Yamaha pianos

[Christopher Witmer]

Admittedly, the more arid parts of the USA can get dryer than Japan, but
you'd be surprised how dry Japan can get in the winter, when there may
be zero precipitation for a few months. In both countries, depending on
how people heat their homes in winter, the piano can be subject to
desert-like dryness. Japan's alternation between moderately cold, very
dry winters and obscenely humid summers is a characteristic not found in
much of the USA though.

Tom Cole wrote:
> 
> David Love wrote:
> >
> > Anybody have any information on the difference between Yamaha pianos built
> > in Japan for Japanese distribution versus ones for US distribution.  I have
> > a customer looking at a U1, 15 years old that falls into the made for
> > Japanese distribution category.  It has only two pedals, otherwise there is
> > not obvious difference.
> >
> David,
> 
> The main thing I would consider is what kind of environment is the piano
> going to be in? The Japanese climate is on the damp side and the pianos
> made for that market do not need to be prepared for the dryness
> experienced by so much of the US.
> 
> I live on the Pacific coast where the humidity level is very similar to
> Japan's and none of the gray market Yamahas that I've seen have had any
> soundboard or pinblock problems. However, you might very well have a
> problem in other areas of the country from what I've read on this list
> (check the archives).
> 
> Tom Cole
> Santa Cruz, CA
> mailto:tcole@cruzio.com