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I am in the process of installing new hammers/shanks/flanges, rebushing keys, regulating, and replacing bass strings on a very nice gray market Yamaha C5 grand from the late 80s.

Have any techs here - especially experienced rebuilders - discovered any differences in stringing scales between "North American" and "Gray Market" Yamaha pianos of the same model/same year/sequential serial number?

I have done this type of extensive reconditioning several times with gray market Yamaha pianos and have yet to note any difference in plates, bridge placement, core/wrap diameters, lengths, etc. in instruments categorized as "gray market" from their "North American" counterparts.

Please note I am well aware that there have been, at times, scale design changes within a given model of a Yamaha piano, but it seems that these changes are reflected in the production serial number, and that these changes seem to be global, and are not exclusive to any market destination.

Thanks for sharing any insights.

I don't know which supplier you use for bass strings, but regardless of original specs, it's easy and cheap enough to ask for a rescaling as part of the order. You might be able to get an improvement on a 30-year-old design.

--Cy--

Hello Cy, my apologies for not responding sooner. I haven't been checking in here too much lately.

I completely agree, and in fact installed rescaled strings from J.D. Grandt on this piano a few days ago.

Still hoping someone may have a definitive answer on my gray market vs. "North American" Yamaha question. As far as I can tell, the pianos are the same and any scale design changes to a given model occur on a global level.

To your question;

No. I have not encountered any differences in scaling between grey-market and 'regular' pianos seasoned for particular regions. A U1 is a U1, and a C5 is a C5, as near as I can tell. Have never heard of any differences, sir.

However; I have occasionally encountered models/styles, in grey-market, that are not generally available in the US from dealers. You?

Foglifter,
the coffee!
Ah!

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for your input; I have not seen many (if any?) gray-market pianos in NYC that were "unavailable" as authorized U.S. imports, but I wonder if this may be an East Coast/West Coast difference. Cheaper to unload the boat in CA or OR than NY, right?

Time for more foglifter here....