How Yamaha Pianos Differ to Other Pianos on the Market

Yamaha’s corporate ethos is summed up in Kandõ, which translates as ‘emotionally moving’ and describes the pleasure derived from experiencing supreme quality and performance. It does much to explain why all Yamaha products seem to carry a unique aura of dynamism and mystique.

Founder Torakusu Yamaha trained as a watchmaker, appreciating that musical instruments are in fact precision mechanisms, in which all the parts need to be of highest innate quality and also work in synergy to form an organic whole. So from the pioneering Yamaha upright piano of 1900, all Yamaha musical instruments have not only incorporated traditional craftsmanship but also precision engineering and innovation.

Thus the metal sound frame that from early days has formed the heart of every Yamaha piano is a precision manufactured component that also works in harmony with the strings to provide a richer and more dynamic timbre, as well as keeping its tune longer and over a wider range of ambient temperatures and humidities. True, manufacturing metal frames required special capabilities beyond the scope of traditional instrument makers. But then Yamaha has always been willing to explore beyond traditional woodworking and mechanical engineering into fields like metallurgy, chemistry, and latterly electronics.

This synergistic philosophy and dedication to quality lies behind all the features found in every Yamaha piano.
So Yamaha soundboards are made of solid spruce, rather than laminated spruce or poplar, for optimum amplification, tone and sustain. The reinforcing Yamaha Full Length Ribs continue to the edge of the board and are glued into the notched liner, or inner rim. This ensures greater longevity of tone quality and tuning. Yamaha also prefers spruce for the keys on all pianos, for its light weight and relative strength over cheaper sugar pine or bass wood. This gives Yamaha keyboards extra response over intricate passages while withstanding years of fortissimo pounding.

V-Pro is the special Yamaha Vacuum Shield Mould Process used to cast the iron frame, or plate. V-Pro plates are stronger, more attractive and can be manufactured to even finer tolerances. Extruded Aluminium Alloy Action Rail is another patented Yamaha technology, eliminating weather-related fluctuations to ensure stable, consistent and long-lasting quality of action. This is further enhanced by Yamaha’s Balanced Action in which each key is individually tested and measured for uniform "down weight". Further, Yamaha ensures all its pianos have the same key travel so that regardless of size, type or model, every Yamaha piano will feel familiar.