Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Convince us NOT to buy the Shigeru

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, but have read some recent posts and they've been helpful. I'm hoping you can help us with a decision. I am the choir director for a large high school with high quality choir, band, and orchestra programs. We are a new high school with a great performing arts center, but NO piano for the stage. It's totally ridiculous, but for the past 5 years, we've been performing with a Yamaha upright practice room piano. The quality and size of our performing ensembles have far surpassed that piano and we are going to buy a semi-concert grand. Fortunately we have some sponsors lined up and our Boosters are ready to support us in this purchase.

We went out to obtain three bids on 7' (ish) grand pianos and visited a Steinway dealer, a Yamaha dealer, and a Kawai dealer. We absolutely fell in LOVE with the Shigeru Kawai. It sounds amazing, it's beautiful, and we appreciate some of the forward thinking with the construction, etc. We are convinced, but the problem is, the band, orchestra directors, and I don't really play. I mean, we "play" but we don't play. I would love to hear from some piano soloists and those musicians who have experience with many pianos.

Our bids are for the Yamaha C7X Semi-Concert Grand, a 2002 Restored Steinway B, and the Shigeru Kawai Semi-Concert Grand. We were not really moved by the Yamaha or impressed with the support that the dealer would be willing to provide so we're not really considering that. The Shigeru people were AWESOME and the Steinway people are pushy and extremely negative about the Shigeru (but they're salespeople, right?). Kind of a turnoff, but obviously Steinway pianos are amazing. We just loved the Shigeru...

My real question is, is there any reason to NOT purchase the Shigeru? Any warnings you have for us?

Thank you so much for your advice!

There is no reason not to buy that Kawai if it is what you prefer. It is a very well made and reliable piano with a quality company behind it. I wonder what they mean by "restored" with a 2002 Steinway. Or do you mean it was restored in 2002 and is an older piano?

If those are your only options, I think the Kawai is fine for your purpose, and you obviously didn't enjoy your treatment in the sales process by the people who are selling the Steinway. I would assume that how you are treated in the sales process will reflect how you will be treated by that company for service and for anything else as well.

However, since you, as you say, "play, but don't play", for peace of mind, why not get a really serious and accomplished player to help you with your choice? If this piano were just for accompanying a choir, any one of the three ( assuming there isn't something strange going on with a "restored" 2002 piano ) would be fine. If the piano will also be used as the featured instrument for concerts, you may want to get the opinion of someone who is more accomplished as a pianist.

Based on what you have described I'd guess that no one here will even try to talk you out of the Shigeru.

It is an excellent piano and well suited your your situation.

"My real question is, is there any reason to NOT purchase the Shigeru?"

No. None whatsoever. Congratulations.

I'm not talking you out Shigeru, but I want another point to reach you. Trying a Steinway, a Yamaha and a Kawai is still nowhere near the variety of representative pianos out there to try. Clearly for you, the Shigeru was the standout of that group, however what else is in your area to consider?

You should seriously see what the European makers have to offer before you wrap your decision. I believe there would be several in your budget range.

I would look at Estonia too.. My favorite in it's price but nothing wrong with the Kawai__ Good Luck!

The Shigeru may well require less maintenance due to the composite materials in its action. As I guess many people will play the instrument, individual preferences for one brand or another should not be a major factor.

Good luck.

If you're happy with the Shigeru and the people selling it, there's no reason to pass. It's not really my cup-o-tea, but as a pianist and technician, I recognize it as a top-tier instrument... and of course it comes with a 10 year warranty.

I agree. The Shigeru is a very fine piano, and you won't go *wrong* with it, but in that price range there are other fine pianos.

Thanks everyone!

We did look at Boesendorfer and Estonia as well. The Boesendorfer is way out of our price range (obviously), but the only Estonias that are around us right now are the 5' models...we weren't able to get as good of an idea because there are no semi-grands around for us to play....

The maintenance piece is big for us. We are a public school with a little budget and the hope of less maintenance fees for the Shigeru vs. the Steinway is appealing.

Regardless, the fact that we'll be performing on something OTHER than a little brown yamaha upright is very exciting.

Thanks for your thoughts! Any others are welcome!

I don't think you'll really save a big deal on maintenance. The composite action might only have an edge 30+ years down the road as it wouldn't shrink or expand. You'd still have to treat your precious Shigeru baby like you would a very expensive Steinway or Bosie with regular tuning, cleaning, regulation, etc., etc. You'll still need to replace the non-carbon-fiber strings, felts, and bushings eventually.

Absolutely, yes, we will treat our new piano with supreme care, but it is good to know that you think the maintenance costs will be the same. Perhaps our Shigeru salesperson was overstating that benefit

If you want to get an estimate of the cost of maintenance, you should ask your technician.

Shigerus are absolutely great pianos. I had one for 4 years, and it never gave me a problem. From day one the action was impeccable and remained that way until I sold it. The only reason for the sale was I wanted a bigger piano, and I couldn't afford the SK6.

For your purposes I'd venture to say there is nothing in the price range that would come close to what you are looking for except the Mason & Hamlin BB with the new WNG composite action. The SK6 and the Mason BB would have very different sounds, but would both perform superbly.

It sounds to me as if you have just started looking, and want this wrapped up quickly. That's certainly one way to make a big purchase. And you wouldn't go wrong with the Shigeru. But as others have suggested, you are in the big leagues here with a 7-foot high-end piano search, and there are now potentially dozens of worthy choices, especially if you include used instruments (which could save you some serious money).

Why not hire a local pianist and a local piano technician to do some sleuthing for a few weeks and give you a report? Tell them each they can skip visiting the local Steinway, Shigeru, and Yamaha dealers, since you've already hit those places, but to please source at least a handful of other instruments for you within your budget.

I've done such piano consulting here in Toronto, both for students and outsiders, and I like to think I've matched people and instruments with more success than had they done this unassisted. I'm a music educator with a zest for high-end pianos, coupled with a fair bit of knowledge and an obsessive nature. There's probably a similar nutbar sleuth right in your own community. Just make sure they are independent, and won't take kickbacks from dealers.

Also, if you can't find an Estonia locally, widen your search. Get on a train or an airplane, or make a road trip. Or get your consultant to do this for you.

One further thought, which might be controversial on this board: get rid of your ideas about a cosy post-sale relationship with the dealer. You just want to buy a great piano. What you need after the sale is a fine independent piano technician - a technician *not* beholden to the dealer. If the Steinway folks are jerks, you might still hold your nose and buy from them if they have a good instrument. (We haven't heard yet what year that Steinway B is.)

Good luck!

Well, you shouldn't buy the Shigeru because the world's going to end December 12, how's that? Other than that, I can't think of any possible reason why not.

As a matter of due diligence, at least take a look/listen/play at a Bechstein. It's quite a monster . . . ! Best of luck, and good for your team AND your booster sponsors.

I suggest you read what Ed Foote says about actions made from composites:

Whichever instrument you buy, please make sure that your budget will allow for a NICE cover, preferably with a perimeter cable locking system, and a heavy duty truck for moving it around the stage. These are 2 of the best things that you can do to preserve your schools investment. If the hall is not climate controlled 24/7 and/or you're in a predominately dry climate you may want to consider a humidifier as well.

I agree. The post service sale from a dealer is only important if there is a serious problem to deal with that the dealer should make good on or if there are no other good independent techs available.

The benefit of the Steinway, for a private home, would be quality, status, and resale value, however, in my useless opinion, the dealer and service friendliness, and the pleasing tone alone should be the key. A Steinway that will be a commercial institution piano will not appreciate in value noticably. I like the idea of the new Kawai. Their track record seems to be very fine. Many posters suggested using a pianist to determine the playability, I would concur. There are many fine pianos available, but the Shigeru is very highly respected as I understand.