Yamaha C3XPE Grand Piano, Polished Ebony

Unparalleled in their beauty and musical range, grand pianos are the ultimate expression of the piano maker's art. Yamaha is proud to present a comprehensive line of incomparable grands, reflecting the very latest in Yamaha acoustic and technological advances. Embodying over 100 years of accumulated expertise, these instruments epitomize the quality, performance and value of Yamaha, the company that continues to write the history of grand pianos.

Yamaha grand pianos have earned a global reputation as instruments of outstanding quality and value. Renowned for their eloquent expressive range, and for their reliable performance over time, they play an important role in the performing arts and music education. Yamaha grand pianos are consistently among the pianos most highly recommended by piano tuner/technicians and are a leading choice of pianists at all levels, all over the world.

The Yamaha reputation rests on a century-long tradition of uncompromising care and craftsmanship, supported by an unmatched range of integrated expertise, top-of-the-line production facilities, and an exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated workforce. Our strength in the full range of relevant technologies allows us to produce virtually every part of every piano ourselves – an approach that has helped us initiate significant advances and set what has long been recognized as the industry standard in quality control.

An open dialog with professional musicians generates invaluable input that, in conjunction with sophisticated research facilities, has led to continual advances in each new generation of Yamaha pianos. Our global network offers Yamaha customers additional advantages, from cost-efficient regional manufacturing to the ready availability of sales and support throughout most of the world.

Balancing cutting-edge technology and innovation with the timeless skills of expert artisans, Yamaha pianos have come to represent an unsurpassed standard of affordable excellence. It is a standard that continues to generate ever-higher acclaim and make Yamaha grand pianos the first choice of many of the world's most discriminating pianists.

Today's C Series grands also incorporate all of the quality construction features found in prior C Series models.

Rims are formed from layers of select woods, laminated into shape in special presses, then seasoned to allow the wood to stabilize. Sturdy back posts are joined in a radial configuration and fitted to the rim using exceptionally strong and stable dovetail joints, enhancing both the pianos durability and the integrity of the acoustic chamber.

Iron plates, the internal frame of the piano, are cast in a vacuum molding process that virtually eliminates flaws and imperfections, then attached with an adjustable mounting system that allows precise control over string downbearing – critical for the best tonal performance. A metal tone collector connects the back posts to the plate, reflecting sound energy back through the case for a fuller, more sustained resonance.

Soundboards are crafted from select clear spruce and cured in a proprietary process that ensures a durable, natural crown. This is further reinforced with full-length spruce ribs, securely mortised and glued into the inner rim. Bridges are formed from fine-grained hardwoods chosen for optimal sound transmission, and precisely notched and pinned to carry the strings.

Produced from special steel and pure copper wire, strings are installed with the aid of special equipment for consistent, even tensioning. Duplex scaling, which tunes non-'speaking' lengths of the strings, enriches primary tones with complementary harmonics.

Pinblocks, where the tuning pins are set, are made from layers of dense hardwoods, bonded in a process that seals against fluctuations in humidity. The pins themselves have lathe-cut, rather than roll-pressed, threads, to ensure the best grip in the pinblock, and are nickel plated to resist corrosion. Together with the integrity of structural components, these features help to give Yamaha pianos an exceptionally high level of tuning stability, assuring better sound between tunings and requiring minimal regular maintenance.

The legendary Yamaha action mechanism is built to ultra-precise tolerances on aluminum alloy rails – unaffected by changes in temperature or humidity – for superb response, rapid repetition and years of trouble-free playing enjoyment. Designed for each model, hammers are made from top-quality felt, glued and T-fastened to hardwood heads and shanks, and profiled to match the characteristics of each model. Matched key sets cut from solid spruce blocks are fitted with durable hardwood key buttons, faced with optimal tactile surfaces, and precisely balanced and laser-leveled for uniform travel and response.

Yamaha piano cabinetry is designed and constructed for long-lasting beauty, with a multi-layer polyester or lacquer finish that provides maximum protection against wear, sun, heat, spills and humidity. All fittings, including solid brass pedals and casters, are engineered for both beauty and functionality, with special protective features like soft-close fallboards and lid prop safety stops.

Finally, every Yamaha piano undergoes exceptionally thorough preparatory procedures. Skilled technicians tuner, 'voice' and regulate each instrument repeatedly over the course of construction, aided by a 'mechanical pianist' that plays every key hundreds of times, enabling the strings and action components to normalize between these procedures. Each instrument is allowed to rest in a controlled environment approximating that of its destination, then sealed in an airtight envelope to ensure optimal condition on arrival.

The end results of this painstaking craftsmanship are instruments at the peak of their musical potential that will provide generations of pleasure to their new owners – pianos, in short, that live up to the superior standards that Yamaha owners expect.