Pearl River Piano

[J Patrick Draine]

>
>
>Of coarse it is, but it says Pearl River not Yamaha on the fallboard.  And it
>is not a "joint Venture" as you discribed.

Well we can argue about the definition of "joint venture" if you care 
to, but that's what "Music Trades" April 1995, p. 33 called it: 
"Yamaha Corporation has entered into a joint venture with China's 
leading piano manufacturer, the Guangzhou Piano Manufactory . . . The 
new venture will be called Yamaha Pearl River Piano, Inc."
Maybe you're thinking that "joint venture" means equal partnership. 
In the Chinese state context it means foreigners invest a great deal 
of capital and lots of new technology, while the Chinese company 
retains at least 51% ownership, and total control wherever it's to 
their own advantage.
The 1998 Pearl River price list listed the UP-125D, 49" "Joint 
Venture, Ebony Only" model at $2495.00 ($500 more than the regular 
49" Pearl River piano.

>  Yamaha has financial interest in
>the company and is upgrading their quality through improving their tooling
>and assisting in designs.
>
>Ed Tomlinson
>Cascade Piano
>Piano Sales/Piano Technician