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Topic: How good is a Kawai  (Read 2225 times)

Offline tompilk

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How good is a Kawai
on: October 08, 2005, 07:30:25 PM
The music teacher at my school says that the Kawai we have in the school hall is rubbish - but everyone here seems to think that they're great. Which one is it? I am pretty sure that the Kawai at school is a good example of a Kawai as well...
Info please... :-\
Working on: Schubert - Piano Sonata D.664, Ravel - Sonatine, Ginastera - Danzas Argentinas

Offline xvimbi

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #1 on: October 08, 2005, 07:39:55 PM
Very likely, any piano put in a school or college will be badly banged up after a short time. Most schools don't have the resources to constantly fix what the students break. In general, Kawai makes some very good pianos (particularly their upscale line, Shigeru Kawai). Given a certain minimum level of quality, it's how one treats an instrument that defines how well it performs.

Offline m1469

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #2 on: October 08, 2005, 07:45:28 PM
Given a certain minimum level of quality, it's how one treats an instrument that defines how well it performs.


Actually, even though I just posted about being ruined and haunted by a Bose, I would agree whole-heartedly with what xvimbi just said there.  Kawais, in my experience, can be decent.  But, I have found that almost any piano will respond at least somewhat pleasingly (capable of singing) to the proper treatment and approach. 

(Woah.. I just had an intense realization)


m1469
"The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving"  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Offline arensky

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #3 on: October 08, 2005, 07:50:54 PM
I've found that Kawais hold up very well under institutional or commercial conditions, whereas Steinways and Bosendorfers are generally in very bad condition, unless they are in the teacher's studios or under high level pianotech care, as they are very tempermental and like tempermenatal children demand attention. And with every manufacturer there are good instruments and bad ones... I personally enjoy seeing the Kawai name on a fallboard when I open it before a concert or gig, I usually find what I expect to once I start to play it. And the Shigeru Kawai I played at a piano convention a few years ago was one of the most beautiful instruments I have ever played, I could have taken it home, and I usually don't feel that way about pianos... :-*
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Offline classicarts

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #4 on: October 08, 2005, 10:18:03 PM

Actually, even though I just posted about being ruined and haunted by a Bose, I would agree whole-heartedly with what xvimbi just said there.  Kawais, in my experience, can be decent.  But, I have found that almost any piano will respond at least somewhat pleasingly (capable of singing) to the proper treatment and approach. 

(Woah.. I just had an intense realization)


m1469

I agree with you, m1469.  I'm not that fond of Kawai's myself.  I've found their sounds to be indiscreet.

Offline xvimbi

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #5 on: October 08, 2005, 10:36:52 PM
I agree with you, m1469.  I'm not that fond of Kawai's myself.  I've found their sounds to be indiscret.

I haven't heard this word used as an attribute for piano sounds. Sounds interesting. Can you elaborate?

Offline gfiore

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #6 on: October 08, 2005, 10:41:04 PM
 The correct spelling of the word is indiscreet. Use spell check when you post.
George Fiore  aka "Curry"
 Piano Technician serving the central New Jersey Area.
My piano- A 2004 Bosendorfer Model 214 #47,299 214-358

Offline xvimbi

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #7 on: October 08, 2005, 11:04:08 PM
The correct spelling of the word is indiscreet. Use spell check when you post.

I was not referring to the typo. I am interested in the meaning of the statement.

Offline lisztisforkids

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #8 on: October 09, 2005, 01:00:57 AM
I dont like KAWAIS PERIOD. >:(  They are fugly! And sound bad! ( at least to me)
we make God in mans image

Offline quantum

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Re: How good is a Kawai
Reply #9 on: October 09, 2005, 10:54:07 AM
They are quite durable under extreeme conditions.  Believe me, I used to have a Kawai upright which I "used" to it's phsical limits.   My mom likes to attach the letters ab, so it reads "abused"  ;)

Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach
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