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After much consideration I decided to part with my 11 year old Charles Walter 1500 and upgrade to a grand.
I began my search where I left off as a music major with a concentration in Piano Performance way back when in 2009- playing on Steinway D's and B's. I'd finally reached a point in my career where this was attainable. After visiting basically every piano store in Austin and San Antonio, including both Steinway galleries, I had the ability to play on multiple B's, a Bosie 214 VC, a new Yamaha sx7. I was surprised I didn't immediately fall for the Model B. The only piano I really enjoyed was the concert loaner in SA which had obviously been prepped to a high degree. I then stopped by the Kawai dealer(our last top of the trip), in SA. After playing a gorgeous but slightly unsatisfying SK5, I arrived at the SK7. The dynamic range and subtlety of tone blew me away- I was expecting to hate the Kawai/Yamaha sound instead thinking a Boise/B/Old European brand would be my preference. The action is such a joy to play and the piano sounded and felt fantastic from the beginning. I had no intention of buying that day but after an amazing offer, it was settled. Ironically, the S&S dealer in SA literally rolled his eyes and said "good luck with that" when I mentioned I was going to try this piano out.
Good luck indeed.
I hope to record with the instrument and rekindle a passion almost lost.
You played several of the pianos that I have on my list of "to try before buying." I was wondering if you would mind ranking them in order of preference, pretty please? I know preference is very subjective, but I'm curious to hear the opinion of someone with a performance degree. Many thanks in advance.
Talão
Yamaha U3 and Kawai MP11SE My piano journey (playing since July 2019) 10 weeks into Duane Shinn's 52-Week Crash Course
As someone who wants an SK-7 but does not have the opportunity to try one first, do you think placing an order would be a wise decision ? I’ve played an SK-6 and SK-3 and I’m just in love with Shigeru Kawai’s. Thanks.
As someone who wants an SK-7 but does not have the opportunity to try one first, do you think placing an order would be a wise decision ? I’ve played an SK-6 and SK-3 and I’m just in love with Shigeru Kawai’s. Thanks.
I would hesitate buying something you don't try out first. But owning a new SK-7, it also hard to think that someone could be disappointed with Shigeru!
Agree I would definitely want to play on the specific instrument before committing to such a big investment. Would be worth flying somewhere to try if one was in stock and you are strongly considering it.
Huge congratulations! I just recently came to greatly appreciate the Shigeru and had the good fortune of playing the pianos at Kim’s pianos in Stanton. CA while on a business trip. They had many big grands to play and I felt like a kid in a candy store. I’ll rate them in order with my best explanations. All subject to my layman’s opinion. #5 Bosendorfer - not fair, they only had a 5’8” model that couldn’t hang with the big boys - and it was not in perfect tune. #4 Bluenther. Very nice. Smooth, sounded evenly throughout, but nothing made me want to continue playing it. #3 Estonia 225. I really liked this one. But the upper mid was not as sweet as the Shigeru. #3 Bechstein. 1st time ever playing one. Better than the others. Sorry for the lack of descriptions on this and the previous ones, because… #(expletive)1! Shrgiru Kawai. Ok it it is a bit unfair to compare a 9’ Kawai to 7’ other makes. The 9’ made me FEEL like I was playing in a concert. So, to be more fair, I also played the 7’ Kawai. The 7’ Kawai has all the same delightful overtones, perfect touch, evenness, as the 9’ version. I can’t explain it well, but it is like the difference from going from regular 2-channel stereo to surround sound. The Segiru Kawais engulfed me in sound. And every bit if it was perfect, out of this world, regardless of where I was playing on the keyboard. Whereas the others all had some small thing that I could point out as being less than ideal, I could find no fault with the Kawais. Btw, played an older Yamaha C7 there, perfectly tuned and I hate to say my Kimball (with its many flaws) will easily hang with it but, it does. I want to congratulate you on you purchase. I can only hope that with all the used Yamaha hype, I might be able to actually find a deal on a used Shrgiru that I could afford.
Sensational piano - well done. Great performance of the Nocturne which I am currently studying! I will have to post a video one day when I can play it half as well as you have done.
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