In a message dated 97-04-02 22:06:22 EST, you write: << Do any of you have first hand knowledge of what to expect from these pianos in the future and will share that knowledge with me so I can be more direct in my vague answers I give to my clients asking about these pianos Thanks , James Grebe from St. Louis pianoman2inlink.com >> I have serviced several Yamaha's from Japan (starting 1988) and I have never experienced any difficulties of any sort. The grands are easily identified by having only 2 pedals and the serial number is a brass inlay in the lid - (something that probably would'nt go over to well in the US). There was (is?) a lot of Jap-Kawai piano's sold in the Chicago area , at a surprisingly low price, and I have yet to experience any problems with them. The japanese piano dealer who I worked for of course, was not at all pleased with their existence and was sure point out to anyone all of the possible evils that could occur if a customer was in fact so unlucky as to acquire one of these "bootleged" pianos. Howard, years ago, had Kawai make grands for them and there was a similar defensive campaign against them. The only difference that I could tell was that Howard grands had blue tuning pins instead of chrome. Jerry Wood Lombard, Il.
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