We finally made it. It is going to be a Kawai-RX2. Our piano will be delivered in just 10 days. It is bright black (hard finish).

Thank you all so much for the information that I got through this forum. It helped a great deal.

Thanks again
Mypiano

Let me be the first to offer my congratulations. I played an RX2 about a month ago and it was pretty sweet (had the new carbon fiber action). I'm sure you'll enjoy!

(Pictures are required!)


George

I played a Kawaii RX2 in a piano store in Los Angeles, and it was by far the best piano for the price that i ever played. Nice action and mellow, romantic sound. Something I have not heard from Japanese pianos before. I was seriously thinking of buying it before an Estonia showed up for half the price, and it was love at first sight. But I know you will enjoy the Kawaii for many years, it is a lovely instrument.

Congrats! I am also looking for a Kawai RX2- do you mind if I ask where you bought it and how much?

Congratulation on the New Kawai. I had someone play the RX-2 for me, and I was amazed at how brilliant the sound was. Very crisp, clean, and bright. Not like some of the others I've listened to since purchasing my piano. The Kawai is one of the nicest instruments I've seen so far. Please post some pictures when it arrives

I have a "Post your Piano Pictures" thread going.

All the Kawais I've played in the last 6 months or so have had a "muffled" sound, and that's what, so far, has turned me off to the whole line.

Last month I looked at an RX2 with the new action. "Brilliant," yes, but it was sweet, active, and bright - thought not harsh, like some other Japanese pianos I've played. It was certainly not muffled like the ones I've heard before.

It almost got me!


George

Haha, that's what my piano teacher said when we first got our RX-1, but after actually listening to it, she threw away that notion!

And congratulations on the RX-2! I've played on one for a small, local competition, and it sounded great

Congrats! ten days must seem an eternity when you know it is coming..

10 Days. Nothing. I have to wait 2 more months. House renovations.

I knew I'd have to move the couch, but nobody told me I'll have to renovate the house to fit my new piano

Congratulation! from another owner of RX2.

Which store did you get it from, San Jose or Palo Alto?

Congratulations on your RX-2! They're one of my favorite pianos to work on.

Thanks you all for the posts. I'm sure I will love it when they deliver it. As you probably recall, we were sold on a Boston (5-4"). I am glad that I took PW advise to try a Kawai RX-2. My daughter thought Boston sounded a little better (warmer) than RX-2. But she understood the economic aspects of it.

We got it from the Kawai dealer in San Jose, Ca. I really didn't have to negotiate as they gave their bottom line price closer to what was discussed in this forum ($17-18K). We could have had the one on the showroom (which was also new) delivered the nextday, but I went for a brand new one. Hope that will sound as sweet as the one on the store.

I'll post pictures as soon as we get it.

Thanks again,
Mypinao

My piano,

While all pianos are different--even the Japanese pianos with their excellent quality control--it will certainly be possible to get your new piano sounding quite similar to the one you tried.

I'm pretty certain that I tuned the one that you test drove! I had a cancellation in my schedule and was able to drop by the store in question and pitch raise/tune it.

You have time before the piano arrives to consider "voicing" your room. Is it going on hardwood floors? If so, you might want to baffle the sound with carpet and/or soft things on the walls--tapestries, carpets, etc.

Again, congrats!

Thanks Dave for the post.
It is really a small world! I am glad to hear that you had tune it. Would you be proving the tuning service to the new piano when it arrives? I am assuming that the pitch raise would give it a warmer sound.

I wasn't happy with Yamahas as they had a bright sound. I hope RX-2 won't get bright with aging.

With regards to "voicing" the room, we have a carpeted room (20'x20'); music /family room combo. I have a book case in this room. Would the books baffle the sound?

Thanks,

Mypiano,

Yes, the Piano World is small! It is quite likely that I'll be the one tuning the piano in your home.

I used the term "pitch raise" when I should have said "pitch adjustment". Adjusting the pitch is required if a piano is sufficiently below or above the accepted standard of A440 (440 cycles per second for A4, which is note 49, the A above middle C). A pitch adjustment is a "tuning" done quickly to get the piano's strings close enough to proper tension so that a tuning at standard pitch is possible. When faced with a piano very sharp or flat, without first adjusting the pitch, a fine tuning is not possible.

Kawais, like any other new pianos, have a tendency to gradually "de-tension". Factories often compensate by having the pianos shipped slightly high in pitch. In all likelihood, it will take two to three years--and several tunings--for your piano to "stabilize."

The carpet is a good thing! The book case will have a lesser effect, but it will probably help as well. Piano hammers harden with wear and the sound will brighten over time, but regular tuning and occasional voicing can keep your piano's tone sweet for a long time to come!

Enjoy! See you in a few weeks, hopefully!