Yamaha U3 Acoustic Upright Piano Full Review - Popplers Music

Yamaha U3 Acoustic Upright Piano Full Review

Welcome to Popplers Music. My name is Josh. Let’s talk pianos.

Today, we’re going to be taking a look at Yamaha’s U3 52” upright. The U series is the most popular upright acoustic piano series in the entire world over the last 50 years. Let’s take a look at what makes Yamaha’s U3 and U series so special.

Yamaha’s U3, precise, ultra-responsive touch, clear full body tone, and a reputation for reliability have made U series pianos the choice of professional musicians, conservatories, teachers, students, and music lovers the world over.

Add to that Yamaha’s legendary attention to the detail of every piano and it’s no surprise that the U series has been the world’s most popular upright for over half a century. An expensive soundboard and acoustic chamber give the 52” U3 extended power and projection with the purest tone and expressive control of the legendary Yamaha action.

The U series soundboards and ribs are crafted from solid spruce that have been hand-selected at Yamaha’s Kitami Mill in Hokkaido, Japan giving these pianos a richer, more resonant voice and evenly balanced tambor across the entire keyboard.

A set of rolling racks in the piano factory with a set of wood soundboards standing vertically with ribs in place.

Years of cutting-edge research, including Yamaha’s proprietary wood drawing process, results in back posts that maintain their shape, strength, and resonance for years to come.

The view of the back of an upright piano with the posts supporting the soundboard visible.

Yamaha was the first company to use an advanced vacuum shield mold casting technology called V-Pro to create a stronger, lighter, more durable frame. Every U series piano features a full perimeter frame built to Yamaha’s exacting specifications at Yamaha’s Iwata Forge in Japan.

A closeup of the Yamaha logo in the 'V' of the frame.

The U series hammers are crafted to the finest materials and painstakingly designed for each model to provide optimum tone, response, and a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Yamaha artisans in Yamaha’s factory in Kitagawa oversee the winding of pure copper and adjust the balance and tension of each bass string to the exacting standards and sound profile for every U series piano.

View of a row of hammers n process of being installed in an upright piano.

Often copied but never equaled, the patented Yamaha aluminum action rail helps ensure Yamaha’s piano keyboards are as resistant to tiny fluctuations in humidity and temperature over time. Inspired by Yamaha’s grand pianos, their dampening mechanism prevents the fall board from dropping abruptly, guarding against accident, injury, or damage.

A closeup view of the aluminum rail in an upright piano being constructed.

Please check out some of the examples that played with the U3:

Additionally, if you are still learning about Yamaha U series pianos… Check out HERE for more information on other U series pianos from Yamaha.

Thank you so much for watching. Somewhere on the screen, you’ll see more videos that you may find helpful while you’re learning more about pianos. If you have any questions, please feel welcome to give us a call or reach out to us at popplersmusic.com.