[pianotech] Yamaha M1?

[Amadeus Piano]

Thanks Paul, and thanks Terry for your detailed reply.  I just wanted to be
sure I wasn't missing something, that it wasn't some sort of one-off special
or unusual piano.

One of the things that mystifies me most about this work is the sheer
variety of pianos, and for example, the myriad little things, like the
disparate ways verticals open from the top.

Appreciate your help guys, Gary 

 

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Terry Farrell
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 10:45 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Yamaha M1?

 

Rough value measured how?  $$?  Or musical value? I presume dollar value.

 

If that is true, IMHO, once a piano is 40+ years old, it matters little what
the model is - even the importance of the manufacturer is generally
diminished. And especially in a smaller piano - a console. What matters most
is condition - and more-so cosmetic appearance that functional condition
(wish that wasn't the case, but for most folks looks talk).

 

My opinion of your description of the appearance and functioning condition
of the piano is at least very good. In midwest prices, in a private sale,
I'd give a range of $600 at the low end to $1,500 at the high end. I find it
not uncommon to see some very nice little pianos go for as little as $500 or
$600. And as an example, my son's piano teacher sold her excellent condition
1984 Yamaha P-22 a few years ago for $2K (the P-22 studio upright being
quite a bit more instrument than the console).

 

And of course a Dealer would add $1K to those prices if s/he were selling
the piano in their store.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Terry Farrell

 

On Sep 17, 2009, at 9:27 AM, Amadeus Piano wrote:





Hello all, a customer asked me for a rough value on her piano.  It's a small
Yamaha console piano and I measured it at 41 in. but I'm pretty sure it's a
model M1-looks just like all the M1s I can find pics of online though they
are all shown as 42 in. models. 

 

The only relevant marking I found was on the bottom board and it was a small
handwritten, "M1A7."  At least, I'm pretty sure it's an A, but it could be
an "O" or "0."  The fallboard, knee panel, and sides are marked, "7-10-1."
It has the "Made in Japan" label on the back and another label that has been
torn off.  And the serial number where you'd expect it.  It's otherwise
unmarked-(i.e., no obvious M1 stencil on the plate or elsewhere).

The serial number puts it at 1968 according to Yamaha's site.

It's in really good shape.  It's satin walnut.  Though it hadn't been tuned
in many years with the exception of a few bass notes it was only about -6
cents flat across the board.

The FAC inharmonicity scale according to my Accutuner was pretty smooth:
5.8/6.1/6

It's a nice sounding little piano if a little twangy at the breaks.

 

I'm trying to come up with a ballpark value but I want to make sure I'm not
comparing apples to oranges.  And this is my first M1.  But I'm worried it
might be significantly different than a standard M1.  I want to be sure.

Is this an M1 variant?  Am I reading a model number there or is it something
else? 

 

And if so, anything unusual about it? 

 

I've read that Yamaha made some one-off variants in the past that were in
some cases better quality instruments, in other cases, just slightly
different.

 

Thanks in advance for any help, Gary

 

 

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