Yamaha

The Yamaha Piano Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of pianos. It's parent company manufacturers almost every instrument in the orchestra in addition to guitars and studio electronics. Yamaha started sending pianos to the United States in the 1960's first as private label products and then under their own name. Initially there were some severe stability issues with their pianos. In short time they solved those issues and developed a reputation for decent pianos at a very low entry level prices point. (Today that mantle is carried by pianos from companies like Hardman and Ritmuller.)

Yamaha started in 1887 as a maker of reed organs and in 1890 branched out into pianos helped by a young piano engineer named Koichi Kawai. Mr Kawai went on to found the Kawai Piano Company in 1927. Many people think of Yamaha for the motorcycles and jet skis but the company was founded as a musical instrument maker. Look closely at the Yamaha logo on the motorcycles and you'll notice it is three interlocking tuning forks. The company's greatest claim to fame was figuring out how to mass produced good pianos using a production line with conveyor belts. They created this manufacturing model and perfected it over the years.

Why Hollywood Piano Loves Yamaha Pianos

1. That big 'American' sound - Deep sounding bass with 'bell-like' quality in the high treble are some of the hallmarks of this sound. American piano philosophy of design includes piano frames and rims made using hard rock maple. This material is also used for rims in Steinway & Sons and Mason & Hamlin pianos. This material helps an instrument achieve a deep sound and longer lasting sustaining tone. The big difference between Yamaha and the other two American makers using this material are the prices. Yamaha is priced closer to other pianos from Asia even though its core material is the same as pianos costing many many times its price. You will not find this rim material in any similar or even higher priced piano from Yamaha or Kawai
2. Working Center Pedal - All Yamaha grand pianos have a full working sustenueto pedal . All Yamaha upright pianos feature a working center pedal similar to grand pianos. In most other uprights this pedal is merely a switch to engage the mute rail to quiet the piano. Understanding the mute rail is a popular feature on upright pianos, Yamaha includes this feature on a switch located under the keybed. This is the only line of upright pianos on the market with both a working grand piano style middle pedal and a mute rail.
3. Stealth Action™ - All Yamaha pianos have an action so quiet and noise free it's called Stealth! In the uprights you can distinguish this action by the black color of some parts.
4. Brand Security - Yamaha is one of 4 of the most sought after brands on the market. It is division of one of the largest and strongest manufacturers of musical instruments in the USA, Gibson Guitar.
5. Extreme Value - Many people who set out to buy a Steinway piano get sticker shock when they look at the price. Japanese brands Yamaha & Kawai make solid pianos but are often lacking in color, sustain and depth of tone that only hard wood rims and frames can provide. If you're after a Steinwayesque kind of American tone character, you don't have to settle for pianos that do not provide this tone such as those made by Japanese piano companies. For around the same price and often at less cost you can get that full, deep, sustaining American sound from a new Yamaha piano. When you consider this example. Their Hamilton Studio if still made in the USA is estimated to sell for $35,000. Today the new Yamaha Hamilton sells for a fraction of that amount with the comparable sized Steinway 1098 made in USA sellsing for upwards of $30,000k +. This is why the Yamaha is extreme value.

Does the Yamaha Piano Live Up To It's Promotional Hype?

Pianos Can Be Made Anywhere In The World At Any Quality

Yamaha Inside Pianos made in countries like China and Indonesia were once considered a poor step child. Today the quality can be exceptional if controlled properly and quality materials are used. This is where a bit of nationalism comes in for Japanese piano companies. They could choose to make pianos in Indonesia or China as good as the care to. But if they made them too good who would buy their more expensive pianos made in Japan? This is their dilemma. Yamaha makes their non-Japanese manufactured pianos just "good enough". Characterized as pianos made for a price point and not for their musicality.

Pre-owned Yamaha Pianos With Transferable Warranties

At Hollywood Piano we specialize in Yamaha pianos made in Japan only. These pianos are proven to be the best Yamaha pianos made. Used Yamaha pianos are graded on their integrity and quality from A to F. We only purchase A or A+ Yamaha pianos. All of our Yamaha pianos are sold with a Hollywood Piano full parts and labor transferable warranty that allows you to sell your piano to the next buyer with the warranty intact. Our staff of expert piano technicians thoroughly inspect, tune and adjust each pre-owned Yamaha piano verifying the structural integrity for your peace of mind. The Yamaha company in understanding the extreme competition it has from it's own pianos has conducted a campaign to dissuade and scare people from buying their own pianos used and have coined the phrase, "Grey Market Piano". A discussion ,investigation and purchase of a "Grey Market" Yamaha. Another great page on "Grey Market". Our "Hollywood Piano 10 Year Warranty" and our technicians verification of structural integrity is there to ensure the buying public can purchase a pre-owned Yamaha piano with confidence from Hollywood Piano.