I need to stop looking at the piano ads on Craigslist. I saw an ad for this piano at an estate sale and it was just few miles from my home. Checked it out this morning, and I made an offer... the owner accepted.

It is a late 1960's model K. Kawai K48A studio upright in great condition. It is a Seisakusho pro model, what ever that means. It has a very nice, mellow tone and real ivory keys. They need cleaning and polishing, and are just a tad on the yellowish side, but I'll get to that in time.

It belonged to a career church pianist and piano teacher who passed away last year.

Guess I have an obsession that has a hold on me... I need Psychological help!!

Rick

Rick...so you are suffering from "PAS"---Piano Acquisition Sydrome"!!!

Uh-oh. I didn't know they had a name for that problem. I wonder if there is a cure, or you just have to keep getting your fix?

If its anything like "GAS" -- Guitar acquisition syndrome, there apparently is no cure.

Hey Rick,

Admitting it is the first part of recovery, right?

Congrats! I've never seen a Kawai older than 1970.

Wasn't it the Duchess of Windsor who said that you cannot be too thin, too rich or have too many pianos?

It just shows that everything OLD is NEW again! Kawai built this exact cabinet in the BL-51 in the late 80's. These are NICE pianos. CONGRATS!!! So, when does your store open?

I love it! Now, see, WHY can't "they" make those music desks standard these days, on uprights? Not everything "new" is improved!

Mine is 48" but I hate that flip-over music desk!

have fun, Rick!

Rats... That means I'm in trouble. Last count I had 14 various uprights, and one old unknown painted white ugly grand.

Then I have customers pianos that I'm rebuilding. I had to hunt a bigger place.

If there ain't a cure, my wife is in trouble when I'm gone.

Rick, this is going to be an expensive habit of yours. And with your MO you're going to sell it in a few years time at half the price.;)

Don't worry, I do the same thing with guitars, but my guitars are much less costly than pianos.

What a nice looking piano!

Congrats Rickster!

Norbert

BTW, how do you post pictures without directing to another URL? Is there a way to just upload?

That is the first "K KAWAI" decal I have seen on an upright. I thought I have read here that it is the badge used exclusively on the grands.

Definitely like the music desk on this one. Have you had it long enough to compare it to the Hamilton?

ha ha you're a hoot Rickster! But I think you're having fun. Just don't divorce your Yamaha or Baldwin.

Does that have the plastic action?

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for the comments, All!!!

And rockett88, I'll have to seek out a cure for "PAS"---Piano Acquisition Syndrome" (if there is one)!!!

But when a great deal on a great piano comes along, right up under my nose, it is hard to be strong.

The former pianist who owned the Kawai bought it brand new, according to her son, and she apparently took great care of it. I'm really proud of it! The rich, mellow tone is almost mesmerizing and hypnotizing and it plays like a dream to be an upright. It has a heater bar in it too.

Now I’ll have to decide if I want to sell my 100+ year old Schiller “saloon piano”. I put the Kawai in my living room where I had the old Schiller. Currently I have 4 acoustic pianos (three of which are very nice pianos) and my digital.

Now, if I could just play a piano!!

Rick

Dude you need to stop



As much as I like roomy music desks, the flip-over music desk has a "height" advantage for young players. They don't have to look up as high to read music with those flippy music desks.

There is a mathematical formula to determine the ideal number of pianos (or guitars, or bicycles or whatever) to own. The formula is: n+1, where n = the number of pianos (or whatever) that you already have!

I like that formula.

Rickster's House of Fine Used Pianos - open for business. Rick, it sounds like you're ready to host a piano party and have some music for multiple pianos ready. Your next challenge - get them all in the same room and in perfect tune with each other. Actually, I found a similar Kawai upright piano for my brother and he loves it. Have fun with all your "projects".

So that's why I failed Algebra, I thought it was nx2. Silly me!

Another awesome piano there Rickster, I expect it to show up on youtube shortly

Awesome, Rick!! Looks nice. You do indeed have a house of fine used pianos. Dunno if I should say "keep it up", but that's one fine collection you got there.

Rick that is so funny! I just read the online ads. Not purchase! But you certainly are finding some nice pianos! I noticed more grands are coming up in our local classifieds though and I'm getting excited. Maybe time to get out and test play some of them.

Thanks for all the comments on my new-to-me Kawai!

Pianos are a lot of fun... the recently acquired Kawai has a rich, mellow tone and seems to be suited well for classical music. My Yamaha C7 and the Baldwin 243 are louder and brighter and better suited for jazz, pop, blues and most other types of music that I like.

So, I recon I'll need to learn some classical!!! Hey, I can play most of Fur Elise with some proficiency.

Rick

Rick,you have got your priorities right! Pianos are for enjoyment and it seems that you are loving your new-to-you Kawai. It looks a very interesting and nicely made piano.

All the best,

Robert.

I was just watching a program on TV about a hoarder.

Just a few more pianos and you might qualify to be spotlighted in a future segment.

I've got the piano acquisition syndrome as well. This winter, I've gone from one piano to three. And I keep looking at Craigslist postings as well.

I started out with a Starr 7'11" grand, which is still my main piano. But then I started to want a player piano ... and wound up acquiring a non-player upright (which I am going to get fixed up and enhanced with a modern player system) as well as a roll-player upright.

The extra pianos will come in handy though...the Starr is going to be out of service a couple of weeks being worked on.

Where do all you multi-piano owners keep all these?

I either need a bigger house- or less furniture!
Maybe my kid doesn't really need a bed, after all.......

Rick, you are gathering quite an assortment of pianos. I think it is time you shared them in the form of a party!

piano joy -

Those of us with PAS (piano acquisition syndrome) are inclined to squeeze a piano into any available nook or cranny. Uprights take up less floor space (5' x 2.5') than grands (5' x 5' or larger).