Yamaha U3

[kghayesh]

I am offered a used Yamaha U3 for about $5000. What do you think of it as a piano and of this price???

[kghayesh]

Is there a difference between Japanese manufactured, Taiwanese manufactured and Indoesian manufactured Yamaha pianos. A guy told me that the taiwanese is half the price of the japanese and the indonesian is half that of the japanese, which means that the indonesian is quarter the price of the japanese... is that right??

Also, please i need a reply for that price (the exact price is $5168)

[Axtremus]

Different models, difference prices -- simple as that.

Yamaha makes some models in Japan, some other models in Taiwan, some other models in Indonesia, yet some other models in China.

Price of used piano depends on how old it is and how good a condition it is in. The U3, as a model, is pretty good... but you're looking at a used piano. How old is it? How good a condition is it in? These factors affect the price. Even for pianos of the same model of comparable condition, the price in a big city in the US may be very different from the price in a small town in South East Asia. So where are you? That, too, will affect the price.

One way you can go about this is to get a llocal, independent technician to help you evaluate the condition of the piano, and perhaps may be give you an appraisal or some advice on pricing based on that evaluation. (It's also a little like getting an independent auto mechanic to help you inspect a used car before you buy... just in case there's any problem that you as a layman cannot see yourself.)

Another approach, you can play a few more pianos, see if you can find either

(1) A cheaper piano that you like as much (i.e., sound and feel and look just as good to you),

OR

(2) A piano priced the same that you like even more (i.e., you like the sound and feel and look of the piano more).

If you cannot find either, then probably that is the best option for you in your particular situation.

Good luck.

[jr11]

I am offered a used Yamaha U3 for about $5000. What do you think of it as a piano and of this price???

A U3 is a great piano! But $5000 is a lot of money for a used upright. I would expect at least a 5 year warranty and 2 free tunings, with delivery included. Yamahas, at present, hold their value quite well, but that may change dramatically in the next few years.

There are some alternatives to get you into a new piano for about the same price that is just as pleasing. Make sure you explore all your options.

[kghayesh]

Concerning the condition of the piano, it has been bought in the 1970s and nearly haven't been used since then as it was used as a piece of furniture. When i opened the lid and saw the hammers they looked so shiny and bright as if they were brand new.
When i played on it, i found it needed just a slight tuning but the keys were wonderful and so relaxing to play on and so easy to get what i wanted in terms of musicality. I played on many more uprights in local stores (Kawai, Samick, Hoffman,....etc.) but no one sounded like the U3. Perhaps the nearest one to it was the Samick.
I live in Egypt. I don't know but this maybe the reason for this price but actually when i asked Yamaha how much a new U3 would cost they said about $6400.

[classicarts]

A U3 is a great piano! But $5000 is a lot of money for a used upright. I would expect at least a 5 year warranty and 2 free tunings, with delivery included. Yamahas, at present, hold their value quite well, but that may change dramatically in the next few years.

There are some alternatives to get you into a new piano for about the same price that is just as pleasing. Make sure you explore all your options.

Jr11 is correct.  A U3 is a great upright piano with a great feel.  They do have short decay but if your more into jazz and blues then it might be your  type of piano you want.  The price, however, sounds little too steep.  I would bargain. Cheers.

[leahcim]

I live in Egypt. I don't know but this maybe the reason for this price but actually when i asked Yamaha how much a new U3 would cost they said about $6400.

I note on ebay, 20-30 year old Ux series tend to fetch mebbe, 1500 or so from private folk and around 2450+ from dealers. New, internet discounted they are around 3500 for the U1, 4500 for the U3.

That's uk pounds, and the figures aren't very scientific [I could have got a U1, less than 5 miles from me for 1000 the other day because no one bid] - so I don't know how useful that is - but it seems a fair chunk of the new price, despite the age, especially from dealers.

Although the distinction between u1 and u3 doesn't seem to be reflected in the 2nd hand prices - which, if that's in general and not just my anecdotal experience, probably makes them better value 2nd hand.

The potential FUD on new models is that they have innovations and improvements [supposedly on post-1999 models] that makes them better than ever How true that it would require someone like Jeremy, or another tech in here to comment if they've seen - but if it is true, and if in 10 to 30 years you could get that much money back, I can't see, if your budget will stretch, that a new one isn't a better buy. I guess it depends how the prices of new have altered - if they are falling and getting discounted more, perhaps the 2nd hand price won't be as stable in the future as someone else suggested.