Yamaha GA1E Grand Piano
The Yamaha GA1E was made in Indonesia and is the most compact of the Yamaha baby grand piano range. It will do the job for most people but there are other options worth considering, too. If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email mgpianos@gmail.com.
The pros of buying a Yamaha Yamaha GA1E
- It is compact at just 151cm long (that’s tiny!)
- It comes with a sostenuto pedal, helping ambitious students covering the later grades.
- It is a cheap option for those who really want a grand piano but don’t have a big budget.
What are the cons of buying a Yamaha GA1?E
- The Yamaha Yamaha GA1E is really small (notice this is a pro & and con). Smaller pianos have smaller strings and this affects the range of tone it can produce. Longer strings make a better sound, especially in the bass region.
When was it produced?
The Yamaha GA1E began being made in the late 1990s and had a short production window. They stopped being made in the early 2000s. I believe they were replaced by the GB1 which is also made in Indonesia (someone correct me if this is wrong, please).
Where was it made?
The Yamaha GA1E was made in Indonesia where production costs are lower. Yamaha’s best pianos are made in the Hamamatsu factory in Japan so whilst the GA1E is a good piano, if you want the very best quality, you might want to look at Japanese models such as the GC1 and C1.
What differences between similarly named models?
The size will be the main difference in similar models, take the Yamaha GC1 for instance. It’s only slightly larger at 160cm but has a full, resonant tone. The Yamaha C1 is 161cm and is viewed as a professional quality piano.
Videos
Quotes
Don’t just take my word for it, here is what I found on a forum on Piano World
“The GA1 was a “promotional” grand model, made to be inexpensive, and not reflective of the best of what Yamaha could make at the time”
http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2638162/Yamaha_baby_grand_GA1_model_va.html
However, if you take the lower price into considering then the GA1E can still be a good choice for many pianists.
Who should buy them?
If you really really want a baby grand piano and the GA1E is at the top end of your budget then go for it, the GA1E will do the job perfectly well. If you can stretch your budget then it may be worth considering a Yamaha C1, it is a similar size but higher quality. If cost is an issue, I would highly recommend considering a really great upright like the Yamaha U3. The U3 is a professional grade instrument and will last a lifetime.
Will I need to upgrade at some point?
Over time, you might find that this piano is too small to really produce a great sound. A high-quality upright (at least 130cm tall) might serve you better.
Dimensions
Width: 146cm
Length: 151cm
New and used prices.
A used Yamaha GA1E will cost around £6000-£7000 depending on condition. They aren’t made any more but the RPP was around £8000.
Alternative models to consider similar to this.
If size, rather than budget is an issue, then a better option would be the Yamaha C1, this is a baby grand that is still on the smaller side but has a much higher quality of sound. The C1 would suit a serious or ambitious player. If you can stretch your the size and the budget a Yamaha G3, or the newer C3, would make any musician very happy!
Conclusion
This piano would suit those who have a small budget and are short on space, but really want a grand piano. Serious musicians should probably consider the suggestions we made above.
I hope this summary was helpful to you, and as always your feedback, thoughts and questions are welcomed, so don’t hesitate to email.