Yamaha A1 Grand Piano
The Yamaha A1 baby grand piano was made in Japan. Whilst it isn’t quite big enough to have a full range of tone, it is still a good option for those who really want a grand piano but don’t have enough room in their home or studio. If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email mgpianos@gmail.com.
The pros
- It is even smaller than a C1, making it a good option if space is very tight.
- It is cheaper than other baby grands like the G1 or C1.
- It is made in Japan and is built to last
The cons
- The A1’s shorter bass strings means the sound quality is limited. In fact, a tall upright piano (U3, UX, etc) has longer bass strings than most baby grand pianos.
When was it produced?
The Yamaha A1L was produced between 1988 and 1994 (edit: there is reference to it still being made in 2002)
Where was it made?
The Yamaha A1 was made in the Hamamatsu Factory, in Japan. In fact all of Yamaha’s professional grade pianos were created here, including their concert grand, the CFX, which sells for £140k. Yamaha’s Japanese pianos are generally considered to be better than those made in their Indonesian factory.
Videos
Quotes
Don’t just take my word for it, here is a quote I found on Piano World…
“It was a very well designed and constructed piano, using the same scale design as the G1 except that it was a 4’ 11” piano.” source
Who should buy them?
If you’re in love with the idea of a baby grand, the Yamaha A1 is a good choice for the home. It won’t dominate the room too much and you can find an A1 for several thousand pounds cheaper than the later Yamaha C1.
Will I need to upgrade at some point?
If you find yourself with more space and a bigger budget, then you should certainly consider a G1 or G2 (or the more recent C1 / C2) or even better, a full-sized grand like the G3 or C3.
Dimensions
Width: 144cm
Length: 150cm
New and used prices.
A used Yamaha A1 will cost around £6000-£8500 and the latest new equivalent model (C1X) costs around £19,000 brand new.
Alternative models to consider
The C1, C1L, and C1X are more recent versions of the G1 and A1 models and would be easier to find, but are more expensive. A full-sized upright piano, like the Yamaha U3, U30BL, UX, etc, has longer bass strings than most baby grand pianos so perhaps consider whether you can live with an upright piano instead.
Conclusion
If space and budget is limited but you know that you really want a grand piano, then the A1 would suit you well. There are better pianos out there, but they are bigger and more expensive.