Kawai kg2

[ang15]

Hi I've been searching for a used grand piano for several months my favorites so far have been Yamaha c3 and Kawai rx3 but haven't found one which worked out. I'm now considering a Kawai kg2 1991 which is sold by a technician claiming topcondition. I haven't played it yet but could I please have some opinions on how this model compares to the two I mentioned? Thanks

[hfmadopter]

Just pure opinion, I'd buy an RX or a Shigeru Kawai . I probably couldn't afford the latter but would love to own one. I'm sure the techs piano is nice, you would just have to play it, there is no other way to tell if it strikes your fancy or not.

[ang15]

Hi and thanks, I played the kg2 today and I really liked it, it looks in excellent condition and has been fully serviced, regulated, voiced and tuned. My usual tech recommended this seller as they are the people who trained him, they have a very good reputation to uphold, my tech is away at the moment still I will definitely be getting an independent opinion particularly in regards to the price, before making any final decision.

[hfmadopter]

Hi and thanks, I played the kg2 today and I really liked it, it looks in excellent condition and has been fully serviced, regulated, voiced and tuned. My usual tech recommended this seller as they are the people who trained him, they have a very good reputation to uphold, my tech is away at the moment still I will definitely be getting an independent opinion particularly in regards to the price, before making any final decision.

Excellent then !! Tell me if you don't mind, did you like it as much, more or less as the RX 3? Some folks do like the older versions better and some don't. Same with the RX replacement. This stuff is all so personal opinion related ! If it sings to you when you sit at it then it's your piano, that's the most important feature of a piano.

[ang15]

Hi again,
To be honest I did prefer the KG2. It looks in excellent condition and has been fully serviced, regulated, voiced and tuned. My usual tech recommended this seller as they are the people who trained him, they have a very good reputation to uphold, my tech is away at the moment still I will definitely be getting an independent opinion particularly in regards to the price, before making any final decision. I live in New Zealand where there are limited options in the Grand piano market! These are the seller's credentials:
Concert and Artist Department London Steinway 2009
Graduate Steinway Concert Academy Technician programme 1998
Steinway technician programme 1996
Eidg. Dip. Klavierbauer, Switzerland 1982
B Mus. University of Auckland 1978
Piano Disc technician
S.V.K.S Switzerland
A.R.P.T. (Australasian Registered Piano Technician)
I would say he has done an excellent job on the piano as it has been one of the best I have played, in addition to this it only had one previous owner who had it serviced regularly by him.
I am confused as to the price.. The RX3 I played recently was 2001 and asking price $19500 (New Zealand $$) so when my tech said it would need $1800+ work to get it up to top standard, I attempted to negotiate the price down and it didn't work out.
The KG2 today was 1992 (9 yrs older) and asking price $22000 (negotiable). Cost includes delivery and after purchase check up and tuning, which I would have had to pay for with a private sale. Imho I don't expect it would need further work doing (though I would get this confirmed). I actually preferred it to the RX3 and found the action to be very responsive; I asked about the "superior" more recent Millenium III on newer models and he said something about resistance and inertia which I didn't understand.. however I loved the touch and tone of it so I am not worried about it not having Millenium III.
What I don't understand is, if it is smaller, older, and an inferior model (?) to the RX3, why is it more expensive? (or about the same, given tuning, delivery, and hopefully no work needing doing to it!)
I have been advised that there's no way I would have preferred the KG2 to the RX3 if the RX3 had had the same prep and regulation etc.. but I have no idea if this is correct! Maybe I'm just some one who likes the older versions! I preferred the sound of it.

[hfmadopter]

I have been advised that there's no way I would have preferred the KG2 to the RX3 if the RX3 had had the same prep and regulation etc.. but I have no idea if this is correct! Maybe I'm just some one who likes the older versions! I preferred the sound of it.

I would agree that perhaps the later model would give a sense of less resistance in the action and if properly prepped it should come out as the top piano of the two. Should is a big word in all this, I wouldn't unconditionally say that you would prefer it to the older model. Again , when you sit at a piano and it just feels right and it sings to you, so be it ! That's your piano.

The tech who prepped the piano has excellent credentials, I doubt you have much to fear about his work done to the piano and it's surely why it is such a great playing instrument. I suspect that if he were to do the work on the RX3 it too would have a bit higher price as well as play differently than it does now.. It's simply not prepped to the same degree as the KG2 and highly technical prep work costs money.. Just a suspicion and guess though that this would be the case. much depends on what is required in the prep.

[iansinclair]

Indeed.  I would emphasize, strongly, what hfmadopter said: if you sit at a piano, and it sings to you, that's your piano.

Particularly in the better pianos (oddly), no two will play alike or sound alike.  Sometimes an older piano will just speak to you for some reason (you couldn't drag my 115 year old piano away from me if you tried, for instance).  Sometimes a less expensive piano will be better -- for you.

Go with what feels and sounds best to you.

[ang15]

Thanks again. I have a very good independent tech (my piano tuner) he travels the area alot and has checked out several pianos for me without charging me. I wish to get his advice on the state and quality of this KG2 as well as his opinion on the price. He is away at the moment but grand pianos do not sell quickly around here and I have asked the seller to inform me if anyone else puts in an offer. I will let you know what happens but I may well come to the conclusion that it is too expensive, as that seems to be what a few people are saying although it is not really accurate to compare to piano prices in other countries as it would obviously cost a lot to get it here if I were to buy one from another country.. especially as I would want to go there and play it first to make sure I love it!!

[keys60]

Its easy to give you our opinions but unfair to do so. Both the Yammie C and the Kawai RX are very good pianos. The Yamaha G's and the Kawai KGs are good, just not AS good. Its really a matter of what you like and will be satisfied with. Play them all and leave our egos out of it. By the way, a Shigeru Kawai, I played on last night, is AWESOME. It was also 57 grand so.........not in this lifetime.