If you have looked for used Yamaha pianos – you may have run into this term before. If you have ever searched for the term “gray market Yamaha pianos” online you will find a ton of different opinions about what it means. It’s my goal to simply provide some information from my experience to anyone who is curious about buying or learning about what this means.
The simple answer is that Yamaha pianos imported directly from Japan are sometimes referred to as gray market pianos. Yamaha pianos sold through retailers in the United States are actually imported into this country by a company called Yamaha North America. Yamaha North America is actually a separate company from Yamaha. They are the sole importer of Yamaha pianos into the United States, and because of this, their interest is to protect their market as much as possible. In fact they, they are undoubtedly the ones who initially coined the term “gray market pianos”. You can read their take on what grey market pianos are on their website:
http://www.yamaha.com/ussub/piano/serialnumberlookup.html
In other words: If you buy a piano from a private seller and the piano was not sold through Yamaha North America, it could be termed a gray market piano. Indeed there is a cottage industry of people importing old Yamaha pianos from Japan, refurbishing them and selling them in the United States.
Yamaha North America warns customers about these pianos.
The biggest concern is the age of the piano. Yamaha has continually improved design, manufacturing, and materials of their pianos over the decades. Some of the old pianos they produced were not of the high standard people expect of the largest piano manufacturer in the world. Since Yamaha North America has no control over these instruments, they caution people about them to avoid being associated with sub-standard pianos being sold by some independent importers.
Another issue that is raised is the climatization of the pianos for the North American market. What is the climate of North America? I know that where I live in Southern California has a dramatically different climate than 10 miles away at the beach, or 10 miles inland in the high desert. Indeed, early on before Yamaha became a global music company their pianos were not produced with the seasoned woods to withstand a wide range of climates. However, Yamaha pianos have been produced on a high level for export certainly since the late 1970’s at least. So, this is only a concern with older Yamaha pianos.
Yamaha North America also warns about the availability of parts for “gray market pianos”. They say they will not provide parts for these pianos and require the serial number to acquire parts. The truth is, piano parts are standard and there are countless companies making high-quality parts for almost any modern piano.
So what is the deal with a gray market piano? If you are looking at a relatively recently built Yamaha piano, you should be just fine. Most of the Yamaha pianos sold in Japan are pretty much the same as the ones sold in America. Any skilled technician who can handle a Yamaha American piano will have no problems servicing a later model Japanese market Yamaha piano; the parts and labor are the same.
So while you should be aware of what is termed, “Yamaha gray market pianos”, if you are looking at a later model Yamaha within the time frame of Yamaha North America, there is probably nothing to worry about.
Thanks again for joining me, Robert Estrin: Robert@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729
9 thoughts on “What is a Gray Market Yamaha Piano? Gray Market Pianos”
Some even claim that “the Japanese don’t buy used piano”. What a bullsh*t. Thinking everyone are fools. Used musical instrument store thrive in Japan, especially those used piano stores.
In many Asian cultures, there is a strong preference for new products, including pianos. This inclination is partly due to traditional beliefs that associate new items with prosperity and good fortune, whereas used items may carry the previous owner’s misfortune or negative energy. Additionally, owning a new piano is often seen as a status symbol, reflecting the owner’s success and commitment to quality. There could be other factors of economics that enter into this as well. The fact is, there is a huge, thriving business of used Japanese pianos restored in Japan and shipped to the United States.
There is no such thing in Asia, especially Japan. Of course everybody likes brand new products but Asian’s preference for new things is not any more than that of people from the West.
The thriving gray import/export business is largely if not solely due to price differences. Tariffs, shipping, dealership profits, exchange rate fluctuations and many other factors all contributed more or less to the situation. Culture is not one of them.
Then that is one huge myth in the piano industry!
Thank you for your insight!!! I just bought a C7 that, after paying for it, realized it was a “gray market” piano. It is a C7A made in 1985. Wonderful instrument, and am in the process of having it moved to my home. I have a completely different opinion now of the “ethics” of Yamaha now – they are only thinking about profits. Do you think Steinway would steep as low as Yamaha has done with their “gray market” campaign and refusal to sell OEM parts for these instruments? I think not, and Yamaha needs to reconsider this ridiculous strategy. I love Yamaha pianos – currently have a C3 and will now have two Yamahas. However, I have no respect for the ethics of this company now. Great builders of pianos but self absorbed bastards of free trade.
Hello. I’ve been playing all kinds of pianos by ear since 1990. Today I know over190 songs of all kinds including 23 of my own piano solos. I have three kinds of piano CD’S for sale @ $10.00 each. My dream is to own the very cheapest used 9 foot concert grand piano that has the Piano Disc electronic player system with it’s recording & symphony options. My favorite piano is the Bosendorfer 97 note Imperial concert grand because I Love the powerful low bass notes. The only spinet piano I like is the Baldwin. Thanks & God Bless, Vern Moss- The Piano Man.
Hi Robert,
I missed seeing you at Winter NAMM this year and hope you are well. Your eblasts are always interesting, pertinent and informative. While Yamaha is a respected name in the piano industry and manufactures a variety of products of a musical and non musical nature, you’re statement that they are the largest piano manufacturer in the world is inaccurate. Several years ago Samick surpassed them in numbers of units, and for five or six years now, Pearl River Piano has become the largest piano manufacturer in the world. Last year, Pearl River Piano manufactured over 120,000 pianos and shipped into over 80 countries – and then expanded their manufacturing by building an additional factory in Bejeng to keep up with the demand. The original facility in Guangzhou is 3.1 million square feet and is also the largest piano factory in the world. Larry Fine commented to me that it is difficult to rank pianos by quality any longer because our pianos are arriving so well in the USA. He was forced to rank brands more by price range instead. With Swiss scale designer, Lothar Thomma, designing all our Ritmuller and Kayserburg (hand made) pianos and his protege, Stephan Moeler, overseeing quality control for all our factories, the three brands are achieving a elevated respect in the piano community.
I know, according to your statement above, that this will not be published, but as a friend I wanted you to be aware of this knowledge. I wish you continued success. Please let me know if I can ever help you.
Best regards,
Ron Carter
Your information on the Yamaha “Gray Market” pianos was especially interesting to me, as my husband and I bought a Yamaha C7B through an American dealer in Minneapolis, and were told that it was shipped from Hamamatsu to San Francisco to Rhinelander, Wisconsin near where we then lived. We purchased the piano about thirty-five years ago, so perhaps things were different then. I had the piano in Menlo Park, CA and now it is in Eugene, OR, and still in very good condition. It has been kept up, and I taught a full load of piano students on it for many years. So–do you think it might be “gray”? Best wishes, Phyllis Villec
Good to know. Thank you for the continued education.