Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum What can you tell me about the Yamaha W105?

I understand this piano isn't sold new in the US. But I have a friend/piano guy who is trying to talk me into getting one. He said they are a step up from the U series. Would you say that are significantly better? How does the action compare? I might not be able to play this before buying (a no-no) but the price might be too hard to resist ($2,500 completely restored)

no one knows?

I've never had a W105(131 cnt) though I'm fairly certain they are similar to the W101 or W102 which I've had many.The upgrade from the U series would be in the case design.They are usually in a polished or satin Mahog,Walnut or even Rosewood.They have the large music rack and the grand style fallboard. They have a darker factory voicing than your traditional Yamaha and the action seems a bit heavier touchweight wise compared to a U1,U2 or U3. I'm just going by the previous preowned ones I've had over the years.In Japan they make near 100 different mdls.They mix and match the strung backs with the various cabinets. Yamaha USA picks and chooses mdls. they feel will be more marketable in the states. The W105,I believe is not gonna be a newer piano so one has to be astute in assessing it's condition.
It won't be completely restored in the literal sense of the term in that the labour would exceed the pricepoint 5 times over.Maybe reconditioned whatever that means. :rolleyes:

Retraction!Disregard everything I said as for my previous assessment of the W105.After viewing a pic of an actual W105 it looks to be in the same family as for a taller version(131 cent)of the W103 which I have had many over the years. The cabinetry is actually downgraded:open pore,mat spray finish usually in a teak or a darker mystery wood.Similar to the U3 as for fallboard and flip down music rack. Similar scale as for a U3 but again the action geometry was weighted a bit heavier though very even and consistent.They sound like a traditional Yamaha a bit on the bright side. Again,I'm only assessing the preowned ones (W103)that I have had in the past.

Appears to have been produced between May 1975 and May 1980. In 1980, all models in the W-series were superseded by the WxxxB series (W103 -> W103B), except for the W105.