Used Yamaha Pianos in 2012       Piano Expert's Testimonial   From this knowlegeable US visitor
a message for Australia's Piano Advisory & Dave's "feedback" came as a bit of a shock!

By 2001 we were famous and the Piano Advisory had won some awards... In 2003 our pages were holding the #1 position on Google, Yahoo & MSN for a large number of Piano related searches. An American piano technician contributed some feedack. Seems that Dave's no longer online*, but his unsolicited comments iced our cake rather nicely. THANKYOU David.

Subject: feedback re Your (piano advice) Web Site    

My Question is: G'day OzPianoman ... I don't really have a question. This is mainly a letter of thanks for being up front with information about "grey market" Yamaha pianos. I am a piano technician (have been for over 30 years) and I am currently selling these instruments here in Bellingham. For what it's worth, my wife and I recently spent a year and a half in "Oz" and loved every minute of it. Now, back to reality. I worked for the largest Yamaha piano dealer in the state for over 15 years before we hopped on our sailboat and went cruising in 1998. Gray market pianos. I have always maintained a close working relationship with the guys at Yamaha in Los Angeles and still do. I was one of the first three technicians to be selected (and graduate from) their "Concert and Artist" seminar, so I should be in a good position to judge pianos...especially Yamaha pianos! I have probably tuned two or three hundred of these "gray market" instruments and inspected many more. With the extremely rare exception of an instrument that was severely abused (it was left outside in the rain...ack!) I have never seen one with any more serious a problem than a dead bass string or two or perhaps a couple of loose tuning pins...things one would expect to find on ANY piano twenty or so years old. Used Yamaha Pianos? They are on the whole terrific instruments... I own a 25 year old U-3 upright myself and it is a gem. What it boils down to with any piano is the care that has been (or not as the case may be) lavished on it. The biggest problem with the "gray market" Yamahas here in the US is that Yamaha will not support them with parts or other service and will also NOT honor the warrantees. * This hasn't really been a problem because I so rarely find anything wrong with one. Anyway, enough of this blather. I congratulate you on your website and hope that you won't mind if I show your dialogue to all of my prospective customers? Keep up the good work. I hope that we will get back to Oz one of these days and it would be great to meet you. Cheers, Dave Carlson www.concertek.com (*site now closed)

Update for 2012. Buy my piano? Might let you have it cheap...OzP wants THIS ONE pianoadvisory.com Piano information from Australia's pianoman WE DON'T BUY & SELL PIANOS ... Do You have a Question ? PIANOMAN SHEET MUSIC ? Listen to this version : Billy Joel - Piano Man - Sheet Music (Digital Download) To You from OzPianoman : Complete Piano Guide "... just about everything you need to know about pianos. And it's all Free!"

* Clarifying: according to Dave, "...(in the US)... Yamaha will not support them with parts or other service"
OzPianoman says: In general, Piano dealers worldwide are known to provide good warranty services for any decent used piano they sell. (It's good for business)
Often that warranty comes independent of manufacturer, regardless of brand or age of the instrument.
When comparing Used piano prices, buyers are advised that on musical instruments sold privately, any balance of the owner's warranty might Not be transferable.

USED Piano Imports; Stands to reason that these will get no "support" by either the manufacturer or their agents. Expect a New Piano distributor to offer you some encouragement? You buying a Used model, when their livelihood depends on disposal of their Own Stock, doesn't help folk at head office get through their day any easier. Prefer you take your questions elsewhere, mate...

Consequently, many buyers are given the impression "Parts may not be available". OR they're
"Not designed for this country" - "use a lot of plastic" - "The wheels can fall off..."
Seriously. I mean go ask a car salesman his opinion on what he can't sell you (it's on his competitor's car lot next door).
You'd expect truth? Honesty? Enthusiasm ???

SERVICING Used Yamaha Pianos? Of course they'll sell us the parts! Many piano bits however are interchangeable: for technicians, relatively easy to obtain (and even when ordered from country of origin, are quick to arrive).

Dave's comment may reflect the disdain often encountered in chats with those whose Business is "New" pianos and where their particular focus is NEW PIANO sales!They know "parts" just ain't a problem.
But some are happy for You to think there "might be a problem" with used piano imports !!!

Well I've not had to replace any PARTS in my 28 yo Yamaha teaching piano;
Or in the 1983 Kawai grand piano (used every day & seen here in the piano video; Or for that matter -
my 101 year old Steinweg upright (save for a few strings and felts some 10 years ago on that one)

So . . . Message understood. Yes ? Good ! Enjoy your new Used piano.
Col "OzPianoman" Mullin, Melbourne. Australia.                Revision published MARCH 2012

WAS ALL THIS HELPFUL TO YOU? You can phone me anytime for absolutely free advice. +61.397836439 Talk to me personally; From anywhere in the world - the Call will cost you next to nothing. Piano buyer OR Piano seller : If you're an AUSSIE can you think of a good reason NOT to Call (03)9783 6439 ? I don't sell pianos - but I often have a list of buyers waiting. Purchasing ? Want the best deal going ??? You might get a shock to learn where Australia's best USED YAMAHA PIANOS are hiding. . .

FREE PLANS? (an OzP site - might be closing soon)