"Gray Market" Pianos- What do you think?

[erecording]

I would love to know what others opinions on "gray market" pianos are. My opinion is that they are not worth the trouble and here's why.... Grey Market pianos are used pianos from Japan. First let me give you a little background with Japanese culture. The Japanese do not like to buy used pianos, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing (I mean no disrespect). Usually pianos in Japanese Schools are rotated out every 10 yrs for uprights, and every 20 yrs. for Grand Pianos.

Many of these pianos end up in the United States where they are sold off at half the price or less of a new piano to unsuspecting customers by dealers who are not concerned with their own reputation. The U Series pianos by Yamaha, including the T121 can be gray market. Kawai pianos may also be gray market.

The problem with these pianos is due to the change in humidity. Japan is a very humid climate, however the US is a dry climate- especially during winter. Gray Market pianos may develop SEVERE problems such as cracked soundboards, bridge and rib separations, and glue problems.

Yamaha does not support any piano that was not seasoned for the United States. Seasoning means that the wood is dried in a kiln to a specific EMC (equalized moisture content). Wood seasoned for Japan is somewhere between 14-15% where in the US it is 7-8%. Wood is not seasoned for a particular destination, but rather the worst climate overall in that region, such as the US. For example, a piano can't be seasoned for LA, Austin Texas, Green Bay WI, ect.

Keep in mind that a gray market piano is a used piano. Used pianos will not last as long as a new piano and may not be in that great of shape. I think Larry Fine's Book on Pianos does a good job at explaning what to look for in a good quality instrument.

I leave you on this note- Once a good friend said to me "Don't you find it a little suspicious that these pianos have to go half way around the world to be sold again?" I own a Yamaha U1 and I can say with pride that it is not a gray market piano. I would advise that anyone who is considering one of these pianos to use great caution.

Thanks for your time. I feel very passionate about this topic and I would appreciate it if others would share their opinions. I would be glad to answer any question that you may have,  
  

[jr11]

Hmmm... point/counterpoint, eh?

In Japan, it is said that the spirit of the previous owner resides in the piano, so there is virtually no market for used pianos, for what Westerners would perceive as no good reason. Of course Yamaha USA and Canada have nothing good to say about these pianos... they are HUGE competitors. They don't have to be sold through a Yamaha dealer, (Yamaha wouldn't permit that anyhow) and buyers can have a Yamaha piano for less than the cost of what a dealer could sell an equivilant used piano for. The moisture factor is somewhat questionable as to how much bearing it really has. Certainly if you live in a northern coastal climate (Pacific North West is perfect) you have nothing to worry about.

So my take is that most of the hype about grey market pianos (even the invented phrase "grey market" is perceived as durogatory) is simply industry protectionist generated hype. As with any used instrument one must be careful, but the real losers with so-called grey market instruments are the Japanese-US/Cdn dealers, and the winners are the consumers.

"Many of these pianos end up in the United States where they are sold off at half the price or less of a new piano to unsuspecting customers by dealers who are not concerned with their own reputation. The U Series pianos by Yamaha, including the T121 can be gray market. Kawai pianos may also be gray market."

Not quite correct... they are usually sold for about a quarter the cost of a new piano, by reputable dealers who include a 3-5 year warranty. Not a bad assurance to a customer on a 10 to 20 year old piano whose factory warranty has expired.

'nuff said.