Dimensions

Wagner HL122 Monarch - Height: 122cm X Width: 151cm X Depth: 60cm

Yamaha U3 - Height: 131cm X Width: 152cm X Depth: 66cm
 

Piano string length = piano speaking length
(one of the very important part of piano scale design - longer string promotes richer and more powerful tone)

Wagner HL122 Monarch - #1 bass string length is 120cm. Middle section (Tenor) is 91cm. Duplex scale and German Röslau steel wires for the treble and bass strings add tonal colour, longer sustain and rich singing tone with powerful bass

Yamaha U3 - #1 bass string length is 120.6cm. Middle section (Tenor) is 92cm. Old treble strings - weak, thin tone. Old bass strings - tubby and thumpy sounding, dead sound
 

Action and Hammer

Wagner HL122 Monarch - Renner-type All-wood Full-size Direct-Blow Action - responsive action with no clicks and no buzzes. Hammers heads are felt-covered wooden mallets consists of new underfelt rounded by high-quality Japanese wool capable of producing barely audible pianissimos and thundering fortissimos with minimal wears. All keys undergo the process of individually weighted and balanced for better feel

Yamaha U3 - Full-sized Direct-Blow action type with undercovered Japanese hammer felts that are old and worn - loses it dynamic range and tonal colours. Old felts and leathers harden over the years and action becomes noisy and keys become loose - poor control create poor playing habits
 

Age & Warranty

Wagner HL122 Monarch - Brand new with 10 years FACTORY warranty and will last you for next 30 years

Yamaha U3 - At least 25 years+, old scale design and materials, with 1-5 years DEALER warranty. Looks new but MUSICALLY dead (tone dead). Major components such as the soundboard, strings, action parts, bridges and pinblock have deteriote due to wears and humidity. Major rebuilding works needed attention and can cost much more than a new piano
 

Conclusion

Wagner HL122 Monarch - Although smaller size, Wagner HL122 Monarch has the performance features of a taller piano. The string length is almost the same as the Yamaha U3 (-0.6cm) thus give a rich singing tone with powerful bass. In addition, the Renner-type design action allows the ease of playing at different dynamic levels. Quality equal if not better than Yamaha U3 and affordable price

Yamaha U3 - Lack of sustain power, weak in tone and noisy action will greatly affect students playing in the long term and most likely to quit piano lessons sooner. Price is equal if not more expensive than Wagner HL122 Monarch