Yamaha B1TC3 Transacoustic piano, Polished Ebony

b1 Model overview

Yamaha have a completely unblemished reputation when it comes to the manufacturing of excellent acoustic pianos. Chosen by professional players, recording studios and venues of all shapes and sizes all over the world, Yamaha have become very well respected in this field and the B1 Upright Acoustic Piano pays tribute to this with exceptional style.

The b1 model is an ideal first piano for those starting out, or anyone looking for a smaller piano. With it's modern cabinet design and lower height the piano certainly fits a smaller space comfortably. There are no castors on this model and this should be considered if moving the piano on reasonably regular basis is required. The tone is clean and crisp and the action is light and responsive; again making the piano a great choice for a beginner or younger players. 

The smaller cabinet size does mean the piano has a shorter string length than other models such as the b2 and b3, as well a smaller resonating chamber. This is noticeable when comparing pianos and players looking for a deeper tone with a broad dynamic range may find the b3 a more suitable choice. 

Overall the Yamaha b1 is an excellent choice, manufactured with Yamaha's customary dedication to quality and workmanship and supported by a 10 year warranty once registered. 

What is the TransAcoustic™ Piano?

Inside an acoustic piano, hammers at the opposite side of the keys strike the strings, and the strings vibrate to produce sound. This initial sound is amplified by the soundboard that occupies much of the piano interior, and the entire body of the piano serves as a resonator, creating the rich and harmonically complex sound that is distinctively acoustic. Now, imagine an acoustic piano that allows you to control the volume, while still enjoying the original sound-projecting design of the piano based around the soundboard. That’s Yamaha's revolutionary TransAcoustic™ Piano.

USING THE EXISTING PIANO DESIGN TO RESONATE SOUND WITH THE SOUNDBOARD
When the keys are pressed on an acoustic piano, hammers strike the strings which, in turn, vibrate. But at this stage, the sound is very faint. So, the string vibration is amplified by the soundboard that sits at the heart of the instrument, and the entire body of the piano serves as a resonator, creating rich and sonorous sound. Yamaha's revolutionary TransAcoustic™ technology takes full advantage of the original design and construction of the piano based around the soundboard.

RICH, EVOCATIVE ACOUSTIC SOUND, FROM A DIGITAL SOURCE
TransAcoustic™ technology does not require any speakers to produce sound. It uses a transducer to convert the sound into vibrations which in turn vibrate the soundboard, which amplifies them and resonates the entire piano. Digital sound sources can be amplified and projected in this way, employing the same sound-generation and resonance mechanism of an acoustic piano, making it possible to reproduce the uniquely sonorous acoustic sound that can be felt by the player, not just heard. What’s more, the digital tone generator features the sounds of two world-renowned concert grand pianos, the Yamaha CFX, and the Bösendorfer Imperial, recorded with impeccable quality using Binaural Sampling techniques.

ADVANCED TRANSDUCER AND SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES EXPRESS EVERY NUANCE OF THE PERFORMANCE
Conventional transducers are too heavy to be installed on the soundboard and would compromise its essential functions. As a result, Yamaha has developed transducers specifically for acoustic pianos, with only a lightweight element affixed to the soundboard. The result is a faithful reproduction of the original acoustic piano sound, with the integrity of the soundboard fully maintained. In addition, the latest models employ a special Articulation Sensor capable of detecting the finest movements of the keys with exceptional precision, authentically reproducing all the delicate playing and expressive nuances of the sound.