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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>All Yamaha U1s are made in Japan. Go to <A
href="http://www.yamaha.com/pianoserials/index.asp">http://www.yamaha.c=
om/pianoserials/index.asp</A> ,
type in your serial number and in a few seconds, you will =
know!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Piannerman@aol.com
href="mailto:Piannerman@aol.com">Piannerman@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, October 22, =
2003 9:33
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Gray market =
Yamahas</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 =
face=Arial size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Salutations to all,<BR> =
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 - "<B>Made in Japan</B>" =
stenciled
on the plate. Aha!! Definitely a "gray market
piano".<BR><BR> 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 - "<B>Made in Japan</B>", 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 "<B>Made in Japan</B>", even the ones that are made =
over
here?<BR><BR> 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.)<BR>Charles
Cron<BR>Rockfield, KY</FONT> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>