Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum What's the suffix "BX" for a Yam C3 mean?

I recently looked up the serial # of my old C3 on the Yamaha web site and it came up as "C3BX", I'm curious about that suffix, especially the "X" part since I believe the modern higher-end Yams have that designation after the model name.Thing is, this C3 was made in 1976 – were they doing that then? Thanks to anyone with the answer!

No. The CX series dates to roughly 2012.

Did you buy the piano new at that time in the US ?

The piano was bought new in the US, yes. It was my late mom's. I might even have the receipt somewhere.

I didn't think this was an "X" in the sense of the modern Yams – I've played a C7X that was wonderful. As I understand, the "X" denotes their hand-made pianos, is this correct? Just curious what the "BX" means as relates to my piano. That's what's displayed when I enter the serial # at the Yamaha web site. I know it was made in Hamamatsu. The serial number is prefixed with "B."

X denotes the more significant updates to the mainline C series in terms of hammers, case design, soundboard (for C3x and larger), etc. S series is the premium line, and CF is the most expensive/exclusive line. I know that can be a bit confusing...

The X in the serial number prefix is not the same as the X in the model designation suffix. I do not know what all the serial number prefixes mean, but I am pretty sure that some are more significant than others. I think some are for finishes, and I think some designated change in the keytop material.

Thanks for the explanation. I just went to the Yamaha web site. There doesn't appear to be any regular "C" pianos made right now – they all have the X appended. At least from what I'm seeing – six C models in all, C1X, C2X, C3X, C5X, C6X and C7X.

This does make sense, but just to be clear the "X" I was referring to in my initial post is not a "serial number prefix." It's in the model designation returned by the Yamaha web site when I entered my serial number – and the "X" is in the suffix of that model designation, i.e., here is exactly what's shown on the web site:



Maybe the "B" is for "black"? I have the ebony finish. I'm really interested in what that "X" means!

C3BX most likely means either “black satin” or “black polished”. Some kind of case or finish indication.

OK that does make sense, thanks!

I do not think that CX are hand made pianos.Perhaps only the CF of Yamaha has much more "hand made" work in them.Machinery is also used apparently in all pianos made today.

Back to the Yamaha website. Quote, "SX pianos are almost entirely handcrafted." All the CF pianos are described as "Handcrafted by Yamaha master builders at our Concert Piano Workshop in Kakegawa, Japan." I was definitely wrong to imply that the CX pianos were hand made – "hancrafted" does not appear in their models' descriptions.