Don, Sorry about any mis-information. I had heard from a handful of different sources, (some quite credible and very professional people like Bill Brandon, and some much less credible people, as-in the local "gray-market" reseller), that Kawai does ship used Japanese-market "gray-market" pianos to the USA for resale. I'm sorry that I may have mis-stated Kawai's position as to which brand Kawai resells here in the USA. I had also been told that Kawai does take Yamaha's as trade-ins in Japan. If this is completely untrue, then please let me appologize now for spreading a false rumor. I was also told that at some-point Kawai remanufactured Japanese-market pianos. I assume this meant that you had a department that rebuilt Japanese-market Kawai's before export to the USA. Again if all of this is untrue, then I greatly appreciate your setting the facts straight. I only asked these questions because I just want to understand the "gray-market" better so that I can make an truly informed recommendation about these pianos (not just an overly general knee-jerk dismissal). As to Yamaha's position not to sell parts for "gray-market" pianos. That's their choice. I don't personally agree with it or the motivation behind this policy, however, I do wish to re-affirm that Yamaha has always been good to me, and that I believe that they produce only quality pianos. It is my belief in Yamaha's commitment to quality causes me to disbelieve Yamaha's parts embargo explanation. Yamaha doesn't produce junk pianos, so why make such a big deal about "gray-market pianos", and why now? In defense of Yamaha, when I talked to Bill Brandon last week, he was extraordinarily patient and professional. I genuinely believe that he sees "gray-market" Yamahas as a threat to the "Yamaha name", in that many of these pianos are severely worn, abused, and not very well maintained. To this end, I agree that Yamaha needs to help identify Yamaha pianos that are not quality used pianos. However, I personally cannot believe that cutting off parts will help us provide quality service for those "gray-market" Yamaha's that are already here. Yes, Mr. Brandon confessed that most technicians will just supply Yamaha with a false USA piano's serial number to get those parts that generic enough to be used in both versions (USA and Japan), and that we could just order parts from Schaff. I don't like either option because it makes technicians 1) buy all of their original Yamaha parts from a single vendor (Schaff), or 2) become liars. BTW: Can tell me how Yamaha "seasons" a piano for ALL possible climate regions in the USA, but a Japanese bound Yamaha is supposedly going to fall apart here because it was supposed built to a lesser standard? If this really were true, then shouldn't we be frustrated that Yamaha is making a supposedly lesser-quality pianos for Japanese use? What about my American clients that bought their Japanese Yamaha while stationed in Japan or the Orient, and then brought their piano to the USA upon retiring? Am I supposed to tell them that their piano is now officially "junk" and Yamaha won't let me order parts from them if we should ever need them. Seeds of doubt. Thanks for letting me respond, Brian Henselman, RPT MusicMasters Piano Service musicmasters@att.net -----Original Message----- From: Don Mannino <donmannino@mediaone.net> To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org> Date: Monday, September 13, 1999 9:20 AM Subject: RE: latest journal >Brian, > >Kawai America imports a small quantity of used Kawai pianos from Japan which were used in the Kawai music schools there. We do not import any other brands, and we do not purchase used pianos to bring over and sell. I wish I understood why you asked me this - or was this a tongue-in-cheek question? That's a good way to start false rumors. > >Don Mannino > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org >> [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf >> Of Brian Henselman >> Sent: Sunday, September 12, 1999 6:33 PM >> To: pianotech@ptg.org >> Subject: Re: latest journal >> >> >> Don, >> >> Who do I contact at Kawai to see about ordering "gray-market" Japanese >> trade-ins that Kawai ships to the USA? >
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