The UX series is mostly recognized from the X bracing on the back of the piano. However, this is by no means the only difference. All the UX series pianos are manufactured using higher grade materials than the standard U series pianos. Externally the UX series all have the famous X bracing on the back, adding more strength to the construction of the piano. The front panel is vented to allow more sound from the front of the instrument.

Internally the bass strings are longer on the UX models than the standard U model pianos, even though the pianos are the same in height. Yamaha has achieved this by curving the bridge at the bottom of the piano. Higher grade wood and felt are used on hammers and dampers on all UX models.

The UX5 model also boasts having balanced and extra weighted keys and agraffes as opposed to a pressure bar and Sostenuto pedal feature. The newer version of the UX5 (YUS5) does not have agraffes fitted, and we can only put this down to manufacturing cost, as it is a less expensive option to fit a pressure bar. A pressure bar works fine but agraffes work slightly better. This is why on grand pianos only agraffes are used and Sostenuto pedal is now fitted as standard.

The difference between the U series and UX series pianos may seem slight on their own, but brought together they do make for quite a different instrument, especially for those who know. You don’t have to be a piano technician to see and understand the differences mentioned in these UX pianos.