Yamaha U1, U3 or Kawai K300: which should you shortlist?

A quick comparison

The model is the starting point.

Yamaha U1, Yamaha U3 and Kawai K300 are upright model names buyers can compare when planning a home instrument. Use the maker’s dimensions to begin the room plan, then verify the exact unit. This guide does not imply all three are currently available.

• Yamaha U1: Yamaha Singapore gives a height of 121 cm. Start with the U1 model page and ask which year and variant you would be viewing.
• Yamaha U3: Yamaha Singapore gives a height of 131 cm. It is taller than the U1 reference; compare the U3 in person before deciding whether it is your preferred instrument.
• Kawai K300: Kawai’s K-300 page gives a height of 122 cm. Read the K300 model page, then check the serial number and fitted features of the piano being offered.

Sources: Yamaha Singapore’s U series and Kawai’s K-300. These current manufacturer references are not a specification sheet for every older used instrument.

Yamaha Singapore also lists a U1J variant. If you are comparing U1 and U1J specifically, the U1 vs U1J guide covers the current model references and what to check on the actual piano.

Condition before comparison

Ask which piano, not just which model.

Get the complete model name, any suffix and the serial number before the viewing. Match them to the instrument when you arrive. Ask what is known about its age, previous use, tuning and repair history. Two examples of the same model may have different histories and may need different work.

Do not transfer a feature from a current catalogue to an older piano without checking. Ask which pedals and fitted features this unit has and have them demonstrated. If work has been done to the action, strings or cabinet, ask what was done and what is still outstanding.

The used piano viewing checklist covers the detailed inspection routine. If you want an independent technician’s assessment, ask whether and when it can be arranged before paying.

Play them back to back

Compare touch and tone in the same room.

Bring a short passage you know. Play it on each available instrument at a similar volume, then quietly. Repeat the comparison before choosing. Avoid deciding from recordings made in different rooms, or from a rule that one brand must sound a certain way.

• Quiet playing: can you control the notes at the volume you will use at home?
• Key response: try slow notes and repeated notes across the keyboard. Ask about any uneven response.
• Pedals: have their functions explained and test them on the actual piano.
• The player: let the student try it too. If a teacher helps choose the instrument, involve them in the comparison.

Write down what you preferred on each unit. A teacher can help assess the player’s needs; the model name alone does not establish suitability for a course or examination.

Plan the room and access

Measure more than height.

Confirm the actual width, depth and height, then plan space for the bench and player. Measure doors, lift openings, corridors, turns and any stairs along the delivery route. A piano fitting against a wall does not establish that it can reach that wall.

Send photographs and measurements when asking about delivery. Ask the supplier or mover to confirm the route, any access conditions and the charge in writing. Do not treat a model’s height as proof that it will fit an HDB flat or condo.

Compare the quotation

Put the whole purchase side by side.

Ask for a quotation identifying the instrument by model and serial number. Separate its price from delivery, tuning and any agreed work. Check what is included, what is optional, when it happens and what aftercare terms apply. A lower instrument price is not necessarily a lower complete purchase cost.

Music Companion’s sale page sets out the buying questions. Ask for the terms applying to your chosen unit rather than assuming the same delivery, repairs or warranty for every piano.

Before you commit

Eight questions for the shortlist.

1. What is the exact model, suffix, serial number and stated year?
2. Which instruments are available to compare, and when?
3. What service history is available?
4. What work has been done and what remains?
5. Can the player or teacher try the actual unit?
6. What are its measurements and the delivery access requirements?
7. What does the written quotation include and exclude?
8. What aftercare, cancellation and payment terms apply?

Shortlist by budget and space; decide using the actual piano and its quotation. If no suitable unit is available, keep the shortlist and wait rather than substituting an unviewed instrument. Arrange a viewing once availability and the appointment are confirmed.