OUR QUICK OPINION The Yamaha GC1 is one of the very best baby grand pianos available. It is much better than the Yamaha GB1 and most other baby grands, while retaining the superb build quality for which Yamaha’s Japanese-made pianos are known. If you don’t have the space or budget for a Yamaha C3 or C5, the GC1 could be the perfect balance of size, performance and value.

SELLING YOUR YAMAHA GC1

We actively purchase Yamaha GC1 grand pianos throughout the UK. Please fill in our sell my piano form and we will make an offer.

Is the Yamaha GC1 too small? Nope!

The Yamaha GC1 is 161cm long which makes it around 10cm longer than the Yamaha GB1, giving it a noticeably richer and deeper bass tone.

While the GC1 is still considered a baby grand piano, it is large enough to produce a genuinely satisfying sound. In our opinion, it sits in a sweet spot with a small size and great sound.

That said, if your room and budget allow, it is always worth checking whether you can accommodate a Yamaha C2 or, even better, a Yamaha C3. The additional string length and soundboard area bring worthwhile improvements in tonal depth and bass richness.

Here is a 2005 Yamaha GC1 from our showroom demonstrated by Oliver. Our recording equipment has made it sound slightly brighter than it did in real life. In person it had a lovely warm and mellow tone.

You can also hear the tone quality of the GC1 in this short excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet.

For comparison, here is a Yamaha C5 grand piano.

The purpose of this comparison is not to discourage you from buying a GC1. Quite the opposite. The GC1 is an excellent piano. However, it demonstrates how additional piano length generally translates into greater tonal richness and bass authority. If you cannot stretch to a larger grand, the GC1 remains one of the strongest choices in its class and is a great step up from the shorter GB1

Where is the Yamaha GC1 made?

The Yamaha GC1 is manufactured in Hamamatsu, Japan. This is Yamaha’s flagship piano-making facility and is also responsible for producing many of Yamaha’s most respected instruments, including the CFX concert grand piano, Yamaha C series grands and the famous Yamaha U3 upright piano.

Japanese-made Yamaha pianos have built a worldwide reputation for reliability, consistency and long-term value, and the GC1 is no exception.

Brand New Price for a Yamaha GC1

A brand-new Yamaha GC1 price is currently around £17,000 and the price for a used Yamaha GC1 might be around £10,000 – £13,000 depending on age.

Used Yamaha GC1 Price

One of the major advantages of buying a used Yamaha GC1 is that many have usually spent their lives in private homes and have seen relatively light use. A carefully selected and properly reconditioned GC1 is usually much better value than buying new. Same piano, same quality, 30% cheaper.

Do we have any in stock?

Our currnet stock of Yamaha baby grand pianos is below. If we don’t have any GC1 in stock now, please email us and we’ll let you know when the next one comes in

Yamaha Baby Grand

We may also have some in the workshop. We currently have 2 in stock.

What do piano players think about the GC1?

Online reviews of the Yamaha GC1 are consistently positive.

From the Pianoworld.com forum

“The GC series is fine for typical home use. I’ve had a GC1 for a year now, and no issues whatsoever, a very high-quality product for an entry-level Yamaha.”

And from the Pianostreet.com forum

Forum user: (source)

“The GC1 is a fantastic piano and I was looking to buy one of them, a GB1 or a C1 a month ago. However… I did like the GC1 better than the C1!!! It is a fantastic piano.”

While internet opinions should always be taken with a pinch of salt, the GC1 enjoys an excellent reputation among teachers, enthusiasts and serious amateur pianists alike.

What Our Customers Have to Say About the GC1

We sold a Yamaha GC1 to Mrs Kojs a few years ago and in her feedback she said:

“Thank you so much Mark! Fabulous piano which I love to bits! Great sound and looks absolutely pristine, I am the envy of all my friends.”

The Yamaha GC1 is better than…

In our opinion, the Yamaha GC1 is superior to the Yamaha GB1 and most other baby grand pianos produced in China or Indonesia.

The GC1 offers stronger Japanese build quality, a more refined tone and typically better long-term value retention. Japanese-made Yamaha pianos continue to offer the strongest combination of quality, reliability and price.

What are the main GC1 and C1 differences?

The Yamaha GC1 and Yamaha C1 share much of the same DNA. However, Yamaha simplified certain aspects of the GC1 in order to offer it for a lower price.

According to this video some of the differences include:

• The C1 has a lock and the GC1 does not.
• The C1 has reinforced hammer heads using multiple felt layers.
• The C1 has a solid wood keybed, whereas the GC1 uses plywood.
• The C1 pedal system is mounted to a full-width steel support beam, while the GC1 pedals are mounted directly to plywood.

In practical terms, the GC1 delivers much of the musical performance of a C1 while being significantly more affordable. Whether the additional refinement of the C1 justifies the extra cost is a personal decision, but many buyers find the GC1 offers excellent value.

You can see these differences highlighted in the following video.

What other models should I consider?

Yamaha C2 and C3

If your room and budget allow, the Yamaha C2 and particularly the Yamaha C3 are well worth considering. The additional length provides greater tonal depth, more bass authority and a wider dynamic range.

The Yamaha C3 is especially popular among serious pianists and teachers and is often regarded as one of the sweet spots in Yamaha’s grand piano range.

Yamaha C1

If you like the GC1 but want Yamaha’s more premium specification, the C1 deserves a side-by-side comparison. The two models are closely related and many buyers compare them directly.

Yamaha U3

If space is limited, don’t overlook the Yamaha U3 upright piano. Many buyers are surprised to learn that a high-quality U3 can outperform smaller baby grands in certain areas while occupying significantly less floor space. The U3 apparently has longer bass strings than most baby grand pianos. I need to measure the strings of the U3 vs the GC1 so that I can update this article.

Conclusion

The Yamaha GC1 is one of the finest baby grand pianos Yamaha has produced. It offers a meaningful step up from the GB1, excellent Japanese build quality and a musical performance that satisfies the vast majority of pianists.

If you are considering a baby grand piano and cannot justify the additional size or cost of a Yamaha C2, C3 or C5, the GC1 deserves a place near the very top of your shortlist.

Questions? Please email hello@markgoodwinpianos.co.uk

Thanks for your time

Mark