The launch of the NEW Yamaha B Series uprights is arguably the most significant event for Yamaha in recent years, certainly since the launch of the Yamaha CX Series grand pianos in 2012. At a dealer event hosted in Madrid, Yamaha unveiled the B10, B20, and B30, each a leap forward from the outgoing B1, B2, and B3, and which will undoubtedly become a benchmark for home piano buyers and schools the world over.
Dom Barnett attending the 2026 NEW B series launch in Madrid
The original b series, introduced in 2006 as an affordable upright piano option for families and schools, presented a great value alternative to the ever increasingly expensive Japanese-made U Series models and, over the years, has become a cornerstone of Yamaha’s upright piano offering. Fast forward to 2026, and the now 20-year-old B Series was lagging behind the competition. Kawai has marched their designs forward, with soft-closes available on all models but the entry level K15, nicely lined extended-length music desks, and Millennium III actions built utilising their carbon-fibre infused components.
Manufacturing shift and a simplified range
As perhaps the catalyst for the development of the new B Series, Yamaha Corporation has recently taken the strategic decision to close their factory in Indonesia, consolidating piano manufacture into two factories: the main plant in Hamamatsu, which produces the renowned U Series uprights and CX grands, and their existing plant in Hangzhou.
As part of this move, they have also discontinued the Indonesian-made but formerly British-built P116 and P121, with the new B20 and B30 serving as replacements for these models too. Consequently, the upright piano offering is now much simpler, making purchasing decisions for individuals and schools much more straightforward.
Quality and consistency from a collaborative production model
One might be sceptical at the thought of a Chinese-made Yamaha piano. However, the Yamaha Hangzhou factory has been producing pianos for the Asian market for the last 23 years and is now a well-established production facility staffed by Yamaha technicians and craftspeople. The consistently high-quality output is very much evident when assessing the new 2026 B Series.
Very much a collective Yamaha Corporation effort, the vacuum-cast iron frames are produced in Iwata, in the same foundry as those destined for Japanese-made Yamaha pianos, and shipped to Hangzhou for assembly. This gives Yamaha complete control over the metal composition of the frames, ensures there are no air bubbles or imperfections, and keeps a tangible DNA link between Japanese and Chinese-built product ranges.
Modern design driven by flagship innovation
The new B Series has been exceptionally well executed, designed to deliver the best possible performance while standing out significantly from the crowd, both of which it achieves abundantly.
It is the first range of new Yamaha pianos to be built utilising manufacturing techniques derived from the development of the flagship CFX2 concert grand, in essence making them the most technically advanced in Yamaha’s upright lineup. For example, while not the same felt as used in the CFX2, the technique for forming the hammers is the same and enables Yamaha to produce a set of hammers with a very specific level of elasticity.
Practical improvements for players and schools
Across the range, each model benefits from five back-posts for optimum rigidity, which translates into enhanced projection and tuning stability. Each model now features a soft-close fallboard, while the music desk extends across the entire length of the piano, is beautifully felt-lined, and clicks into place to become the front fold of the lid when it is closed.
This also places the music in a higher position, similarly to the music rack on a grand piano, to aid the pianist’s posture. This makes the new B Series pianos a particularly compelling option for use in schools: a soft-close means no trapped fingers, while the higher music desk and space for larger scores and single sheets makes the B Series an ideal instrument to conduct from.
Improved soundboard design and tonal refinement
Additionally, each new B Series model has the same soundboard. Previously, only the b2 and b3 had solid soundboards, with the b1 having a three-ply laminate. The soundboard in each new B Series model has a solid spruce core, with a thin epidermal spruce veneer over the top. This makes the sound richer and smoother, and is especially noticeable in the bass registers of the smaller B10.
The new B10 at the B series launch
Updated cabinetry with purposeful design
Yamaha has also updated the styling of the B Series, with new cabinetry that has several well-thought-out features. The top panel is tapered at the top, allowing for a small gap to aid tone escape, while the whole front of the piano slopes gently away from the pianist.
This is perhaps the biggest departure from convention on the traditional style B20 and B30. It helps with the geometry of the music desk placement, makes the piano look more compact, and, crucially, makes it unique in a market where most manufacturers’ offerings look almost identical.
Available with Silent & TransAcoustic technology
Like the original b series, the B10, B20, and B30 are all available with Yamaha’s Silent and TransAcoustic systems, offering greater flexibility for modern playing environments in the home and in education. Silent mode allows the piano to be played through headphones by preventing the hammers from striking the strings, while Yamaha’s non-contact sensors preserve the natural touch of the action. TransAcoustic™ technology enables the soundboard itself to act as a speaker, projecting digital sound through the piano at controlled volume levels while retaining its natural resonance.
About the range
Entry level B10
The new B10 benefits from perhaps the most significant enhancements in the range. Firstly, it is slightly taller than the 109cm tall Yamaha b1, which was consistently a popular upright for beginners and school practice spaces. The B10 at 110cm tall affords it a larger soundboard and longer strings for a richer and more resonant tone. Secondly, the outgoing model had a laminated soundboard, essentially plywood, while the new B10 features the same solid core soundboard as the larger B20 and B30.
It also has an extra backpost for enhanced rigidity and power, while the top lid of the piano sits over the top of the casework rather than slotting in between the sides, which allows for improved sound escape.
A seemingly minor detail is the Yamaha logo on the fallboard. On the b1 there was a brass-coloured transfer, presumably to reduce manufacturing costs, however the new B10 model boasts a brass inlay. New metal sliders will make it easier to move around, although schools may wish to fit the piano with safety bracket castors, which will make it easy to move between classrooms and practice rooms, without toppling over.
Playing the new B10 reveals that it is a much more grown-up piano than its predecessor, the tone is well rounded and the bass much richer and less ‘twangy’. We are confident that this piano will continue to be a popular choice for schools, and it would also suit the beginner to intermediate player who needs a good quality upright for less than £4,000 and cannot accommodate anything larger.
Yamaha B10 upright piano
Yamaha B10 SC3 Silent upright piano
Yamaha B10 TC3 TransAcoustic upright piano
Mid-range B20
Sitting squarely in the middle of the new B Series line-up, the B20 fills the gaps left in the range by the departure of both the b2 and P116. The P116 was designed to appeal to British and European musical tastes, with a mellower and richer tone than Japanese-made Yamaha pianos. This new piano therefore didn’t just have to be taller, it needed to up the ante in terms of component quality to compete against the European alternatives.
The Yamaha B20 stands at 116cm tall, identical to the P116, and this delivers a marked difference in performance over both the smaller B10 and the old b2. The b2 had the same sized frame as the b1, its 4cm height advantage simply because it had wheels. The biggest difference between the b1 and b2 was its cabinetry, while the solid spruce soundboard made the sound somewhat richer and warmer.
The B20 is fundamentally a larger piano than the B10, it is also the first model in Yamaha’s upright range to have both traditional style cabinetry with a front pedestal leg and factory fitted castors. Measuring 3cm taller than the outgoing b2, and 6cm taller than the new B10, this new piano has much longer strings and a larger soundboard area, which enables it to produce a much fuller and richer sound. An extra 4cm in depth also allows for slightly longer keys, translating into a better balanced and more controlled touch.
Yamaha’s newly developed hammers, 5 backposts and new soundboard means that the B20 is a refined and well-balanced instrument that will be ideal for the advancing home pianist, particularly in its SC3 Silent or TC3 TransAcoustic guise.
Yamaha B20 upright piano
Yamaha B20 SC3 Silent upright piano
Yamaha B20 TC3 TransAcoustic upright piano
Top of the range B30
The new Yamaha B30 sits at the top of the range in the new B Series, replacing both the b3 and formerly British-built, European inspired P121. The outgoing b3 drew heavily on the design of the Japanese-made U1 upright, sharing many if its components including the cast iron frame, 5 backposts and hammers. Its cabinetry was less ornate than the U1, without the soft-close, single piece, lockable fallboard, and split hinged top lid. One could look at the b3 as U1-lite, aimed at the intermediate musician whose budget didn’t quite stretch to the price of the U1.
No longer a U1-but-built-to-a-price, the B30 is now its own instrument in the Yamaha range, and is the largest option in the new B Series. Measuring 121cm tall, the same as the outgoing b3, its increased height over the smaller B20 gives it a much more powerful bass, while longer keys make the touch more controlled with higher levels of response. The newly developed B series hammer felt and spruce core soundboard combines to make the tone of the new B30 much warmer and more resonant than the b3, and a very different piano to the U1. The whole length, lined music desk adds a luxurious touch which was always lacking in the utilitarian cabinetry of the b3, while the soft-close fallboard is also a welcome addition.
The B30 is a perfect choice for the home pianist, particularly as a hybrid model with SC3 Silent or TC3 TransAcoustic system, and will comfortably see a musician through their grades and beyond without the need for an upgrade. Its robust build quality and powerful, refined tone means that it would also serve well in schools with more advanced students.
Yamaha B30 upright piano
Yamha B30 SC3 Silent upright piano
Yamaha B30 TC3 TransAcoustic upright piano
In summary
Yamaha has hit on a winning formula with the new 2026 B Series, creating a perfect combination of price point and specification while clearly setting themselves apart from the crowd. We expect that they will continue to be a leading choice for schools and home pianists, setting a new standard against which other pianos will be measured.
Yamaha B series pianos are available to order now online from Chamberlain Music and are soon to be on display for you to try in our Haslemere piano showroom.
For further details contact Dom Barnett on 01428 647593 or by email at dominic.barnett@chamberlainmusic.com.
