Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Used Yamaha C6 VS new kawai GL50

The older the piano is, the less likely they are to sound/feel the same.
The more hand labor is involved in the build of that series, the less they are likely to sound/feel the same.
Once parts start getting replaced, or if one undergoes some voicing and regulation while the other does not, can make a big difference in the sound and feel.

It sounds like you love that 20 year old C6. Try and negotiate the price down a little and get that one, instead of some random one that you're buying from a distance and might actually hate, in person. A new one (in the US) probably has a street price somewhere in the high $40k range (before tax/delivery).

The 20 year old C6 is a better piano than the GL-50. The GL series is Kawai's lowest quality tier of piano. The GX-BLK is more on par with the C series, which comes at a premium price.

A new C6X? It seems the SMP is about 65K, is it really that much of a difference between SMP and Street Price? In the UK, some stores actually publish their prices on their website. I still have no idea how things work in the USA!

This is an interesting observation Tickle, and I can't objectively disagree. However, I think "quality" can be a bit misleading. First, the M3 action in the GL is the same as in the GX, so no decrease in quality there. Certainly no step down from the Yamaha action. The GL keytops are acrylic instead of neotex, and although less expensive, not necessarily worse (there are higher tier pianos that go with acrylic too). Also, some prefer the feel of acrylic. Are the strings on a GL worse than what they put on a C in the 1990s? I doubt it. How about the hammers? Is a GL belly of a lower quality?

Having poked around in my old GL10 quite a bit, I didn't find anything I'd consider low quality, and my model was built in Indonesia rather than Japan. Perhaps the Yamaha Cs used more expensive hammers and wood than the GL when adjusted for inflation, but are they objectively better?

I don't think there are hard answers to these questions. Both are quality instruments, even if the GL is the entry line for Kawai. Therefore if someone likes the sound of the GL better than the C or even a GX, I hope they don't forego the GL simply because they think it's of a lower quality. The GL will last as long as the other pianos, and if it sounds and plays better to you, then it's the better piano.

23% off SMP, gets you in that neighborhood...

Obviously I studied piano for longer than arithmetic oops....

It's okay, I don't expect anyone located in Tuscaloosa to be able to do math properly, 24 hours after what the football team in my state did to yours!
(I'd be shocked if you watched the game, knowing how much of an American football fan you obviously are...)

Any updates on the OP’s shopping?

If you owned Young chang piano for a long time, Yamaha would be much familiar to you than Kawai regarding action and sound as young copied Yamaha.

here is the update, Im still doing my home work.

Yesterday I tried a C5: piano was used as furniture for 20 years, looks brand new, but I was a bit taken aback by the sound... Something is missing vs the C6. Maybe because the piano was never played but I found the low end to be weak. (asking price 17k)

I really liked the action, to me same as the C6.

The C6 people called me back asking where I stand, negotiating.

I looked at a few refurb online but I wont buy a piano without trying it. I am not a great player by any means but I do care about sound.

Side note: my young chang pramberger is really not bad compared to a some pianos Ive tried in show rooms.

Obviously I went into a deep state of mourning and tore the sleeve of my favourite Roll Tide shirt.

Nah, I didn't even know the game was going on until my facebook exploded the next day!

Can you get the C5 evaluated by a tech? Even a barely played piano may need regulation, and possibly voicing, but it probably has serious potential. And it's definitely a good sign that you liked the action... How does the price of the C5 compare to the C6?

How much of a rush are the C6 people in?

The C5 is located in a store that does all kind of piano repair/reconditioning. I would probably be able to have them prepare it and try it before I buy.

The C6 is at a showroom, I believe they had the piano for years so probably no rush.

From what I heard I would say the C5 doesnt sound like a big piano as much as the C6. But maybe also due to room acoustics. Also, I felt the C5 needed more force to produce similar sound level to C6.
I found the C6 had a much richer harmonic profile for some reason.

Hmm, it's hard to evaluate room acoustics, isn't it!

But def ask the C5 seller to prep it, and to address any concerns about it you have.

Every C6 I’ve ever played has been more powerful than the C5. The low bass should also be better, by virtue of the extra length. I like the C5 a lot as a piano studio teaching instrument, though.

aside from being more powerful, how would you say the two instruments differ?

It sounds like you still like this specific C6 best of all the pianos you’ve tried. That’s what should matter most. Most of the used C6s I see are in concert hall settings, where they are usually… rather on the bright side.

yeah, it is bright , I like that.
That brings another question, is a C6 too big for a house...

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Many of us have pianos this size in our homes and do not find them to be overwhelming. Whether it is ‘too big’ depends on a lot of factors; size of room, openings to other rooms? Soft furnishing?

If this is a concern, I would advise a thick rug pad underneath s rug that covers completely under the piano. Add drapes, upholstered chairs and pillows. There are more treatments that can be done, if needed.

Thank you, I think I should be fine, large opened dining room in large living room, lots of furniture but tile, so a rug would probably be in order.

Thank you !