An Overview of the Yamaha GB1 Grand Piano

If you’re looking for your first grand piano, the Yamaha GB1 will definitely be in the running. You probably already have come across this model if you’ve researched the market thoroughly enough. I’ve recently had the pleasure trying out this instrument, and felt I should present my findings here. Being the cheapest Yamaha grand piano on the market, this model will appeal to many players on a tight budget. But is price really everything?

The GB1 has been described by many industry experts as uncommonly compact; in fact it has been designed especially to fit in practically any home, no matter how small. The instrument features a standard 88 keys, 3 pedals and its tone is just as rich and expressive as any grand pianos in its price range. Obviously the stand-out feature is the instrument’s price, £10,000. This may not be everyone’s idea of a bargain, but most pianists will agree that the price is quite reasonable for a piano of this kind.

I personally think the tone of the GB1 is simply amazing; this instrument has all of the rich, expressive tonality you could need. I remember I was in the piano store when someone began playing this piece, and the sound radiated across the room and got everyone’s attention. One critique I will make about this instrument’s sound is that its bass tones aren’t quite as deep as other models; this is mainly due to the significantly smaller size of the GB1.

Apart from its awesome sound, I must say that the playability of this piano really surprised me. The keyboard is really responsive and actually makes playing easier, and the keys are perfectly weighted to facilitate expressive and fluent playing. This playability makes it the perfect beginner’s grand piano in many ways.

My only concern about this product is the impact that some of Yamaha’s cost-cutting measures have had on the piano. It is no secret that in order for the manufacturer to sell this instrument at such a low price, several concessions had to be made. The Gb1 doesn’t feature under-covered hammers, and these are important to preserve the tone of the instrument. Without their presence there would be no telling how the sound of the instrument might degrade over the years.

All in all I fell that the Yamaha GB1 is the perfect beginner’s piano, although seasoned professionals might not be able to look past the obvious cutbacks the manufacturer has made. Or maybe you want a Yamaha baby grand piano. It’s well worth the money and guaranteed to give you years of pleasure.

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