Upright piano: Yamaha? Kawai?

[bottle]

Hi,

I am planning to get myself an upright piano. But not sure which brand to go for - Yamaha or Kawai. I have budget constraint now and might consider to sell it in 10 years later. I have shortlisted few models here. Would appreaciate if you can share some light.

Yamaha
- M112T (Made in Japan)
- U1J (Made in Indonesia)
- U1 (Made in Japan)

Kawai
- K-25
- K-30

Thanks in advance.

Regards

[sleepingcats]

I can't offer too much information on the models other than the Yamaha U1 which I ended up buying. Some of the features I like about the U1 include the soft-close fallboard preventing fingers from getting smashed, and the ability to lock the fallboard (I have 2 little grandkids so those 2 features were important). Also, I like the long music rack, padded bench, and the style (as opposed to the console style of the M112). I was going to buy a 44" upright, but because the sound was so much nicer on the 48" U1, I bought that one.

Hope this gives you a few more things to consider for your purchase!

[jferguson]

I can give you some insight on the Kawai's- The Kawai pianos are a 3 generation family piano.  Hiratachi is the grandson and is still apart of the piano manufacturing business.  They only specialize in pianos/organs.  Yahama pianos tend to be brighter where Kawai is warmer, richer, fuller.  Most pianos get brighter in time so if you start with a brighter piano it will get too bright.

I think Kawai has maintained the best tone and touch due to their action.

[f0bul0us]

Yamaha's have a very "midi grand-like" tone that some people like. Where Kawai's give a somewhat more believable sound. Yamaha's, however, use the same keyboard action on uprights and grands, Kawai's vary from very light to about the same as a Yamaha (slightly heavier). Tone-wise, bigger pianos (generally) have a much nicer sound to them, which is why grands are so good. For recording, Kawai's dynamic range doesn't shift up and down (sound like someone's waving the recorder) like Yamaha's. Kawai's very good for practice recording, and are used in some professional studios across North America.

[Axtremus]

f0bul0us wrote: "Yamaha's, however, use the same keyboard action on uprights and grands ..."

Not entirely sure what you mean, but it is NOT POSSIBLE to put the action used on an upright into a grand piano. Upright and grand use actions of very different designs.

As for the original question on whether to buy U1, M112T, U1J, K-25, or K-30 ...

Personally, I would directly compare U1 to K-50 (not K-30). I would also say that any piano in the Yamaha U-series (made in Japan) and any piano in the Kawai K-series (K-25 or bigger) will work well and I consider them respectable pianos. Just pick one you like best from among those within your budget -- there is no wrong answer.

Don't worry about resale value -- they all deppreciate similarly, and after a few years, condition of the piano affects resale price more than brand name at this level of pianos anyway, so don't sweat the brand name. Just go find the sound and touch you like best.

(Don't worry about which brand gets used more in concert halls or recording studios either -- you're buying one for your home use, not for a concert hall or a studio.)

[Spatula]

Hi,

I am planning to get myself an upright piano. But not sure which brand to go for - Yamaha or Kawai. I have budget constraint now and might consider to sell it in 10 years later. I have shortlisted few models here. Would appreaciate if you can share some light.

Yamaha
- M112T (Made in Japan)
- U1J (Made in Indonesia)
- U1 (Made in Japan)

Kawai
- K-25
- K-30

Thanks in advance.

Regards

I don't like Kawais so I'd go with the Yamaha, a personal preference.

[bottle]

Due to budget constraint, I will only consider the Kawai piano. According to the saleman, they are having a promotion for the K-38 (which is the same as the K-25), in conjuction with the company 38-anniversary. Don't know if I should get that model.

What do you mean by Yamaha piano is brighter?

[Axtremus]

Due to budget constraint, I will only consider the Kawai piano. According to the saleman, they are having a promotion for the K-38 (which is the same as the K-25), in conjuction with the company 38-anniversary. Don't know if I should get that model.

I am not aware that there is a K-38. Do you mean the K-30?

The K-30 should work just fine.

[bottle]

No. Its not the K-30 but another model specially made for the company 38th anniversary. As according to the salesman, this model is similar to K-25. They have limited sets during this promotion.

Or should I increase my budget to get a better one which will last longer like Yamaha U1 model?

Thanks.

[Axtremus]

No. Its not the K-30 but another model specially made for the company 38th anniversary.

Sorry, never heard of K-38.

Are you in the US? Can you disclose who the dealer is?

I have no concrete reason to doubt your story, but the "K-38 special promotion for the 38th anniversary" story sounds very fishy to me.

Go to https://www.kawaius.com/ and click on "Upright Pianos."
There are K-18, K-25, K-30, K-50, K-60, K-80.
There is no model K-38 that I am aware of.

Kawai celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2002, so the 38th anniversary story makes no sense to me either. (Which company's 38th anniversary? The dealers?)

If you are serious about buying this "K-38," this is what I recommend:

1. Go visit the dealer and look at the piano, copy down the serial number of that particular piano (not any other piano, must be that particular piano that you're interested in). The serial number is usually stamped on the tuning pin area (open up the top lid and look for it yourself).

2. Go to https://www.kawaius.com/ , click on "Contact Us" and contact Kawai US (the distributor). Double check with them the "K-38" model and the serial number. If the "K-38" model is genuine and the serial number checks out, Kawai US will tell you. (I contacted Kawai US before to double check on a used Kawai piano I was thinking about buying, they were very responsive.)

Good luck!

(p.s. As for whether you should increase your budget and get a U1 -- that's entirely up to you. Go play the U1, go play the K-xx piano, and buy the one you like best within your budget -- there really isn't much more than that. Any of these pianos can easily last you 20~30 years as long as you take good care of it. Good luck!)

[bottle]

I am in Singapore. Yes, it is the dealer's 38th anniversary. They have limited sets for this piano.

K-38E is printed inside. I didn't copy down the serial number. Is there any way to verify without the serial number?

[Axtremus]

Sorry... I don't know enough about Kawai in Singapore to comment meaningfully any further.

https://www.kawai.co.jp/upright/ certainly lists some models that I've never seen in the US, so it's possible that Singpore gets models that the US does not import (though I couldn't find any K-38 on the Japanese website either).

I have nothing useful to add past this point. Good luck.

[Spatula]

Racist...

HAHAH more like prejudice   and proud of it.

Somebody starting a prejudice-free society for the lives of pianos of different makes (ie pianos will not be judged by the factory they were made in, but how they act in the world!) sounds like a parody of Martin Luther King jr....

Freedom for pianos of all kinds where they can live in harmous musicallity ( what a bunch of crock   )

yeah that's a good one!!!

[f0bul0us]

HAHAH more like prejudice   and proud of it.

Somebody starting a prejudice-free society for the lives of pianos of different makes (ie pianos will not be judged by the factory they were made in, but how they act in the world!) sounds like a parody of Martin Luther King jr....

Freedom for pianos of all kinds where they can live in harmous musicallity ( what a bunch of crock   )

yeah that's a good one!!!

This coming from somebody who bad mouths Pearl Rivers?!?!?! El bastardo?!?!?!

[Spatula]

This coming from somebody who bad mouths Pearl Rivers?!?!?! El bastardo?!?!?!

Looks like you dont get the sarcasm in my previous posts... do you really think I advocate "free piano life"? hell no! Go yahama go!  boo pearl river boo!  

I'm not el bastardo, my children are  

[f0bul0us]

It's counter-sarcasm! You missed it.

[Spatula]

It's counter-sarcasm! You missed it.

Now I'm lost  

Remember I'm a kitchen utensil, not a human with a brain.

[bottle]

Just to update: I have bought the K-25E. As this is more international known model instead of the K-38E.

[Axtremus]

Just to update: I have bought the K-25E. As this is more international known model instead of the K-38E.

Congratulations on the new piano!

[f0bul0us]

Ah! I see no one mentioned that Kawai's rarely come with padded seats

[bottle]

Thanks. I am very happy with my new piano. Finally, after so much considerations. I want to get a piano cover now...

[Piazzo22]

Yamahas are nice pianos. But I prefer to buy a 90 years old big August Förster (Loebau) upright. No matter how the hammers are in the Yamaha, it doesn´t sound equalized.

[leeheidi]

Are you still happy with your New Kawai K-25E?  I am thinking to purchase a new/used piano.