The only other product reviews written and eagerly read by public BEFORE product even being on market, are Apple and Microsoft.

By this measure, Kayserburg just beat heck out of them!!

Norbert

Not scrambling, just giving up. My presence wasn't helping things. I care about both these guys. If it were you, I wouldn't give a damn.

Kurtman, a lot of what your saying is true. But::: Chinese piano manufacturing is quickly coming to its own. When you walk into a showroom that presents side by side comparisons, you quickly realize the workmanship, materials, design, sound, playability, etc. have in a few short years caught up with and in some instances surpassed Japanese piano manufacturing.

Tim Oliver at Cunningham Piano was kind enough to take the time to show me these comparisons. And Tim confirmed my observation that over the last two years Chinese piano manufacturing has achieved a very high level of consistency and quality control.

How was the event?

Hearing unbelievable reports about these pianos coming in fresh from NAMM, all from non-dealers.

Any member presently at show willing to confirm or elaborate things?

Curious....

Norbert

oh...no polished white finish.. (from the australian website)

Steven:
These are not the existing Kayserburg pianos on current website.
This is a completely new series called "Kayserburg Artist" - totally different pianos.
Never seen them, never played them...
Anybody?

Norbert

I see! No polished-white-no-option thats wife's order

I didn't realize the event was on NFL Conference champion weekend. I had a bit too much to drink to drive to Berkeley. Hopefully, I can check them out next week.

Michael, sorry you couldn't make it. The event was really great and well attended.

I will tell you about one interesting anecdote:

Before the event, I hired RPT Peter Clark, from Sacramento State University, to prep the Kayserburg and three other 50 inch upright pianos: A Bechstein, Steingraeber and Sauter. I asked him to prep them to his liking, tune them to A442 and then to use blue painters tape to cover any identifying marks of each instrument.

Then, I hired Cesar Cancino (pianist / music director for Joan Baez and Maria Muldaur) to play all four pianos at the event - with short pieces going from one piano to the next for 30 minutes as people arrived.

We simply labeled the pianos A, B, C and D. I then printed a card listing the retail price of the pianos. They were:
1. $49,102
2. $38,640
3. $15,600
4. $14,800

Other than myself and Mr. Clark, nobody knew which piano was which.

Of the Technicians and teachers attending and voting, INCLUDING Larry Fine:

• Nobody correctly guessed which one was the Kayserburg
• 79.9% selected the Kayserburg as the most expensive piano on the list, and the others guessed it as the second most expensive on the list (100% placed it as one of the two most expensive- nobody guessed its real retail)
• a direct quote from the pianist when playing the Kayserburg: "the touch of this piano is so far superior to the others that it MUST be the most expensive one."

Obviously, I was ecstatic as were the factory representatives and Mr. Mohler. I think it's fair to say that Larry was shocked.

This piano (the 132) then left for NAMM, where it continues to draw accolades from everyone who tries it. As I had mentioned in previous posts, Kayserburg has a very small and limited production and only 8 dealers will be selected nationwide. When I left NAMM yesterday, 6 had already been committed.

So Michael, the pianos will be in my showroom on Friday of next week (they leave LA on Thursday). I'd be happy to have you play them next weekend, but I think you'd best hurry in because two of the three are already sold to retail customers and will be delivered the following week.

that sounds very exciting! mind to give out more information about the Kayserburg models and MRSP?

this is the only image i can find from a Russian website
http://www.arsenalmusic.ru/goods/item91010.html


KA132B

Hi Steven:

The three models that will be available in the USA are the KA 121, KA 126 and KA 132.

In polished ebony, the approximate MSRP is:
KA 121 - $11,400.
KA 126 - $13,000.
KA 132 - $15,000.

The reason it is approximate is that final shipping costs have not yet been determined and will affect these prices (upward )