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I own a Shigeru Kawai SK-2L.  Its serial no is 2675xxx. Can anyone tell me its approximate manufacture year?

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Topic: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano  (Read 3890 times)

Offline pp123

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How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
on: September 23, 2015, 06:23:24 AM
I own a Shigeru Kawai SK-2L.  Its serial no is 2675xxx. Can anyone tell me its approximate manufacture year?

Offline visitor

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #1 on: September 23, 2015, 01:06:57 PM
1. congrats, you have great taste. the shigerus are as a line my favorite instruments int he world. my  dream piano actually.

2. ask the kids that made it
contact Kawai America at: 
Kawai America Corporation
P.O. Box 9045
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90224-9045
Phone: 310-631-1771 •  Fax: 310-604-6913

Offline pp123

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #2 on: September 23, 2015, 01:20:30 PM
I tried already.  I sent them email, but they did not answer.
Anyone has any other suggestions?

Offline visitor

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #3 on: September 23, 2015, 01:30:10 PM
i would call, fax, and write  a letter and mail it. I would send it w tracking as certified mail with signature of receipt confirmation requested.  I don't know that email is best, i didn't post an email so i'm not sure what you used but best to actually speak w someone live on the phone or send the letter first then call. if that fails, i would call a local certified dealer for Kawai and Shigeru and inquire there, the sales rep or manager would likely have access to a way to look up the information.

Offline pp123

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #4 on: September 23, 2015, 01:34:19 PM
Thank you for your advice.  I'll try.

Offline sandracb

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #5 on: September 23, 2015, 03:11:17 PM
I'm very envious! You have one of my dream pianos. I hope one day to be able to afford to upgrade into the Shigeru line.

Anywho, don't quote me, but I'm going to guess sometime in 2014. I just bought an RX-2 and its serial # starts with 266 and the dealer said it was made sometime in 2014, looks like yours probably was made shortly after mine.

If you find out to post back! I'm curious to confirm my own piano's manufacture dates.
Current repertoire:
ARCT program (Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Rach, Barber, Mendelssohn), plus Schumann's Papillons, Scarlatti, and Czerny op 740

My pianos: Kawai BL-51 (50"), Kawai RX-2 Conservatory

Offline michael_c

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #6 on: September 23, 2015, 05:24:14 PM
The Kawai site lists serial numbers up to 2012:

https://www.kawaius-tsd.com/pages/serial_manudate.html

The serial numbers for 2012 start at 2639000. The number of your piano is at least 36000 greater than that, which probably puts it's manufacture date in 2014 or 2015.

Since a Shigeru Kawai is an exclusive, handcrafted instrument, it ought to be possible to find out not only the exact date it left the factory but also the name of the main craftsman who built it. Aren't they sold with a certificate giving these details?

Offline pp123

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #7 on: September 24, 2015, 01:18:31 PM
Unfortunately, it was not sold with a certificate with those details.

Offline pp123

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #8 on: September 24, 2015, 01:25:55 PM
I also could only find the serial numbers for Kawai pianos up to 2012.  My dealer told me it is made in 2015.  I just want to confirm.

Shigeru is indeed a fantastic piano.  I find that it is much more consistent than Steinway too.  And of course, it is much cheaper.  Only for some Shigeru's, the notes at the upper register are not bright enough, i.e. too mellow (my opinion only).

Offline pp123

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #9 on: September 24, 2015, 01:39:09 PM
Thank you everyone for your advice.

Offline michael_c

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Re: How old is my Shigeru Kawai piano
Reply #10 on: September 24, 2015, 03:44:14 PM
I would contact Kawai in Japan directly. Tell them how pleased you are with your piano (it seems you sincerely are pleased with it) and that you would love to know exactly when it was built and who built it. Kawai are proud of the Shigerus: pay them a compliment and they might give you the information you are asking for.
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