Expert: Samuel Noel - 11/13/2007

Question
QUESTION: I am looking at a used Yamaha G5 Nippon Gakki S.K.K. NO. G5 6'-6"  I don't know where to find the serial number to establish its age. It has only two pedals. I noticed that the action was not bad but a little freer than I would have expected. It has not been tuned for 3 years and although a few keys are off pitch, the overall tuning is relatively close to A440.  Also, although it is a black shiny finish, there are a few minor nicks in the shell that show through to a white below. Can these be repaired? If the sounding board and harp seem to be in great condition could I expect to get several years of life from it?  The price seems very right to me.

ANSWER: Thanks for asking!

This is definitely one of those cases in which you want to commission a technician to look over the instrument with you. The serial number is critical as Yamaha has a company policy against pianos sold on the black market.

Whenever a technician orders parts from Yamaha, a serial number must be provided. If the instrument in question was one that was manufactured for the Japanese market and never intended for export, Yamaha will not sell replacement parts for it. There are exporters who specialize in importing these instruments to the United States at a pretty good price. Yamaha's position is that these instruments were not built for our climate and will not hold up well.

Piano parts suppliers cannot obtain parts anymore; technicians must contact Yamaha USA in California directly.

The finish on Yamahas are "plastic" not lacquer. Not every finisher knows how to work with these, but to finishers who know how to repair them, it's not a problem. It's harder and thus costs a bit more to repair dents and cracks than lacquer.

Sam Noel

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your quick reply. I don't want to jump too quickly and wish I had bought a different piano. This one is selling for $3000.  I asked the owner to look for the serial number...we expected it to be on the right near the fallboard, on the gold plating, but he only finds Yamaha Nippon Gakki S.K.K. NO. G5.  Is there another place we should look for it?  What would be the telltale signs that this would be a piano built for Japan and not for the US?  I also noticed that the keys are not a shiny plastic as I would have expected but have a more "brushed" or satin look to them. Does this tell you anything?  Sorry I'm asking so many questions. A grand is a big jump for me and I want to be sure not to get something I would later be disappointed with.

Answer
The serial number may also be engraved onto the fallboard. Yamaha grands are pretty easy to detach. You simply pull up and out. The spring on the right side usually provides some resistance but overall the fallboard come off easily enough.

You can also look at the cheekblocks on either side of the keyboard (they unscrew from the bottom) and the keyslip (in front of the keys).

There really aren't any telltale signs of blackmarket pianos. The keytops are not indicators either. Once you have the number, contact Yamaha and find out if it's legitimate before you plunk down the $3000!

Again, a professional technician is the way to go if you have any doubts. Of course, make sure he/she knows what I'm telling you about parts. I know because I was denied parts for a customer with a black market piano!

Sam Noel