Questions and Thoughts
Hello,
I‘ve
put this page up to address some questions my customers ask me about pianos
that are imported directly from Japan. I’ve had the opportunity to work on hundreds
of these pianos throughout the years. I have not personally seen any particular
problems exclusive to the DI (directly imported)
ones.
Here
are some of the questions from my customers that I cannot find logical answers
for
1. Why is there only one piano
maker claiming a need to season pianos specifically for North
America?
2. When they tell me that it is,
"Seasoned for the US", what area are they talking about, dry Arizona
or wet Florida?
3. Fine acoustic guitars and
extremely delicate stringed instruments are made of wood, why aren't they
seasoned for North America?
4. Pianos made in the US are not
seasoned for export to Japan, shouldn't they be?
5. As far as I can tell the climate in Japan is
very similar to most of the US, what area of Japan are they talking about when
they say it is different there?
6. Piano parts for all pianos are
available from many different service centers in the US, why was I told I
couldn’t get parts?
7. When I called to check the
serial number l found out that the information they have does not include all
of the pianos that were imported into North America. My piano could have come
from Canada, why would they tell me it came from someplace else?
8. I read The Piano Book 4th
edition and it said that after surveying nearly 190 piano technicians
throughout the US, nothing out of the ordinary was seen with imported pianos
and the held up and performed perfectly.
9. If the piano that is supposed
to be seasoned for North America why doesn’t it say, "Made for
America" on it?
10. I have been told by piano people that knowing the core moisture
content of a piano will indicate whether it has spent its life in the proper
environment, not too damp, not to dry and that this is the only real way of
knowing where the piano has been, true?
I have been servicing pianos for a
long time and have always tried to provide correct information to my customers.
This is just my opinion but it seems to me that some companies are having a
difficult time dealing with “what a small world it has become” People now have
the option of buying name brand products at affordable
prices. Apparently Kubota Tractor Co. had such a hard time dealing with the direct importation of
used Japanese tractors that they lobbied enacting laws that prevent the
most popular models from coming into the US. Do you like laws that prevent you
from saving money?
It’s the customer's money so I tell them they can do whatever
they want, they usually go with my advice and buy the DI piano. Personally, I love my imported piano. I don't
let unfounded fear rule my life or my wallet !
I hope I have been able to shed
light from a different angle on Gray Market Pianos
Piano Technician
Windy City
Over 30 years of experience
These
comments are not directed toward any particular brand or company. Come to your own
conclusions
