Yamaha B2 upright piano - A Strange Choice?
The Yamaha B2 confuses me. It’s bigger than a B1 but smaller than a B3. Does that bag between B1 and B3 really need filling? Let’s talk about it! Oh, and you should definitely consider skipping the B series entirely, and take a closer look at a Yamaha U1If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email mgpianos@gmail.com.
The pros of the B2
- It is small
- It is cheap
The cons of the B2
- The small size (113cm tall) means that the piano has very short strings and short keys which can limit the quality of a piano. We recommend buying a piano at least 120cm tall such as the Yamaha U1 (121cm).
- You might want to upgrade quite soon after buying it
When was it made?
I couldn’t find when the Yamaha B2 was first manufactured (please tell me if you know), but they are still being made today.
Where was it made?
All of the B series pianos are manufactured in Yamaha’s factory in Indonesia. Yamaha’s best pianos are made in Japan.
How does it differ from similar models?
The Yamaha B2 is a slight upgrade to the B1 in that the strings are slightly longer and it has a solid spruce soundboard. If you have the budget for a B2 you really should be switching your attention to the FAR better Yamaha U1 which is made in Japan and can be bought for the same price as a B2 if you buy a properly reconditioned one. We sell professionally reconditioned Yamaha U1 Pianos for the same price (or less!) as a B2.
Videos
Quotes
Don’t just take my word for it, here is a quote from a piano forum…
‘The B2 is OK if you don’t want to pay more, but not a patch on the U1.’ source
Who should buy them?
If you must have a new piano, and if your budget is limited, and if you don’t have much space, then a B2 could be OK. However, I definitely think you should consider a reconditioned Yamaha U1 which is a much higher quality piano for a similar price.
Will I need to upgrade at some point?
Probably. You might find yourself itching for the superior touch and tone of a U1 or U3 after only a few weeks of owning a B2.
Dimensions
Height: 113cm
Width: 150cm
Depth: 54cm
New and used prices.
You can buy a Yamaha B2 new for around £4000. This is around the same price as a far superior reconditioned Yamaha U1
Alternative models to consider similar to this.
The obvious alternative to the Yamaha B2 is the Yamaha U1, which is a much better option for those who want a piano that sounds great and will never need to be upgraded. The U1 comes from Yamaha’s best factory in Japan and is suitable for professional use. There are many reconditioned U1 pianos available in the UK. The B2 is likely a Ford Fiesta and the U1 is like a Ford Mondeo.
Other alternative models would be the B3 which is the same size as a U1 but it is still made in Indonesia and is in Yamaha’s cheapest line of pianos. So why consider it when you can have a professional standard Yamaha U1 for the same money? Easy choice!
Conclusion
A Yamaha B2 is better than a B1 but for the same money you could buy a Yamaha U1 which is a model trusted by many piano teachers, music studios and performing musicians for half a century.