifications be mixed?
No. The USA table has separate columns: GC1M is listed at 290 kg, GC1 SH3 at 299 kg, GC1 TA3 at 308 kg and DGC1 ENST at 311 kg. Their electronic features and masses must stay with the correct variant. Check the full model label.
Can I compare these grands at Music Companion?
Ask which grand pianos are currently available and give the exact models you want to compare. This article is a reference, not confirmation that either model is currently in stock or that a side-by-side viewing can be arranged.
Where the rest is set out on this site: Grand piano size guide → Assessing a used grand → Grand pianos we carry → Book a viewing → All guides →
Comparing Yamaha grands?
Ask which instruments are currently available and give the exact model or question you want to discuss.