Yamaha C5 Grand Piano

You probably already know that the Yamaha C5 is a beautiful beast of a concert level grand piano and anyone who plays one never forgets it. This article gives a brief outline of this amazing model. If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email mgpianos@gmail.com.

The pros of buying a Yamaha C5

  • The Yamaha C5 is a concert level piano of the very best quality.
  • It has three pedals, offering full sostenuto.
  • It will last a lifetime with regular maintenance.
  • It will hold its own as top level instrument in any home, studio, rehearsal room or concert hall
  • The C5 is 2m long so has nice long strings to produce a deep, rich tone

What are the cons of buying a Yamaha C5?

  • It may be a little too big for smaller spaces.
  • The C5 is an expensive piano, especially when bought brand new. Used prices are also quite high

When was it produced?

The Yamaha C5 was produced between 1979 and 1994.

Where was it made?

All 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.

Videos

Yamaha C5 3760xxx from Mark Goodwin on Vimeo.

Yamaha C5 grand piano 4720xxx from Mark Goodwin on Vimeo.

Quotes

Don’t just take my word for it, here is what an article from Audiofanzine has to say…

“It’s an easy piano to play, with a nice touch and good action. It has the feel that you’d expect from any professional piano. … Whether you’re looking for a grand piano for your recording studio or for your home, the Yamaha C5 is a stellar piano at an even stellar price.”
Ask anyone at all in the piano world for their opinion on the Yamaha C5 and you won’t find anyone who doesn’t like it. It’s a winner.

Who should buy them?

You’ll find C5 pianos in concert halls, music studios, piano teachers’ houses, universities, wedding venues,  and in the home of concert pianists. Anyone who needs the highest quality piano with a world class sound knows that they can rely on the Yamaha C5.

Will I need to upgrade at some point?

No way. Enjoy it, care for it, maintain it, and it will literally last a lifetime. If you really wanted to spoil yourself you could trade up for a C7 or a CFX but, realistically, the C5 will keep you happy forever.

Dimensions

Width: 149cm
Length: 200cm

New and used prices.

You can buy a used Yamaha C5 for around £14,000 to £17,000, but prices vary massively due to age and condition.

Alternative models to consider similar to this.

The C3 is slightly shorter but still has a brilliant sound, and the C7 is slightly longer with an even fuller, richer, sound. If you are willing to buy a slightly older piano for a cheaper price, you should look at the G5 which is the same basic instrument as the C5, just a little older and without a few design changes. 

Conclusion

The C5 will keep you smiling for many many years and with regular maintenance it will never ever let you down.  If you want a similar experience for less money, give the older G5 a try instead.

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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.