Yamaha U Series upright pianos have long been a leading choice for educational institutions, professionals, musicians and discriminating home pianists. Now, thanks to comprehensive redesign, substantial refinements in materials, construction, production processes and overall design, the Yamaha U1, U3 and U5 pianos are better than ever.

The updated Yamaha U series acoustic upright pianos, all offer a longer music rack, and improved back assembly. The U3 piano has a new floating soundboard support system (like the one already featured on the U5).

The floating soundboard support system is based on Yamaha grand piano design and allows the soundboard to vibrate more freely, thus improving the depth and characteristic of bass and mid-range tones.

• The design and major parts including vacuum-cast V-Pro iron frames, copper-wound strings for superb bass tones, the lathe-cut nickel-plated tuning pins and Yamaha designed hammers with T-fasteners are produced by Yamaha Japan.

• The beautiful and durable finish features a resin sheet foundation and polyester finish.

• The Yamaha full perimeter frame can support 20 tons of tension. Yamaha uses V-Pro (Vacuum Shield Mold Process) in casting the iron frame (plate). V-Pro plates are stronger and visually more appealing. Critical dimensions are produced more accurately than before.

• Yamaha reinforces the crown in its soundboards by using ribs that continue to the edge of the soundboard, and are glued into the notched liner (or inner rim on the grand piano). Reinforcing the crown ensures that the tone quality will remain for years and years and improves tuning stability.

• The Yamaha made maple treble bridge with Maple cap, and maple bass bridge guarantee durability, reliability and exceptional musical performance and value due to Yamaha's advanced wood manufacturing processes and laminating technologies. At the Yamaha lumber mill and wood processing facility, the finest spruce is quarter sawn; and less than 10% of the total is selected and reserved for Yamaha piano soundboards. Solid spruce, rather than laminated spruce or poplar, is the choice in all fine pianos for the best amplification of sound, best tone and sustain. These designs have been tested in Canada for reliability in low humidity climates.

• Each key of a Yamaha piano is individually tested and measured for the corrections needed to obtain uniform "down weight"/ pressure. Yamaha actions play correctly and uniformly. This balancing helps ensure a lifetime of superior touch and control across the keyboard.

• Yamaha designs all grand and vertical pianos to have the same key travel. Regardless of size, type or model of Yamaha piano, the keyboards will always feel the same.

• Yamaha uses Spruce for the keys on all models of pianos. Spruce is very light and possesses a very high ratio of strength to weight. It is ideal for key construction, even though its cost is greater than either sugar pine or bass wood. Yamaha keyboards respond quickly-providing fast repetition for the most intricate piece of music. Yamaha keyboards withstand heavy use over years of fortissimo passages.

• Yamaha engineering developed a unique Extruded Aluminum Alloy Action Rail (bearing a Yamaha patent). This is one of the best innovations for improving a piano action in the last 100 years. The usual fluctuations in wood rails that effect touch, caused by periodic weather changes, are eliminated allowing stable, long-lasting action regulation.

• A piano specifically seasoned for the Canadian market. The tuning stability, finish and overall musical integrity are enhanced over the long life expected of a fine piano.

Steve Loates Music Centre will arrange for shipping offline.