Steinway

Steinway K-52 vs Yamaha U3

Both are tall, 52-inch professional uprights, and both are excellent. The main difference is price.

The pianos

The Steinway K-52 is Steinway’s full-size upright, hand-built, with a big, grand-like tone. The Yamaha U3 is a 52-inch Japanese upright, superbly made, consistent, and the backbone of teaching rooms and homes across the country.

Tone

The Steinway has the richer, more complex voice you would expect. The U3 is bright, even and reliable. In a home, both are more than enough piano.

Price

A reconditioned Yamaha U3 costs a small fraction of a Steinway K-52. Pound for pound the U3 is one of the best-value serious pianos you can buy.

Which to buy

If you want a Steinway and an upright, the K-52 is a lovely thing. If you want the best upright for the money, the U3 is very hard to beat, which is why it is our speciality. See our Steinway uprights guide, or come and try a U3.

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