🎹Kawai Piano Buyers Guide: What You Need To Know BEFORE Buying a Kawai Piano🎹
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
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0:00 - Intro
1:05 - Playing Demo
1:56 - Country of Origin
3:56 - Kawai vs K. Kawai
5:27 - Carbon Fibre Action
9:24 - Kawai vs Yamaha
12:00 - Used Kawai Pianos
13:42 - Kawai Warranty
#Kawai #Piano #BuyersGuide
Greetings and welcome to the Merriam Pianos RUclips channel. Anyone familiar with our channel will know that we review a lot of Kawai’s pianos on this channel, both acoustic and digital.
But if you’ve never shopped for a piano before and are in the early stages of your research, there’s a chance you may never have heard of Kawai since pianos are all they do. With that in mind, today’s video is a general overview of both Kawai as a company, and some important things to know about their pianos as you begin the research and shopping process.
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#1. Country of Origin
We get this question a lot - where are Kawai pianos made? Some people make a subconscious assumption that because the name Kawai starts with the letter K, Kawai’s must be made in Korea.
In reality, Kawai is a Japanese company, founded in 1927 in Hamamatsu Japan, and the majority of their acoustic pianos are still made in Japan to this day.
Kawai has another facility in Indonesia where some acoustic pianos are made, and some Chinese production for certain pianos sold in China.
#2. Kawai vs K. Kawai vs Shigeru Kawai
There is no quality or production difference between pianos branded Kawai, vs piano’s branded K. Kawai. Their uprights are always branded Kawai, whereas certain grands are branded K. Kawai has a tribute to company founder, Koichi Kawai.
The Shigeru Kawai series do represent a step up in quality from the rest of Kawai’s instruments, as a fanatocally handmade line of instruments built in extremely small numbers. The name Shigeru is named after a later President of the company who oversaw the design of the new Shigeru Kawai line.
#3. What’s the Story with the Carbon Fiber Action?
There’s a lot of accurate information out there about this, and a lot of not so accurate information.
Kawai began experimenting with ABS plastic composite materials in their action as a more durable replacement for wood in the 1980’s. Wood is not traditionally used in piano actions due to anything to do with it’s acoustic properties, but rather because historically, wood has been the only material to use for small, lightweight mechanical parts - steels and metals would be much too heavy.
Kawai is currently using Carbon Fiber reinforced ABS for the use in their piano actions, namely the Millennium III action.
Carbon Fiber is more stable than wood, less affected by shifts in temperature and humidity, more durable long term, and actually lighter.
Are great wooden actions inferior to a Carbon Fiber action? No - carefully aged, old hardwoods used in high-end piano actions are going to be just as stable as Carbon Fiber.
The issue is cost. You’re not finding a wooden action of this quality at mid-range and entry level price points.
#4. Kawai vs Yamaha?
This is easily one of the most common questions asked within the piano industry - should I choose a Kawai or a Yamaha?
Both are Japanese companies, both are renowned for their excellent value in the mid-range, and their instruments are generally positioned directly against one another.
In 2022, both companies are right at the top of their game, and there’s very little daylight between these two in terms of build quality and factory prep when comparing competing models from Japan.
From a sound standpoint, their instruments actually sound very different. Kawai’s are considered darker and warmer, while Yamaha’s are generally regarded as being brighter.
Ultimately, we’ve got two companies producing different, but equally good sets of instruments.
#5. Are Used Kawai Pianos Good?
In our experience, used Kawai pianos from about the 1970’s onward are well regarded both for their durability and musical potential.
Kawai’s perform very strongly on the second hand market, and generally have very good resale value.
#6. Are Kawai Warranties Transferable?
A really nice thing Kawai does is make their acoustic piano warranties fully transferable to future owners within the warranty period. If you buy a 5 year old used Kawai, even privately, you’re going to have warranty coverage for another 5 years.
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Torakusu Yamaha founded his company in 1887, when Koichi Kawai was 1 year old. Initially, he built organs. In 1897, Torakusu Yamaha took young Koichi Kawai as an apprentice, so the 11 year-old boy was exposed to the art of building organs. In 1899, Torakusu Yamaha traveled alone to the United States to learn to make pianos (he visited several factories, including Steinway). In 1990, Torakusu Yamaha produced his first upright piano, when Koichi Kawai was 14 years old. In 1902, Torakusu Yamaha produced his first grand piano. Koichi Kawai was 16 years old at that moment. In 1927, Koichi Kawai started his own company. Koichi Kawai died in 1955. So, Koichi Kawai worked for Yamaha for 30 years and 28 for his own company.
1990? You’re a clown 🤡
A note about Kawai warranty...
I picked up a second hand MP11SE off eBay. No warranty transfer. It had a problem with a few notes sounding dull. Took it to an Independent repair guy (not the Kawai retailer). Long story short, Kawai communicated with he independent repair guy as if he was an authorized Kawai technician, and they replaced the entire grand-feel-action keybed including the digital hammer mechanisms on warranty. Not a cheap repair. No proof of purchase. No hassles. Prompt replacement shipping. That impressed me a great deal and I will be a Kawai customer for life because of it.
You just made up my mind 100% , as I am too looking for a used second hand MP11se
@@Da-Baker I also have the NORD Piano 5. Both are excellent. But the MP11SE is my favorite. It is the gold standard for keyboard action, and the tones are just as good as what you get with the NORD. But at a reasonable price with Kawai. I am confident you would be very happy Wirth the MP11SE
Hi James. I own a Kawai MP11 that is having issues and have only been able to find one repair shop within a 10 hour drive (I live in south Georgia), and I'm not feeling real confident about them based on our initial conversations. Would you mind sharing the name of your repair guy? If he's in the U.S. I would consider shipping it if he's amenable to that.
We bought the kdp 120 for my son and myself, very good value and great features
Hello Stu, thank you for this very interesting video 👍 The sound of a piano is taste… I have absolutely fallen in love with the sound of the Kawai pianos! That's why I bought the CA99 a few months ago so I have more Kawai pianos in one 👍😂 dear greeting from Germany, Roland
I own a K.Kawai RX-1 purchased 20 years ago. It is still, today, the best piano I’ve ever played for overall feel and sound. I had my choice when I was seeking a new piano and played comparable Yamaha’s. Kawai sealed the deal because it was a gorgeous mahogany and every Yamaha I saw was black. Plus, I liked the more robust sound of the Kawai better than the brighter sound of the Yamaha. I had it tuned again this week and the tuner said it had a fantastic sound. I’m glad I made this purchase. I would not trade it for anything.
how is the maintenance?
@@BFHPET It’s a real piano. Every real piano needs to be tuned from time to time. This Kawai plays like a dream, the keys and action are great. Have never had a bit of trouble with it.
@@loubody3723 i already know that a piano needs to be tuned lol. But i meant problems when its get older. I have a shigeru kawai.
@@BFHPET No problems at all with my 20yo Kawai. Played it yesterday for a couple of hours. It’s outstanding!
@@loubody3723 how does the hammers looks?
That was an amazing peices of music you just played! I had to listen to it several times!
Thanks for watching! I will be sure to pass along the kind words to Stu! :)
Stu, that was an especially beautiful piece you played to close with.
Hi Stu. This one made me go back to the Kawai SK-3 vs. Estonia L190 comparison,
and i've made for my personal use an audio-only version of it (about 14 minutes) just to hear the difference (you playing :-).
If I ever have space and money to acquire and cherish this kind of instrument, Estonia is my choice (unless you convince me otherwise).
(Starting from Roland's FP-10 I hope to work my way to Estonia ;-)
In the process, I have realized that I will be coming back to your materials over and over again.
In this particular one, I found that you have been holding yourself back. When Estonia charmed you with the crisp and well-defined fundamental lasting forever, at one moment you have said "we've talked about it already" and stopped, instead of diving into the flow.
If you need to make a promotional comparison that fits a mold, you can always cut excess material out.
Moment of filming isn't for editing, please forget about a designated use of these materials, just let yourself go, no rush, slow down. Consider creating a separate channel, where you could put a raw material 1->2 hours of you meandering over the sounds, mumbling to yourself, whatever it may be, just for die-hard fans :) Your fascination is contagious and I want to be infected...
Please consider a form of licensing and prices for your music on RUclips.
The passage that you have played so nonchalantly from 31:57 to 32:17 on Estonia hunts me. I crave to use these 20 seconds as an intro to my youtube series, somehow it encompasses in the musical form what I want to do. ruclips.net/video/uqY2pmY9g_s/видео.html
"Tell a story / explain, then reach for the top / enumerate all corner cases, and finish with the "bombshell".
(...)
What about your page? Seems to be somewhat neglected :( When I will be able to buy single tracks in FLAC format, outside of Apple's "walled garden" (with Pay-Pal, and BitCoin payments)? Is "My struggle" from 2019 an album? The thing that you have recorded with Stu Mac is as they say -> not my "cup of tee", and so on...
You are invisible, but I see (hear) that you have a lot to offer, just waiting for you to go for it. You have access to incredible instruments, just let yourself go. ✌
Thank you. Excellent presentation.
This was a really fascinating and informative video. Thank you!
You're very welcome! We're really glad that you found it useful and information. Thanks for tuning in! :)
Bought a Kawai GX-1 two years ago and I am very happy with it!
Hi Marios, I've been trying to ask people about how the GX series pianos change over time, and nobody couldn't answer. I guess the GX'es are still comparably rare in our area. Could you, please, tell if your piano changed after those 2 years? I tried a few GX'es at a piano store out of curiosity, and their sound seemed very strange to me all of the sudden. I'm not saying it was bad or unpleasant, but it was definitely different from all the instruments I've dealt with in my life. I assumed it could be related to the fact that those GX'es weren't broken in just yet. Since then this question never goes off my mind. :) Thanks!
Enjoy watching your videos. You explained very well and play beautifully. Thank you very much.
Thank you so much! We're glad you have been enjoying the videos! :)
@@MerriamPianos superb
Perfect timing!!!!
Just can't get a ca79..in Ireland.. ( I really want one over the ca59... ( I still think they beat the yamaha and casio.. and roland.. YOUR CHANNEL IS GREAT 👍.. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪
Plastic reinforced with something else in Yamaha and Kawai: around 1955, Yamaha began research into the use of new materials such as glass fiber reinforced plastic, resulting in products such as sailboats, yachts and oceangoing fishing vessels, as well as bows for archery and skiing - even bathtubs! (Yes, Yamaha builds yachts, bows, even pools for water parks). In 1971, Kawai introduced the plastic (ABS) whippen assembly. They didn't replace the entire action with this plastic, just a small part of it. So, their whippen assembly was made from the same material used in Lego toys. In 2002, they reinforced this plastic material with carbon fiber.
That SK3 sounds amazing, would love to see a video on it!
The clip is from the video titled: Shigeru Kawai SK-3 vs Estonia L190 Grand Piano... from Sept 25, 2021.
It's a great video and the Estonia sounds wonderful as well!
Hello Stu! Thank you and Merriam Music so much for providing all those interesting videos! As an advanced beginnerish player (started 1 1/2 years ago, at the age of 29) your channel really fascinated me, I never thought I'd get the chance to learn so much about all those differences of pianos and their manufacture.
Now, already about half a year ago I intend to buy a real acoustic piano and thanks to all those videos and testing a few in some stores I was able to narrow down my choice to a Kawai (due to financial reasons, otherwise I might have chosen a German piano). The vendor pointed out the K400 might also be an option, but there is very little information about this and how it differs from the K300 and K500. Do you consider doing a review to the Kawai K400 in the future? It would be a really great help =)
Greetings from Austria :D
The salesman said my RX2 is a rocket ship. I so agree. Very powerful and clear.
Congrats on your Kawai RX2! That is a wonderful model with tons of musical potential! Thanks for tuning in and happy playing! :)
Stu! Would it be possible to get a detailed look at the DGX-670? It would be tremendously helpful and I would greatly appreciate it! Keep up the amazing work! :)
Hello Stu, thank you for the video. I currently have a secondhand 7 year old Kawai K300 in my teaching studio. I enjoy it because of the innovative features. I’m thinking now of upgrading to a new K700 for all the extra differences especially better sound/touch. As my room is rather small (11x7 ft), I don’t feel I want to get the K800. Do you think it’s worth to change from a secondhand K300 to a new K700? Would appreciate your reply very much. Thank you.
I bought a Kawai RX-2 piano in 2009. If budget wasn't an issue, I would have gone for the RX-3 for better bass notes. That said, the sound of the Kawai RX-2 grows and matures along with my abilities over the decade. I enjoy this piano thoroughly. It's well looked after so it feels like a new or new-ish piano even after so long. The key actions are on the heavier side. While that's good for training my finger strength, I have to be very mindful to sensitive playing. Otherwise I'd sound like an elephant when I play on other pianos with lighter key actions or shallower key depth.
Yamaha has never been a choice for me because those pianos generally sound too bright for my liking. They sound too.... 'happy'. That said, Yamaha is more preferred and more popular here in Australia compared to Kawai.
The last piece is simply beautiful
Thank you so much! :)
direct interpretation of Kawai the Last name, refers to 'where rivers merge'.
What is the difference of the weight of the touch between those several Kawai grand series, i.e., GL, GX, SK? For example, is that GL=GX > SK? Or some order else? And how about the comparison of those grands versus Kawai's upright (say, K800)?
I wished you had mentioned something about the Scheidmayer mid sized grand made by Kawaii in Japan as far as I know. It is said to be built on a « German scale ».
How does it differ from an equivalent sized Kawaii from the perspective of how it is built?
Can someone tell me what is the piece that he plays in the beginning of the video?
What is that lovely piece you played during the playing demo? Was playing the video in the background while I worked and heard that song and had to stop. Would love to learn it myself if anyone can let me know what it was. Thanks!
Such lovely pieces. What is the last piece. Such guidance to make an informed choice. Thank you for sharing your experiencial knowledge so people can enjoy the journey of purchasing such a personal choice of which piano🥰. So enjoyable
Bless you
You are very welcome! Thanks for tuning in and for the kind words! I would have to check with Stu to see what the piece is. He is a master improviser, so it is possible it was improvised on the spot. ;)
Thank you for explaining the key action! I am currently researching about Kawai K35 (1970's) and i worry the action would be worse than modern day Kawai with their new Millenium 3 actions. You just brought light to me
You're very welcome! Of course, newer pianos will generally outperform the vast majority of old pianos given that the technology and designs have gone through many updates and refinements. Furthermore, action components do wear down over time, so a fresher action will have a greater degree of control in my experiences. :)
It would be nice to see you reviewing Kawai VPC1 and especially its keybed. That would somehow combine this Kawai-related review and previous VST reviews!
Just played a 1988 Kawai KG-1E 5'1" Grand this week. They wanted $8,000, which my research showed was a little steep. BUT, it was a single owner piano, in insane condition, and served as a backup piano that was basically never played. So maybe not a bad deal? Sounded beautiful by the way, one of the nicest sounding pianos I've had the pleasure of playing as of late.
OK, so it's about 33 years old. Can anybody predict how many good years this piano has left? I don't think $8000 is steep for a decent baby grand in good condition.
Beautiful closing demo ;)
the kawai mp7se is the best digital piano around hands down.. I have played many .. kurzweil, yamaha to name a few.. But kawai goes the farthest with their hammer action and true grand piano sound duplication.. It's a serious instrument that i wish i knew about years ago!
The Kawai MP7SE stage pianos are absolute powerhouse instruments! I definitely agree with your comments about how impressive the action and piano tones are. We're glad to hear that you've discovered what it has to offer! :)
2:38 interestingly, Kawai, Yamaha, and Roland are all in the Shizuoka Prefecture (like a Province). The name translates to "Quiet Mount" or "Silent Mount". For a "quiet" place, there certainly is a lot of music, isn't it?
Absolutely! Mind you, the word "piano" does translate to "soft". ;)
Excellent ! another great video. Hopefully you visit the hailun factory and meet the boss in china . Then let us what do you think of hailun piano😊. A lot of good reviews about hailun piano
Thank you once again for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle some of the Hailun piano models in review/comparison videos if at all possible. :)
Hi stu, which piano brand has the lightest key action? My friend has a kawai grand, I like the sound very much, but the keys feel quite heavy. I heard the legend that Horowitz played on a custom made piano with extremely light key action. That's what I am looking for, a piano sings with the slightest touch.
Dear Jun Xu, I know for fact from people who personally knew Horowitz that he started on pianos with hard action. Later he just carried his instruments with him on tours. We, regular pianists, never know what we will deal with in a new place, because we don't have this luxury to carry our instrument around, like violinists or wind instruments players. It's always a good idea to be prepared to the worst case scenario. :)) That is why it's considered to better practice on pianos with harder action. Although, if you just play for yourself, for fun, it's surely a different thing.
Thanks for the video. I watched the video and scanned the comments. You mention Kawai pianos made in both Japan and Indonesia and hit on the used market but you neglected to provide an opinion on quality of Japan vs Indonesia and differences in resale value due to being made in Indonesia. Are we to assume that Indonesian Kawai pianos are identical to Japanese? and that resale values are identical? thanks.
Hi! Brent here! You are very welcome! :)
Thanks for the question! It is a difficult question to answer because, from my experiences, it differs between different markets. Here in Canada, I would say that Japanese-made pianos are more revered and, accordingly, retain their value better. However, in other markets (even some regions in the US for instance), it seems to be less of a concern and, as a result, value retention is more consistent between Japanese and Indonesian made Kawai pianos. From a manufacturing standpoint, it is also difficult to comment on because, here in Canada, there are no models that we get both an Indonesian and Japanese version of. Given that the higher quality models are Japanese made, the edge would certainly lean in that favour. However, in other markets, it is possible to order both an Indonesian made GL20 and Japanese made GL20. It would be interesting to compare those two specimens side-by-side, but that is not something I have personally had the opportunity to do.
Great video. What is the name of the piece played at the end?
Thanks so much! I'd have to ask Stu about that as I do not know offhand. Perhaps, one of our community members will know the answer though. :)
Do you think that a KG5c, taken proper care of and light use from 1977, would be a good piano to buy?
Hi Geoff! Without inspecting the instrument in person, it is very difficult to assess and make a recommendation as the condition and musical viability of instruments of that age vary drastically.
I always found it telling that even well-established pianists have either a Yamaha or Kawai piano at home as their go-to instrument for practicing. Not so much because of their tonal quality but for their stability as both brands have are reputation of a very solid built that needs less tuning and regulating than other brands. I personally prefer the Kawai sound over Yamaha, and I particularly like the Shigeru Kawai grand pianos. But that is entirely subjective.
@H_S Indeed it is subjective. I prefer Yamaha to Kawai in both acoustic and digital pianos. I'm particularly enamoured by the tonal clarity and (in the case of DPs) the speaker systems on Yamahas.
Two experts I knew (a steel trader and a piano technician) commented disfavourably about the strings on Japanese pianos. I hope that any weakness in Japanese steel has been rectified since. On the other hand, Asian pianos tend to fair well in humid climates, compared to European pianos. And general quality control on Japanese instruments is outstanding IMO.
@@Zoco101 Both Yamaha and Kawai produce very reasonably priced entry-level instruments of reasonable quality as well as good quality Japan-built instruments. I often feel that buyers would be better served to buy a new Kawai or Yamaha piano rather than a 40 years of piano with a sometimes dubious past. I would also prefer them over Chinese-built pianos with a German name attached to the frame. Personal preferences apart, with Yamaha and Kawai, you always get a well-built instrument that is worth its money. That's worth keeping in mind, particularly on a smaller budget.
@@HS-wp5vb Agreed
I have a Kawai concert grand 7’4. Spectacular instrument, to me far superior to Yamaha in tonal quality, action & stability. I was brought up on a Steinway and I purchased a Kawai ( as a Steinway was out of my price range). Of course, as with any piano, the more you play it the more you put yourself into it, the more responsive it becomes. Proven with Kawai. To put it in layman’s terms, the Kawai has soul!
I am purchasing a Kawai for our church - this local comp h has NS15, BS 10, and BL 52a and BL 12. What are the differences? I just need a good quality upright :) to play alone and with a praise team
Hi Misty! All of these pianos are different models from slightly different generations. The vast majority of these are different heights will be largely contribute to the type of tonal and dynamic range you will receive from the instrument as well as the power and clarity from the lower register. While a "professional upright" (48" or taller) will provide one of the best musical experiences given its larger soundboard and longer bass strings, smaller console and studio uprights are popular choices for church settings in which the piano will be used to accompany soloists or smaller choirs/vocal ensembles. We always encourage our customers to audition the instruments in the manner in which they will be using them. It is not uncommon for customers to come in with a vocalist or instrumental soloist to help the pianist audition and assess the instrument to determine which has the most ideal volume and tone for their particular application. Hope this helps! :)
What are the model series of Kawai uprights? I'm looking at some used Kawais and I'm confused which model came earlier and which later. Unlike Yamaha's U series, Kawai has some money and very confusing to tell which series are newer models. Hope you can clariy this issue for me.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! It is true that Kawai has changed the model naming conventions of their upright and grand pianos over the years and decades. With that said, they seem to have finally settled on the K series moniker in recent years. It seems as if this will be a longer lasting series. Thanks for tuning in! :)
Just wondering what song you played in the demo part of the video? ( the first song)
Hi there! I would have to check with Stu on that, but thank you so much for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)
I have been thinking of getting kawai es110, released in 2017 a bit of an old model now, is there news on a new model to replace the es110.
Shane: It's a personal choice, and if it works for you, great, but I cannot recommend that model because there are quicker more responsive actions in other brands for around the same price. Take a look at Alesis Prestige Artist, Korg D1, Casio PX-S1100, PX-S3100, Roland FP30X. Some have arguably better sounds too, not to mention more modern connectivity & functionality.
@@Zoco101 speaking of the Casio PXS 1,100 have you tried it? And, if you have what are your thoughts on the action? I'd really like to know🎹🎶
WoW!
I've been looking at a used Linden piano, designed by Kawai. Do you have any experience or info on these? Are they made to the same quality as Kawai pianos?
Hi! Brent here! While I have seen Linden by Kawai pianos pop up on the online used marketplace, I have never played one personally. The Linden pianos I have come across seem to still use Japanese-made Kawai actions. Beyond that, my guess is that they were manufactured outside of Japan to keep labour costs down. Perhaps, one of our community members here will be able to shed more light on this line of pianos from Kawai.
Is a Kawaii PN80 an old model? I cannot find reviews on it anywhere
The Kawai PN80 is a few years old and is not part of the current Kawai line.
Which series / particular models do you find punch way above their weight?
This is a great question! For me, the Kawai ND21, Kawai GL10/GL20, and all Shigeru Kawai grands offer unbelievably good cost-to-value ratio. Even at the upper-tier price category, we have customers choosing the Shigeru Kawai SK models over pianos that are 25-30% more expensive purely based on the superior musical experience they provide. They are exceptional instruments. From the digital category, the KDP75/KDP120, CA401, and ES920 are all models that come to mind!
Have you tested any straight strung grand pianos?
I don't believe we have covered any straight strung grand pianos on the channel yet, but that would be an interesting topic. :)
hey guys would you choose the roland fp30x or the yamaha ydp 103, let me know
For polyphony I would choose the FP 30X. The FP 30X has 256 note polyphony wile the YDP 103 only has 64 note polyphony🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 I have owned and enjoyed several Roland FP-3 and absolutley love them. But I have worn them out, I played them on stage and work them hard.
Video on the construction of Kawai soundboards and other aspects of their piano construction:
ruclips.net/video/xBarlScipck/видео.html
Does anyone have information on the Kawai 902 f?
I am not super familiar with that particular model, but it is a 46" furniture style studio upright. It is quite an attractive cabinet if I do say so myself. :)
What is Kawai KU3D?
The KU30 is an older 48" upright model from Kawai. :)
Can anyone enlighten me on the Kawai KST series?
Hi! Brent here! I am not super familiar with the Kawai KST series, but I believe they were manufactured in Japan in the 1970s. The tricky thing with Kawai models is that, throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s in particular, there were a plethora of different lines and model names, which make things a bit confusing. More recently, they have stuck with the K series line and the model/numbering convention has far greater consistency that corresponds to the height of the instrument.
Here in Germany we have "only" 5 years warrantly and this is not transferable 🙂. Maybe in the past they had too many problems….
It is interesting that there are different warranty standards in different markets. With that said, there is no denying the incredible manufacturing standards and reliability of German pianos. :)
@@MerriamPianos unfortunately there are not very much 100% German piano manufacturers left 🙁. If any.
And prices are not payable.
That’s why Japanese und Chinese pianos are flooding the market.
There is a mild contradiction in these videos. In another video Stu said quite categorically that customers shopping for acoustic pianos should be open minded about brand. This video presupposes a decision to shop only for Kawai, but I guess he can't be responsible for consumer prejudice. Reading the subtext, German pianos still rule, if you can afford a good one, if only because there are still several great German manufacturers offering tremendous variety. Not everyone wants the same thing.
I can confirm my wilhelm schimmel 114t sounded better than any kawai or yamaha piano i tried... Anywhere near the same price...
And its do with the time the soundboard is constructed....
"This video presupposes a decision to shop only for Kawai"? - Is it a fact, or just an opinion? ;) When did Stu say that? :)) Stu is very famous for never giving any concrete advice as to what brand to prefer; he ALWAYS says that it's a very personal thing. He just tells people about particularities of all kind of brands and models.
@@Cultusmusicus because the video is exclusively about how to buy/choose a Kawai. In a previous video, Stu said not to go shopping with that mindset. Don't choose just between Kawais, choose between every good piano you can find in your price range, assuming they fit into the designated space and ambience. No, Stu doesn't agree with narrowing it down to one manufacturer, and that is why this video is a curiosity.
But I daresay there are a lot of shoppers who have decided it will be a Kawai, even before they've tried many other pianos. It's the same as the it's-gotta-be-a-Dyson mentality.
I don't meen to sound rood, but I think maybe because Merriam Music is partly a Kawai dealer. I know this is a very week clame however, this is the only thing I can think of and, you're welcome to correct me if I'm rong🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 No, you're not rude. It's a valid comment. When giving advice, it must be tricky for Stu to steer a good course between what he knows, what the customers demand, and what Merriam is best equipped to provide. Sometimes we need to read between the lines.
Notably, Stu's last piano (his home piano for serious practice) was a German upright. He changed to a Kawai Novus NV5 because he needed a hybrid digital piano. At no time did I hear him say that the NV5 felt or sounded better. Seems it was largely about silent practice. It was a brave move and time will tell whether he is content with that decision. If the action is indeed the same as on the Kawai CA99, then it is quite light, and I see no benefit over a plastic action, such as that on the MP-7SE. Both are still quite good, but they are nothing to write home about.
Actually, I don't care much about so-called "realism". I'm a gigging jazz musician, I practise furiously, and I care about what works. The actions on the cheaper uprights and grands can't keep up with my fingers. The actions on the digital pianos priced €800+ usually can keep up with me.
Used Kawai is something that worries me. I intended to buy a new Kawai and I looked for used one to see how it would be down the road in 20-30 years. I haven't been lucky with used acoustic Kawai. The KX series, sometimes around, was not made in Japan. So far, I am not impressed or should I say, for the same age, Yamaha U1 simply aged better. Weird to say, but many Kawai had the keyboard bed curving down in the middle.
They used the same plastic used in Lego toys for 30 years (from 1971 to 2002) in their whippen assembly (the part of the action they decided to replace with plastic). In the last 20 years, they have reinforced it with carbon fiber. So, maybe those early pianos had issues.
@@Instrumental-Covers Thanks for the info. I don't think the keybed has plastic in it. Often people complain of the bright sound of Yamaha but year for year for old piano, I found used Kawai be very bright too. So that mellow sound promoted by retailer doesn't last that long after the piano has been played and the hammer are compacted. It comes down to voicing and the quality of the hammer to work with. The sample size for my test is not that big. There are not as many Kawai as there is Yamaha around.
@@michelprimeau4531 No, not the keybed, it is their whippen assembly what is made of plastic. It is a small piece inside the action, sort of a triangular shape. You are right, many Kawai pianos can be very bright, even more so than some Yamahas. There is a channel of a store of used Kawai and Yamaha pianos, and the owner plays all of the pianos, and some are very bright, some are not, regardless of whether they are Kawai or Yamaha. Like you said, it is mostly a voicing issue.
What exactly do you mean curving down in the middle? Do you mean the keys toward the center are lower than at the ends? The center keys are played a lot more then the outer edges. Key height is adjusted by adding thin paper washers under the key at the balance rail pins. These paper washer come in various thicknesses from very thin to stiff cardboard thickness. The condition seems to be normal wear and tear as best as I can guess. It's a pretty simple fix.
@@Instrumental-Covers Carbon fiber tennis racket frames are far superior to the wooden ones of bygone days. Some plastics can turn to mush over time. This was an issue on the early electric clavinets. I forgot the Brand. It was during the heyday of the Rhodes Suitcase pianos which by the way had no real action at all, just a key stick.
COVID hair
Every once in a while, you gotta change up the hairdo! ;)
Hi:) Can I know what the name of the piece you played at the end of this video? It was stunningly beautiful:) like to know the piece’s name and download the notes somewhere 🫥
Hi there! I would have to ask Stu about that, but I do agree that it is very beautiful! Thanks so much for tuning in. :)
I have a kawai kl 58 b. Can’t find any info on this model. Little help?
The Kawai KL58B is a 50" professional upright that was made in Japan by Kawai in the 80s if I recall correctly. :)