One year older and dumber.
Original Message:
Sent: 04-13-2025 17:17
From: Chris Chernobieff
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
I dont know what your issue is general, but everything i said was truthful, factual, and in line with the theme of the thread. Like everyone else, i offered my opinion to the possible solutions to what everyone else is fearing. Just like the covid issue, the same people are panicking over this issue. Sometimes its just better to ride things out and make adjustments along the way, and plan ahead.
-chris
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Chernobieff Piano Restorations
Inertia Touch Wave(ITW) The most advanced silky smooth actions.
Engineered Hygroscopic Soundboards. The strongest and lightest boards made today for acoustic projection, richness and warmth.
865-986-7720 (text only please)
Original Message:
Sent: 04-13-2025 15:55
From: Eric Johnson
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
Chris Chernobieff, please keep your political opinions to yourself.
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Eric Johnson [RPT]
[Eric Johnson Pianos]
[Westport] [CT]
www.ericjohnsonpianos.com
One year older and dumber.
Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2025 09:21
From: Chris Chernobieff
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
I don't think comparing digital pianos to acoustic pianos is a sound argument. If digital pianos was going to make acoustic instruments extinct it would come true already. Plus you dont even need a digital piano anymore, what you can get as an app is astounding. I have many synths and two orchestras at my fingertips on my computer. Plus an acoustic piano in my living room.
All China has to do is negotiate with our incredible President Trump, put zero tariffs on our products and/ or bring a manufacturing plant here and hire Americans. This is most likely going to be a great opportunity for M&H, Steinway, and Walter. And maybe some startups too.
-chris
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Chernobieff Piano Restorations
Inventor of Inertia Touch Wave (ITW)
Advanced Resonant Compression Engineered Soundboards (ARCHES)
865-986-7720 (text only please)
Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2025 08:39
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
<But where will these digital keyboards come from?>
Blaine- The supposed intention of the tariffs is to rebuild manufacturing in the US.
It will be far easier for domestic and foreign companies to make digital keyboard assembly facilities than to build piano factories.
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Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2025 21:56
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
Ed,
But where will these digital keyboards come from?
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Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512
Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2025 21:40
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
As of April 10th at 9pm EST, pianos from China will be charged a 145% tariff.
What this means is the death of the entry level new home piano market.
This market will be taken over by digital keyboards.
This will accelerate the cultural change from acoustic pianos to digital keyboards.
What will this mean to the piano tuners of 2030 and 2040? They'd better identify their future market and prepare to secure their share.
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Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
Original Message:
Sent: 04-08-2025 19:09
From: Horace Greeley
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
Hi, Peter!
This is very good news, indeed!
Thank you very much for passing it along.
Kind regards.
Horace
Original Message
Original Message:
Sent: 4/8/2025 11:38:00 AM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
FWIW, I just received this email from Gregor Heller:
Dear Peter!
I hope you are doing fine …..
Due to the current situation I'm writing these lines:
Mr. Trump has announced a 20% tax on imports from the European Union ... but don't worry, there are no additional costs for you.
We can still ship new bass strings tax and duty free due to the "de minimis" threshold... up to 800 USD everything is free.
Mr. Trump has only lifted this de minimis rule for China and Hong Kong .... means that we are not affected.
I would just like to point this out to you …
Best regards
Gregor
I was happy to receive this since Gregor supplies most (currently all) of my bass strings and tuning pins. A bit of good news.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 04-07-2025 22:43
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
Great quote!
On 4/7/2025 08:16, Melanie Brooks via Piano Technicians Guild wrote:
0100019610d37f68-23240d43-c9d7-4d88-a7b5-f5d9c094e87f-000000@email.amazonses.com">My present mantra regarding all things politics these days: "To protect our inner peace, we must learn to Observe NOT Absorb!"
Original Message:
Sent: 4/7/2025 11:15:00 AM
From: Melanie Brooks
Subject: RE: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
Good Morning all!!!
It's a great day to have a great day! My present mantra regarding all things politics these days: "To protect our inner peace, we must learn to Observe NOT Absorb!"
A this time, we have no price increases scheduled!:)
Preemptively, we have fully stocked with action parts (Abel, Ronsen, Tokiwa, WNG and Dampp-Chaser has an order on the way to us.
We will reassess prices regularly but do not foresee a price increase before 6/1by which time we hope to have more information! I will refer back to this thread with updates.
I have spent a lot of time trying to understand exactly what is happening, and it seems the news "media" is probably the worst place - lol - it seems to be filled with agendas not related to what is going on. But, my background is in economics/business (with a minor in philosophy -which may play most importantly right now :)
So I'm interested in it all.(even if it seems like a late night horror movie :)
I think we need to keep in mind that Trump is a master negotiator. (like him or not!) My understanding is that his initial plan in slapping all these countries with tariffs is to create a ground for negotiation. The US is paying tariffs to many of these countries and he is out to "even the playing field" .
So, I am choosing to "breathe" and watch it unfold .... .... since there isn't a darn thing we can do about it all!
What I can do ... is to keep you updated as we hear from our suppliers!
We're here to help, if you have a project in the forefront feel free to reach out to us to see what it will "look like"
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Melanie Brooks
Brooks, Ltd. Piano Products LLC
Uncasville CT
(860) 848-6605
Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2025 16:15
From: David Love
Subject: New tariffs and effect on piano industry
Something we should all be keeping in mind are the new tariffs that were imposed yesterday and how they will affect our industry. That includes the cost of pianos, parts, materials and labor that we import from other countries. These costs, of course, will be passed on to us as the primary consumers and to our customers as secondary consumers. I'm curious how people are handling that and if they're anticipating this in their pricing structure. I know we're all trying to avoid inflationary contributions and pressure, but there seems to be no getting around it.
Further, is the PTG involved in any lobbying efforts on our and our costumer's behalf? If not, why not?
Here's a partial list. Some of these won't be relevant to the industry but some will And, of course, they all have relevance outside the industry.

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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.com
davidlovepianos@comcast.net
415 407 8320
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