Gray market Yamahas

[Richard Strang]

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Yamaha is making their LU-90 model in Indonesia, and it says "made in Japan"
too.

Richard
  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of Kevin E. Ramsey
  Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 8:47 PM
  To: Pianotech
  Subject: Re: Gray market Yamahas


  All U1s are made in Japan. If you have a suspicion that your customers
piano is gray-market, just go to the Yamaha site, type in the serial number,
and find out.

  Kevin.
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Piannerman@aol.com
    To: pianotech@ptg.org
    Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 6:33 PM
    Subject: Gray market Yamahas


    Salutations to all,
         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  - "Made in Japan" stenciled on
the plate.  Aha!!  Definitely a "gray market piano".

        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 - "Made in Japan", 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 "Made in Japan", even the ones that are
made over here?

         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.)
    Charles Cron
    Rockfield, KY

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