Do look into Pearl River and Ritmuller pianos. They will fit your budget, and the Guangzhou, China plant has some impressive credentials:- they are the largest manufacturer in the world- one in seven pianos now sold in the US was built there- Yamaha produces many of its models there- Steinway has announced they will produce their entire Essex line there- the Piano Technician's Guild in Kansas has a showpiece Pearl River grand they are using for training and examining their membersPearl River in making very strong headway into the US market by keeping their pricing low, about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of Japanese products, for now. The price will no doubt go up once the consumer grasps the value and quality, and that is happening VERY quickly.
JR11,I agree that Guangzhou is begining to produce some good instruments and of all the Chinese companies, probably the top.However, you state that Yamaha is making many of their models there. That is not correct. No pianos under the Yamaha name are made there. Their is a Pearl River studio piano made that Yamaha has invested in and I believe the Eterna console (also owned by Yamaha) is still being produced there.
I don't know how to post photos on this message board, but I have a couple shots taken at the Pearl River factory of Yamaha pianos in crates and frames sitting side by side of Pearl Rivers and Ritmullers.
JR11,I owe you an apology. Yamaha does produce two branded pianos at Guangzhou (a 42" and a 48"). Neither piano is available outside of China, so my original statement was true only from a US market point of view.
(BTW, RJ11, which country are you in?)