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Amen.

voxpops,

Not a bad attempt at rewriting the Aussie Kawai ES7 release blurb, but for our local audience it might start with .....

Regardless of whether you’re playing a gig on stage, practising for a recital at home, accompanying the local church choir, cooking shrimps on the barbie or knocking back a couple pf cold tinnies, the new Kawai ES7 is portable.....

Well I guess Aussies can no longer say they don't get the new Kawai models. They now have both the ES7 and the CA13, both of which are too desirable to sell in America. At least they don't have the CS9.

I really don't understand not marketing each available piano in every target country, but then I've never sold pianos.

Regarding the ES7, that is interesting indeed. Looks like it's time to hop through and replace all the actions with triple sensor versions. I wonder how much difference it will end up making. It seems like opinions on that matter are pretty mixed with the triple sensor actions we have now.

That revised blurb gave me a good chuckle, Vox. Nice work.

Prawns...not shrimp.

They (Kawai Australia) do. It appears that there are some problems with their website at the moment.
I've informed the admins, so expect the issue to be resolved shortly.

Cheers,
James
x

EDIT: Looks like the models are back online.

So, we have RH 2 which seems to be RH with a third sensor added. That's great since I found RH to really has slow repetition compared to RM3 and other keyboard action. Not a big issue for me personally but I applaud the decision to perfect the RH. It is now probably an action which is among the best in its class. Congratulations to Kawai. And I hope they don't release MP7 with that action for at least one year because I will feel really screwed up with my recent MP6 purchase Just kidding

Okay chaps, I uploaded the ES7 brochure and owner's manual to the Kawai Japan 'Worldwide' site.

The ES7 model page is also live on the Kawai Australia site too.

Feel free to start a new thread to discuss the features and improvements.

Cheers,
James
x

I've had a brief look at the manual and specs. The ES7 looks like a very nice package overall.

I really like that it comes in under 50lbs. It's heavy, but not grotesquely so for a slab with speakers. For comparison, it's around 4lbs lighter than the FP-7F.

Talking of the 7F, this seems to be pitched squarely at that same slot in the marketplace. RHII, with its third sensor, will be a direct rival for PHAIII. There have been a few times when I have wished for that additional sensor in my MP6, and now Kawai has a plastic action that should be at least on a par with Roland's best.

Sounds seem to be the most useful ones from the selection offered in the MP6. If PHI has not been upgraded since the MP6, then I'm a little disappointed, as I believe there is no need to differentiate DPs by the quality of sample offered - software and memory are cheap enough these days. That said, the current EPs, for example, are very good, and it's possible that there has been some enhancement to the AP sound, although it will probably take a side-by-side comparison to check that out. (Edit: there's also an amp simulator selection in the ES - very nice!!! Plus, compared to the MP6, there are some additional piano parameters that can be adjusted, such as fallback delay.)

I really like the form-factor of the ES. I appreciate having built-in speakers in a stage piano, particularly for low-key gigs in smaller venues. I also like the very simple, uncluttered and intuitive layout. If the sounds were any improvement over the MP6, I'd seriously consider getting an ES7.

So, the difference between RH and RH II is bascially just the third sensor? The structure and weighting are the same?

Yes.

Cool, thanks James.

Dude, I'm so glad you are here, James, and can take things out of the realm of speculation. We pretty much think the same thing is true with GH and GHE but without official word we may never know.

Well, I expect there may be other tweaks here and there that the R&D didn't tell me about, however the switch to a 3-sensor system is the main improvement.

Cheers,
James
x

When will this new ES7 be available in the USA? (I just checked the website of my nearest Kawai dealer and didn't see it listed there.)

Now I'm having second thoughts about buying the CE220....

Cheers,

Kevin

Forget that! When's the MP6 replacement coming?

Any year now!

OnFrank the MP6 is still a new instrument and it will likely not see a successor for another 2 years or so.

Back OT though, I think the ES7 looks great. A little disappointed about the PHI instead of UPHI though. I really liked the ES6 when I demoed one and I think this one will be better than it. I'm really looking forward to this piano.

Greetings all!

I emailed Kawai America last evening and asked when the new ES7 was going to be available here in the States and got the following response:

Greetings

Thanks for your interest in the new ES7. It is a terrific instrument. We'll be shipping the ES7 to our dealers sometime next week. Please check with your local dealer about their intentions to stock this new product.

Best regards,

Tom Love
Sr. Director of Online Marketing and Electronics
Kawai America & Kawai Canada

Web: http://www.kawaius.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kawai-America-Corporation/107626515984210
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PianosByKawai
Online store: http://www.shopatron.com/home/index/1772.0.1.1

contact info -
800-421-2177 ext. 238
425-675-0853 fax

mailing address -
2055 E. University Dr.
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220

I guess I'll have to make another trip up to New Hampshire to see and play this new model as the Kawai dealer here in CT doesn't stock any of the digitals....*grumble*

Cheers,

Kevin

Tom Love recently wrote an insightful blog post detailing the main improvements to the ES7, here.

Cheers,
James
x

Hi James,

Thank you for posting this info! I'll contact the Kawai dealer in New Hampshire this week to find out when they'll have an ES7 in stock to try.

Cheers,

Kevin