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FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GRAY MARKET PIANOS (By David Durben)

“BUYER BEWARE” TAKES ON NEW MEANING WHEN IT COMES TO THESE INSTRUMENTS.

Have you ever heard the term “gray market piano”? Many people shopping for pianos may come across this phrase when doing research online or speaking with a dealer. Shopping for a new piano can be a daunting task, and if you have little (or no) experience buying one, it can be easy to be misdirected by sellers offering gray market pianos – instruments purchased in large quantities in Japan or other Asian countries, packed into shipping containers, and then brought into the United States for resale. They may be great instruments in excellent shape – and they often come with an attractive price tag – but before you jump at the opportunity to buy one, there are a few things you need to know:

1. You may be looking at major repair problems down the road. Only a handful of piano makers, including Yamaha, build pianos specifically for the three major world markets: Asia, which is a moist climate; Europe, which is fairly dry by comparison; and the U.S., which is considered to be extremely dry. (Keep in mind that we are talking about the INDOOR climate, as opposed to outdoors.) In winter, heating systems remove substantial moisture from the air, and in summer, air conditioning systems also lower the humidity. In addition, American homes tend to be better insulated than homes in many other countries, further isolating the interior from whatever moisture might be in the outside air.

The problem is that, when a piano that’s intended for a moist climate is placed in a dry environment, there is the likelihood that its structural integrity will be threatened as the wooden parts lose moisture. This in turn can cause warping of case parts, cracks in the soundboard and/or loose tuning pins. And while soundboard cracks are often only cosmetic in nature, loose tuning pins will have a direct effect on the ability of the piano to hold its tuning. If that happens, the only practical solution is to re-pin the piano with oversized tuning pins – a procedure that typically comes with a fairly high price tag, since it often encompasses re-stringing the piano too. That’s why, when Yamaha builds pianos destined for the U.S., it seasons the critical wooden components – including the soundboard, bridges, ribs and pin block – by drying them to a much lower moisture content using computer-controlled kilns and other advanced manufacturing technologies.

2. Lack of warranty. There is absolutely no factory warranty coverage on gray market pianos, so if you ever need any of the (likely, and likely expensive) repairs cited above – or any other repairs, for that matter – you’re strictly on your own.

3. “New” may not really be new. Many gray market pianos represented as “new” are actually used pianos that have been reconditioned by independent piano shops. Others have been sold to third party entities, who then ship the products into the U.S. for unauthorized sales.

4. Replacement parts can be difficult to find. It’s always a good idea to verify the true origin and backstory behind any major purchase. You wouldn’t buy an existing house or a used car without trying to learn all you can about its history, would you? The unfortunate reality is that you won’t ever truly know everything about a gray market piano, ranging from its cabinet style and finish to its year of manufacture and/or internal components. There are many models and styles of piano built for other areas of the world that are quite different from those sold in the U.S. As a result, finding parts can become a rather complicated affair for the owner of a gray market piano since even the manufacturer may be unable to assist you.

If you or someone you know is being offered a gray market Yamaha piano, or if you want to verify whether or not your Yamaha piano was built for use in the United States, you can use our free serial number finder tool available here.

What’s the difference between U3F, U3G, U3H, U3M, U3A, U3N Yamaha U3 pianos?

First of all, Yamaha established the International Corporation (current Yamaha Corporation of America) in 1960 and introduced their pianos to the US in small quantities. The U3 style also was not yet popular in the USA at that time when most purchased decorator style console pianos. The additional lettering system that Yamaha have used for their U3 line of pianos can be a bit confusing and often not even known. Check out the following to help improve your understanding of this model.

Manufacture location

The first thing to say is that the Yamaha U3 is made in Japan at the Hamamatsu factory which is responsible for making all of Yamaha’s highest quality pianos including the Yamaha CFX concert grand piano.

Beyond that, you will want to know what year it was made and whether there were any good or bad periods of Yamaha piano manufacture. You should also fully understand what a GRAY MARKET piano is. Please also read about this.

What do the letters stand for

If you look just to the left of the serial number of most Yamaha U3 pianos you will usually see a letter. The most common tends to be “U3H” but it can be anything from U3F, U3G, U3H, U3M, U3A, U3N, U3E. If you do not see the extra letter, you can determine the year made from the serial number and know which series it is. Here are some bits of information about what those letterings stand for.

Here are my comments about the various models

Yamaha U3F

The F has shown up in the later 1990’s series; However most of the serial numbers of these pianos will range from around 100,000 up to 1,000,000. If the piano is in original condition or has only had minimal reconditioning work then you should try to avoid that piano. If the piano has been properly and professionally reconditioned then it should be fine but I would still recommend that (a) you get the piano inspected by an independent technician and (b) perhaps save up $1,000 more to buy a U3G (below) instead

Yamaha U3G

These models date from the early 1970s, have serial numbers between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 and are a better option compared with the U3F (above). The U3G is likely to have a similar, soft sound to the U3F (particularly in the bottom few octaves) although the rest of the keyboard can sound very nice if properly reconditioned. Overall, my opinion on the U3G is that you should try hard to stretch your budget and go for a newer model if possible. If you must buy a U3G please do hire your own independent technician to inspect the piano for you, it will be the best $100 you can spend. You must make sure a piano of this period has been properly reconditioned and will hold it’s tuning.

Yamaha U3H (1970-1980)

Yamaha U3 pianos in this category are mostly good and have serial numbers ranging from 2,000,000 up to 3,000,000. The U3H comes from a time when Yamaha had perfected what a modern piano should be. Strong, reliable, consistent, warm tone, beautiful action and, most importantly, top quality materials and top quality workmanship which (in my opinion) you don’t find in any of the modern pianos being produced by countless piano factories that are springing up all over the world producing cheaper and cheaper pianos. The U3H ranges from about 1970-1980 and I find that from the 1975 point onwards the qualify is very high. Some of the early 70s U3H pianos can be very nice but I recommend sticking to the later ones.

Yamaha U3M (1980-1982)

You can trust a Yamaha U3M to be of a very high standard of build quality. You do still need to make sure that a full reconditioning process has been carried out before buying a piano from this period but providing that work has been carried out to the right standard then you will get yourself a very nice piano at a sensible price.

The Yamaha U3M typically has a nice, positive tone about it but without being harsh or overly bright like some of the younger U3s can sometimes be.

Yamaha U3A (1983-1988)

The U3A can sometimes have a slightly stronger bottom 2 octaves than the U3M but this is only an occasional blip and by no means a set rule. I fully recommend this model alongside the U3M.

This is a question that has been asked by every parent looking to give their children an instrument to practice on while taking piano lessons. Most professionals believe pianos that have real weighted keys, touch sensitive actions, and 88 keys are minimal requirements. The Yamaha Clavinova Digital Pianos are accepted by many Universities and Piano Labs for Piano majors to practice on and so would be an excellent choice for parents in many cases.

Can I buy an inexpensive piano for their lessons at first?

If you buy a bad piano, and your child gets good, can you really tell? This is a funny line, but the truth is it is probably worse. The student with an inferior instrument is going to be discouraged if what he or she hears is not that good. Also, If you have a quality piano teacher and your child takes lessons for 4 or more years, the cost is something like this: $150 times 12 equals $1,800 per year and this times 4 years equals $7,200. Why would you not get the best piano you can to take advantage of these years making both student and teacher happy.

Should we purchase an Acoustic Piano or Digital?

Until recently the best answer was acoustic because of multiple factors; However, the better Digital Pianos like the Yamaha Clavinova have gotten so good, and don’t ever need tuning, and students can practice with headphones. But I strongly recommend listening to your teacher for advise about this. Yamaha has wonderful acoustic and digital pianos for this very situation and is one of the most respected pianos in the world.

Should I buy new or used?

When you purchase a new instrument, you will get a warranty. Good quality pianos will look, feel, and play well. When you purchase used you may not have the experience to even know it is playing like it should or not. Each used instrument is a unique set of circumstances and actually may help teach bad habits, and incorrect hearing. I went to college with a man who had perfect pitch, but had learned incorrectly on an out of tune old upright.

What are the Benefits of achieving Piano level 2?

1. 1. Substantial increase in neural connectivity
   2. Significantly higher SAT scores
   3. Greatly reduced risk of drug/alcohol abuse
   4. Notable reduction of anti-social behaviors
   5. Increased self esteem
   6. Enhanced ability to concentrate/focus
   7. Development of personal discipline
   8. Superior working memory, auditory skills, and cognitive flexibility

Children who are allowed to quit music lessons usually quit early. When parents insist on helping their children to get to a level where they can play well, they’re not as likely to quit! Your goal should be to help your child get to Level 2. Once they’re at Level 2, they will almost always never stop playing the piano!

Here’s how we define Level 2:

The ability to read an intermediate piece of music; play using both hands; use the expression pedals; and sound musical.
In other words, kids who get to Level 2 become smarter, happier and more well-rounded!

Helping your child reach Level 2 on piano is the single most effective way you can give them a leg up in life!

What Piano Level Am I

Primer (Level pre-1):

• Knows finger numbers
• Knows musical alphabet
• Basic staff awareness
• Basic keyboard awareness
• Can play one hand at at time
• Has proper hand placement and form
• Developing rhythm and steady beat
• Generally music from method books
• Generally practices 10-15 mins/day

Beginner (Levels 1-2):

• Bass and Treble Clef
• Plays both hands together
• Play rhythms more comfortably
• Keeps steady beat
• Left hand plays mainly basic chords
• Dynamics and articulations
• Can play C, G, and F key signatures
• Generally practices 15-20 mins/day

Late Beginner (Level 3):

• Major and minor chords, scales, and arpeggios
• Left hand becomes more complex
• More complex rhythms introduced
• Can play songs with 2 flats/sharps
• Technique developing
• Sight reading developing
• Musicality developing
• Generally practices 20-30 mins/day

Often people ask “What piano level am I, and why does it matter?”Many educators rank piano levels as the above:

The piano is a complicated instrument with many aspects to think about from the beginning. A good teacher can help guide the student during these formative years, but unfortunately many parents don’t often take the time to select the right piano teacher; many seem to sign up for lessons with the first person they find. This doesn’t always make for success.

Many basic technical aspects of piano playing are the same for all students during the first few lessons; these include basic posture at the piano, hand and finger positions, and general movement around the keyboard. If these aspects are not addressed from the outset then piano playing can eventually become uncomfortable and difficult.

Basic rhythem needs to be understood from the beginning. A student can be guided to count while learning to keep time or even better, use a metronome (or both!), this is fundamental to good playing and is much easier when taught from the beginning.

Note reading needs to be guided correctly from the beginning too, especially with regard to the left hand. Many students aren’t taught to read the Bass and Treble Clefs (left and right hand lines of music) at the same time. If both lines of music are not taught from the beginning many never learn to read the left hand/bass clef correctly.

The quicker a pupil learns how to play both hands at the same time the better. It needs to be done carefully and slowly from the beginning.

Good Teachers will encourage correct hand movements and proper use of the arm to enable excellent tone production and finger movement. If this element isn’t addressed the pupil could potentially experience pain or repetitive strain injury too.

Most importantly, a good teacher will not only spark a real interest and love of music, but they will also be able to show how to interpretate a piece of music (the way a work is played.) This is a vital aspect of piano playing and all pupils need to master how to play musically or expressively.

The above are reasons why you need a good piano teacher. Patience and kindness are not enough (although they are important too!). Your teacher needs to know how to get you or your child to make good progress. Take time and select a well qualified, experienced piano teacher. Some of the best teachers can be found by word of mouth, or call the closest Piano Distributors for a list of local teachers known to have a record of success with students.