What is a Stencil Piano?

Consumer Alert

What Every Piano Consumer Should Know

Some of our competitors are claiming to have pianos of equal or greater quality as compared to Yamaha.  Do Not Believe them!
In many cases they are attempting to sell you a Stencil Piano.

When shopping for a piano, it is very important to understand that the name you see on the piano is not always the name of the manufacturer. In addition, the salesperson selling this type of piano will not always reveal the true manufacturer. This is primarily because they tend to be made by un-known factories with absolutely no connection to the name that appears on the piano. These pianos are referred to as Stencil Pianos.

Today, an increasing number of Stencil Pianos are on the market, some even with old European or American names. Regardless of the name on the piano, all Stencil Pianos have the following things in common. First, they are not being made by the original company. Second, they are currently being manufactured by lower cost, less experienced factories which affects the quality. Also, be aware that some salespeople may attempt to sell a Stencil Piano as a true “European” or “American” made piano. Sometimes even hand-made, which of course is not the case.
 

Why Is This Important?

Would you buy a Mercedes if they were no longer making their own vehicles? But  instead, were currently being made by some “start-up” factory with questionable quality and limited car making experience. Of course not!

You need to know what you are buying, and just as important, understand what people are trying to sell you.

What makes a Yamaha Piano the best choice
for you and your family?
 

The following list of Stencil Pianos has been compiled to properly educate you on many of the pianos that are on the market today.

Altenburg, Otto

“Pianos made by: Beijing Hsinghai Piano Group, Ltd., Beijing, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Carl Ebel

Perzina Piano Manufacturing Ltd.

“Established in 1877 as Ebel & Sohn in Germany. As of 1999 the owners, Music Brokers International, 3903 KB Veenendaal, Holland, resumed manufacturing in cooperation with Yantai Longfeng Piano Co. Ltd., at Yantai, China.”
Pierce Piano Atlas, 11^th Edition

Chase, A.B.

“Pianos made by: Dongbei Piano Company, Ltd., Yingkou, Liaoning Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement) 

Everett

“Pianos made by: Dongbei Piano Company, Ltd., Yingkou, Liaoning Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Falcone

“Pianos made by: Sejung Corporation, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Hallet & Davis

“Pianos made by: Dongbei Piano Company, Ltd., Yingkou, Liaoning Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement) 

Hamilton 

“Baldwin has also introduced several lower-cost lines of piano made in China. The first of these is the “Hamilton.” This is not to be confused with the famous Hamilton model studio piano that says “Baldwin” on the fallboard; rather, this new line says “Hamilton” on the fallboard. Currently, they are made by Sejung to Baldwin’s specifications.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Hardman, Peck & Co.

“Until recently, most Hardman, Peck pianos were made in China by the Dongbei Piano Co., and were similar to those built by Dongbei under other names for several other distributors. Beginning this year, Hardman, Peck’s distributor is using the Beijing Hsinghai Piano Group to manufacture most of the pianos.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Hobart M. Cable

“Pianos made by: Sejung Corporation, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

J. Pramberger

 “Pianos made by: Samick Musical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd., Incheon, South Korea and Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.”

  The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

J. Strauss & Son

“Name of pianos made in Gauangzhou and Dongbei, China and Belarus, Russia.” Pierce Piano Atlas, 11^th Edition

Knabe & Co., Wm.

“Pianos made by: Samick Musical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd., Incheon, South Korea and Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Kohler & Campbell

“Pianos made by: Samick Musical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd., Incheon, South Korea and Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Nordiska

“Since 1988, Nordiska pianos have been produced by DongBei Piano Group Co. of Yingkou, Liaoning, China and were marketed only   in Asia. In 1999 the Geneva International Corp., 29 East Hintz Road. Wheeling, IL, started distributing Nordiska pianos in the U.S.”
Pierce Piano Atlas, 11^th Edition

“Pianos made by: Dongbei Piano Company, Ltd., Yingkou, Liaoning Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Perzina, Gebr.

“Pianos made by: Yantai-Perzina Piano Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Yantai, Shandong Province, China.”

“Eventually it was decided that making pianos in Germany was not economically viable, so manufacturing was moved to Yantai, China, where a range of verticals and grands were made for a number of years by the Yantai Longfeng Piano Co. under the Perzina name. In 2003, Music Brokers International established its own factory in Yantai, called Yantai-Perzina, where it now builds the Perzina, Carl Ebel, and Gerh. Steinberg pianos.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Remington  

“Pianos made by: Samick Musical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd., Incheon, South Korea and Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Steck, George

“Pianos made by: Sejung Corporation, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Steigerman

“Pianos made by: Beijing Hsinghai Piano Group, Ltd., Beijing, China; and Ningbo Hailun Musical Instrument Co., Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Story & Clark

“Pianos made by: Dongbei Piano Company, Ltd., Yingkou, Liaoning Province, China and by Heintzman Piano Company, Ltd., Beijing, China.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)

Wurlitzer & Chickering

 “In the 1980’s, Baldwin acquired the Wurlitzer and Chickering names, and for many years sold a Wurlitzer line of pianos made in Korea. Like the Hamiltons, Wurlitzer pianos are now made in China by Sejung.”
The Piano Book (2007-2008 Supplement)