“Grey Market” Yamaha Pianos – Should You Be Worried?

The term “grey market” is a cheeky one. It hints at something shady or borderline illegal, but there’s nothing dodgy about these pianos at all. The phrase feels more like scaremongering — usually by people with something to gain from putting you off. Let’s have a closer look.

The Background

Yamaha have built millions of excellent pianos in their top-tier Japanese factory in Hamamatsu. These include the U1 and U3 models, used by students aiming for Grade 8 and beyond. Chetham’s School of Music reportedly has over 100 U3s, and other top schools like Wycombe Abbey also trust them.

Meanwhile, the cheaper B series is made in Indonesia, and mid-range P series are produced in various factories worldwide. But it’s the Japanese-built U1s and U3s that continue to impress.

Why do Japan Export So Many Used Yamaha Pianos?

In Japan, there’s a cultural hesitation around buying second-hand goods — possibly linked to Buddhist views on karma. So when kids grow up and the piano’s no longer needed, families struggle to rehome them.

That’s where I come in. I work directly with top restoration workshops in Japan who collect these unused pianos, restore them to a high standard, and then we finish the job in our UK workshop for very tight quality control.

Many other shops do the same, though often through distributors. That pushes the price up and reduces control over quality.

What Are the Skeptics Saying?

The main claim is that Yamaha pianos are built differently depending on where they’ll be sold — supposedly to cope with local humidity. The idea is that Japanese-market pianos aren’t “seasoned” for the UK or USA, and might suffer as a result.

Sounds sensible in theory until you look closer.

Humidity varies wildly within countries. Some parts of the US hit 80%+, others fall below 30%. Do Yamaha really “season for destination” based on individual US states? Unlikely. Same for Europe. Vast climate differences, but I’ve never seen Yamaha promote different seasoning standards per country.

So while the idea sounds technical, it feels more like marketing spin — a way to scare people off used imports and nudge them towards a brand-new sale.

Are Yamaha Contradicting Their Own Claims?

You may have seen Yamaha pianos for sale boasting a “certified reconditioned by Yamaha” sticker on the front. Those pianos are also “Grey Market”. Yes, Yamaha themselves are selling the same “Grey Market” pianos that they have warned buyers against. It looks like Yamaha have outsourced their reconditioned pianos to a company called Action Trading who boast in their website footer that;

We have been awarded the only designated refurbished second-hand piano factory by YAMAHA in Japan, with quality certification. We renovate more than 3,000 pianos a year and sell them all over the world.

My Experience

Since 2002, I’ve sold hundreds of Yamaha U1 and U3 pianos from Japan. Not once have I seen a humidity-related problem — not in stock, and not after delivery. No horror stories. No pianos warping in the wild.

If you’re still unsure, check out my customer testimonials. You’ll find real feedback from real people who’ve taken the same route — and loved it.

Thanks for reading. If you’ve got questions or concerns, email me directly at markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com — I’ll reply personally.

Kind regards,
Mark