In a message dated 98-03-18 17:34:34 EST, you write: >I am presently looking to purchase a used 6' grand in the $9,000 and below >price range. There are a lot of 10-20-year old Yamaha G3s and C3s available >that fit that description. I recently played a 20-year-old G3 that I found >extremely pleasing. In fact, it seemed too good to be true at that price. George: This topic has been discussed on the list before, but it is good to repeat the warning again. Used pianos from Japan are not good for the American market. Because the humidity in Japan is so much higher, and constant, than we have here in the US, they dry out, and cayuse all sorts of problems. Case in point is a Yamaha C3 I just tuned for a customer last week. He bought the piano from a Yamaha dealer two years ago, and the pins are slipping all over the place. Apparently the dealer knows there is a problem with this piano because they never return his calls to give him his second free tuning. Although they piano can be repaired if I put in a new pin block and strings, the customer isn't too happy about it, since he paid $7500 for the piano, and now has to spend another $3000 for a new pin block. My advice, as a piano tuner with 22 years experience, is to stay away from Yamahas and Kawais imported from Japan. Instead, for the same money, you can buy a 20 or 30 year old American made piano, which is still considered in its prime, and will give you many years of enjoyment before needing any major work. Willem Blees RPT St. Louis
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