Family keylogger. You will need 2 things to determine the age of your piano:
1. The brand name of the piano.
With the name and serial number, you are ready to look up the age. The serial numbers on this PDF file are in 5 year increments. It is highly unlikely that you will find the exact number in the list that you find on the piano. Find the name of the piano on the list, and determine where your number falls between the years. The serial number (NOT the model number) of the piano. To locate the serial number on a vertical piano, open the top and look inside. Almost all of them include the serial number on the plate in a small 'window' near the tuning pins. The number will usually be a 4 to 7 digit number. In 1904, the Straube Piano Company moved its manufacturing and executive offices from Chicago to a newly built piano factory in Hammond, Indiana – in the Calumet Region – on five acres served by the Monon and the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville railways. Bid History for Starr Piano Co. Piano Auction Start Date: 03/17/17 4:34 PM ET Auction End Date: 04/03/17 4:30 PM ET Asset ID: 144 Number of Bids: 3. Loading bid history.
Note: Some pianos will have more than one name for the manufacturer. For example: 'Hamilton' by Baldwin or 'Cable Nelson' by Everett. To make sure that you have all of the information you will need, open the lid of your piano and check out the name or names engraved or printed on the plate. Do NOT trust the name on the outside of the piano since in could have been refinished and a different name added.
2. The serial number (NOT the model number) of the piano.
To locate the serial number on a vertical piano, open the top and look inside. Almost all of them include the serial number on the plate in a small 'window' near the tuning pins. The number will usually be a 4 to 7 digit number, but may include a letter or two. If you can't locate it here, look inside to the far left or far right as some manufacturers attach it there on a small piece of metal. It may be stamped in the wood under the lid, or as a last resort, pull the piano away from the wall and look on the back.
To locate the serial number on a grand piano, take the music desk off. It's usually stamped on the pinblock here. Also look on the soundboard, many of the manufacturers will include it inside one of the 'windows' in the plate.
After you have located the manufacturer's name and the serial number, you have two options.
Either contact me and I will be GLAD to look up the age for you,
or check out some of the links that I've included to see if you can find it yourself on the internet.
I do not do appraisal values over the internet or phone.
The serial numbers given on this site, located next to the year, is the LAST piano made during that year. They are not complete lists, but has many, many pianos included:
http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/serial1.htm#TOP and http://www.concertpitchpiano.com/SerialNumberUpright.html
Where to locate the serial number on your piano:
www.pianoatlas.com
List of Piano brands with their serial numbers and age:
www.bluebookofpianos.com
Find the age of your Yamaha piano here:
usa.yamaha.com
Yamaha Grey Market Pianos are made in Japan, and are known to be among pianos sold by unauthorized Yamaha dealers, often as a reconditioned or a restored Yamaha piano. However, these pianos are substantially different from Yamaha pianos sold under warranty, by authorized dealers in North America.
'How so?'.. you may ask.
Quite simply: Yamaha Grey Market Pianos are NOT 'seasoned for destination and use in North America'.
For reference, see pages 176-177 of The Piano Book by Larry Fine, along with PianoBuyer.com Jeff mills waveform transmission vol 1 rar. for more information.
Grey market pianos have flooded the US and Canadian markets during the past few decades. They are often imported in large quantities by Japanese dealers to North America, for second hand use.
Upon closer examination, these pianos are sold at a fraction of the price of a new Yamaha upright or grand, to the public. To the average consumer, they appear to be of the same quality as Yamaha pianos 'seasoned for use in North America', but the reality remains constant, consistent, and true - they are not.
The touch and tonal qualities of these pianos - mostly to seasoned pianists and piano technicians - are drastically and noticeably different from Yamaha pianos sold under warranty by authorized dealers in North America. So while you may be trying to save several thousand dollars on your piano's purchase, in reality, these pianos are being sold by unauthorized dealers and DO NOT come with ANY warranty, backing, or support from the Yamaha Corporation.
We have personally serviced countless grey market pianos for our customers, and needless to say, have researched this subject to its core. So to be fair, we have prepared this information for our customers, and for the sake of other piano owners, like you.
If you you are having any second thoughts, especially if someone is offering you a Yamaha grey market piano, please keep that second thought, and look at some of the information we have prepared, here.
Yamaha Grey Market Pianos:
Made in Japan, Not Intended for Use in North America
Grey market pianos that penetrate the North American market are actually made in Japan and are not intended for sale in foreign markets.
Their specifications are also different from pianos made for US distribution. What's even worse in the case of consumers encountering troubles with their piano, is they often have a difficult time getting them serviced. Why? Because no parts or service is available from Yamaha to support Grey Market Pianos.
Yamaha Grey Market Pianos:
Where Do They Come From?
These pianos are often sold to schools and institutional users in Japan. After years of use, the instruments become worn out, requiring refurbishment, and replacement. The school will then discard and sell these pianos to private firms who then repair and refurbish these pianos to make them look and sound – for a time - like brand new.
The pianos then find their way to the international market, specifically, North America, and other parts of the world.
Now one word of advice: Yamaha NEVER rebuilds or refurbishes any of these used pianos carrying the company name.
What Makes Yamaha Grey Market Pianos Different from Yamaha pianos sold in the US?
1. Moisture Problems. One of the most noticeable defects that users experience after buying grey market pianos is that these Japan-made products are prone to moisture problems.
Pianos manufactured for the Japanese market are made to adapt Japan's moist climate, which does not work well in the US climate which is rather extremely dry. One other thing you'll notice with grey market pianos is that their case parts do warp, while the soundboard cracks, causing the piano to lose its tone and tuning stability.
2. Cabinet instability. Kodak printer software mac. Grey market pianos from Japan do not have polymer barrier placed between the wood and the piano finish, which explains why these pianos are prone to cracks and lines.
3. Technology advances. Most grey market pianos are often old and outdated to the point of being worn out, whereas pianos sold by authorized Yamaha dealers in the US have been developed, highly refined, and built with the latest and most updated specifications in the industry.
So now, if someone offers you a Yamaha grey market piano, now you have sound reasons to just say 'No!' Carefully choose a piano, crafted, manufactured, and seasoned for its intended destination, to your respective climate of residence.
Read: YAMAHA Grey Market Piano - A Technician's Perspective
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