Gray market Yamahas

[Piannerman@aol.com]

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Salutations to all,
     In an Asian person's home the other day and tuned a U1.  Nice piano but 
for some reason the tone quality just didn't seem as nice as what I am 
accustomed to.  The serial number was higher than the latest one (1996) listed in the 
Pierce Atlas and the couple had purchased it from another individual within 
the last year or so.  So I was idly wondering if the piano could be a "gray 
market" when I noticed it  - "Made in Japan" stenciled on the plate.  Aha!!  
Definitely a "gray market piano".

    I didn't say anything to the customer but came home to my own U1, 
purchased about 6 years ago from a Yamaha dealer, smugly confident that my piano was 
a bonafide, Made in America Yamaha.  Lifted up the lid and there it was - "
Made in Japan", right on the plate.  I could have croaked.  Does this mean that I 
have a "gray market piano?"  Surely there must be a way to tell by looking.  
Do all Yamahas say "Made in Japan", even the ones that are made over here?

     Please advise as I have an inquiring mind and would really appreciate 
some insight on this burning question.  (Sorry if this has been covered in depth 
previously.)
Charles Cron
Rockfield, KY

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