Yamaha U1 - With Factory Silent System

A Time-Tested Classic, with a Built-In Quiet Mode

The Yamaha U1 has long been the benchmark for 48" upright pianos—praised for its clarity, responsiveness, and unmatched consistency. This particular U1, built in 1990 during a peak era of Yamaha craftsmanship, features something rarely found on used models: a factory-installed silent system. With the flip of a lever, the hammers disengage from the strings, allowing for quiet, headphone-only practice at any hour—perfect for apartment living, families, or late-night players.

This is not an aftermarket retrofit; it’s a Yamaha-engineered system installed at the factory when the piano was built—providing a seamless, integrated experience that preserves the natural feel of the original action.

Key Features

• Factory-Installed Silent System for headphone practice

• Made in Japan during a period known for superior quality control

• Full 48" height with rich bass and dynamic projection

• Original high-polish ebony cabinet in excellent condition

• One of the few U1s with silent play capability in this price range

Our Refurbishing Process

This piano was imported from Japan and fully refurbished by our trusted team in Hamamatsu before being shipped to our Seattle shop.
We import hundreds of pianos each year, but this U1 in particular has aged incredibly well.
The interior parts are almost indistinguishable from a new model.
We’ve performed final regulation, voicing, and tuning in-house to bring it to performance-ready condition. T
he action is responsive and well-balanced, with excellent repetition and tonal evenness across all registers.

The factory silent system still performs 100% and will receive a 5 year warranty along side the pianos 10 year parts and labor warranty.

Why Choose Seattle Piano Co?

Seattle Piano Company is owned and operated by a piano technician with a 20-year background in refurbishing high-end acoustic pianos.
We specialize in Yamaha instruments—especially rare and premium Japanese-market models.
Every piano is hand-selected and goes through a rigorous multi-stage prep process before being listed for sale.

We offer free shipping to most major U.S. cities, and every instrument includes:

• 10-Year Parts & Labor Warranty

• Complimentary After-Delivery Tuning

• Lifetime Full-Value Trade-Up Guarantee

If you’ve been looking for a U1 and also value the flexibility of a silent system, this is a rare opportunity to own a fully acoustic Yamaha with discreet practice capabilities. Questions? Reach out directly—I'm happy to send additional photos, videos, or a sound sample.

– Aaron Firpo
Owner, Seattle Piano Company