Yamaha "Gray Market"

[Andrew & Rebeca Anderson]

Norman,
I occasionally sell imported, used Kawais and Yamahas from Japan.  These 
are great instruments which have been traded in for new instruments.  The 
well-to-do Japanese often change furniture yearly and pianos almost as 
often.  The pianos were not conditioned for the drier climate we experience 
in the interior of the U.S.  Humid coastal climates where, even with 
air-conditioning, the RH doesn't dip below 40% are OK.  Anywhere else a 
Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System is not optional.
If there are other perceived problems, I haven't encountered any in my 
primary work as a technician.  Are there other perceived problems?

Andrew
At 05:36 AM 1/4/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Folks,
>         I could use a little information.  I am in the Washington, D.C.,
>area and have a set of customers that have purchased from the Yamaha or
>Kawai used "Gray Market" and have been enjoying their pianos for many
>years.  I notice no problems when I service them, and yet the recent
>posts make them sound inferior.  What specifically am I missing about
>the "seasoning" that is done for the North American market?
>                 Norman Brickman
>
>----Original Message Follows----
>Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2004 10:17:02 -0800
>From: "pianolover 88" <pianolover88@hotmail.com>
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: RE: Used Yamaha U1
>Message-ID: <LAW11-F9VofUOKybPZT00077c4e@hotmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Precedence: list
>Message: 14
>
>the VAST majority of these Imported pianos are indeed "Gray Market", and
>were NOT intended for sale/use in the North American market. While ALL
>U1's
>are made in Japan, the pianos sold by authorized Yamaha dealers here are
>"seasoned" for the North American market. Make sure you get the serial
>number of the particular U1 or other yamaha model, then go to the
>Official
>yamaka website and input the serial number. It will tell you quickly
>what
>you're dealing with. Go here:
>http://www.yamaha.com/pianoserials/index.asp
>
>Good luck.
>
>Terry
>
>----Original Message Follows----
>From: "marc and tina" <marc_and_tina@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Used Yamaha U1
>Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 05:10:52 -0600
>
>Hello All,
>
>I am in the market for a home piano and the Yamaha U1 floats to the top
>of
>my list.  I'm seeing a lot of refurbished U1's on the market that was
>manufactured in the 1970's.  I was wondering if someone could shed some
>light on why there are so many used U1's available from the 1970's?
>Should
>I avoid these or focus on buying a U1 built sometime later?
>
>Thanks in advance for your help,
>
>Christina
>
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