Yamaha C3 Grand Piano

The Yamaha C3 is a very special piano. Many musicians dream of owning one but very few do. If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email mgpianos@gmail.com.

The pros of buying a Yamaha C3

  • The Yamaha C3 has a truly stunning sound.
  • It has three pedals, usually including full sostenuto.
  • It is a concert level piano.
  • It’s crafted from the highest quality materials and is made to last a life time.

What are the cons of buying a Yamaha C3?

  • The C3 is an expensive piano, be prepared to save up for a few years.
  • It is relatively large and your family might not appreciate losing their dining room to a piano.

When was it produced?

Yamaha first starting making C3 pianos in 1967. I used to think the C3 replaced the earlier G3 but I was wrong. The G3 was introduced in 1954 and continued to be made for many years even after the C3 was released in 1967.

Where was it made?

All of the C series Yamaha pianos come from Yamaha’s best factory in Hamamatsu, Japan. Yamaha makes all of its professional grade pianos at this factory, including its concert grand, the CFX, which sells for £140k.

What differences between similarly named models?

The Yamaha C3 is very similar to the G3. Here are some of the differences:

  • The C3 is 3cm longer than the G3
  • G3 rim was made of softwood laminates whereas the C3 had alternating softwood and hardwood laminates.
  • The most noticeable and easiest way to differentiate the two models was the finishing on the lid. The C3 has bevelled edges whereas the G3 has a square edge.
  • There is also reputedly a difference in scaling between the two, the C3 having duplex scaling from the C3B onwards.
  • The C3 was and is a slight upgrade over the G3. This can be seen by the final year of side-by-side production (1994), when the C3 retailed with 17% higher price than the G3.

[My thanks to Kealan for sending much of the information in this section]

Videos

Quotes

Don’t just take my word for it, here are some comments I found on Piano World…

“I have a 7 year old C3 and love it. The bass is full and can growl when I want. The sound in my greatroom can fill the home but the C3 can be made to whisper quietly.”
http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2821139/newer-yamaha-c3-or-older-yamaha-c5.html

And another one…

“There is a friend of mine who’s a concert pianist and professor in Glasgow and she bought a 1990 C3 after it had spent ten years in a practice room and she still uses it every day for hours
http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2977643/15-year-old-yamaha-c3-vs-new-c2x.html

another…

“The Yamaha C3 grand pianos are known for its high quality engineering and they are meant for professional piano performances. It is an instrument which matches the requirements of all the level of piano players”
-http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2798492/fair-price-for-a-yamaha-c3.html

Who should buy them?

You don’t have to be a great pianist to appreciate great sound. I’m not a great pianist myself but I really love sitting at a C3 and plodding through my favourite ditties and enjoying listening to the amazing sound it produces. That means they are suitable for any pianist of any standard.  The C3 is also very popular with music recording studios and concert piano hire companies.

Will I need to upgrade at some point?

You will never NEED to upgrade this piano but if you find yourself with a huge spare room and a massive budget you could be forgiven for upgrading to a C5, C7 or CFX. 

Dimensions

Width: 149cm
Length: 186cm

New and used prices.

The current RRP of a C3 (the C3X) is around £23,000-£25,000. Used prices typically range anywhere from £10,000 to £18,000 depending on age and condition. 

Alternative models to consider similar to this.

The alternatives to the C3 would be the smaller and cheaper C2 or the larger and more expensive C5. It all depends how much of your living room and bank balance you are prepared to sacrifice.

Conclusion

A fantastic piano for those who want something special. No musician ever regretted playing a C3 every day.

Looking to buy?

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I hope this summary was helpful to you, and as always your feedback, thoughts and questions are welcomed, so don’t hesitate to reach out.