Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Kawai RX2 or Yamaha C2

Forget to mention that the prices quoted to us are all for the basic black model.

By the way, I agree with Keith. After ten years, you probably can still sell your piano for the amount you originally paid. (Assume you maintain it well).But thinking about your car, how much can you get after ten years? ( 1/3 - 1/2 ?)

Ling
Ling

Axtremus is right - I was quoted much better prices for an RX2 black before deciding on Estonia 190. $13,200 for 2003 year (without newer action) and $16,000 (2004 model with new action) ordered in wood finish/cabinet.

As so many times before, the typical "this brand versus that brand" type of question is always hard to answer,especially for the novice buyer.

Since I happen to be one of the believers in the coming "blood bath" in the piano industry,
I would give everyone today pretty conservative advice,especially at this particular point in time.

Perhaps a good upright will just be fine for now.

Or if grand - let a dealer explain why his piano that's priced higher than the competition's similiar or basically identical model,should really deserve the extra dollars.

Then see if it makes sense and adds up.

Believe me, if asked in private - many dealers here couldn't give you the answers themselves.

At least not the ones you like to hear.

Norbert

Norbert,
What do you mean by the coming "blood bath" in the piano industry?
What is conservative advice in this context?
Do you expect that buying a grand 1-2 years from now will be a lot cheaper than now?

ling,
In my opinion, they are probably pretty equal in quality, especially the Yamaha and Kawai. Kawai might be a little better. So, to me the big decision would be the sound....Listen, listen, listen to the difference. There is a huge difference in sound. Which one is more pleasing to your ears because your daughter may be practicing a lot in the future years, and you are going to hear that piano a lot. Since she is a beginner, I would think you all would prefer the Kawai because it is more mellow and low and not as high, shrill, and bright as the Yamaha. Sometimes, when not voiced extensively (which you probably wouldn't do for a beginner), the high notes on the Yamaha could give you a headache being so piercing...Just my two cents and advice as a mother...Ha!

Ok, We went to "chat" with the Yamaha dealer and Steinway dealer today.

The prices we got now is 15K for the new Yamaha C2 (ebony polished) and 16k for the Boston GP-178 (5'10, Mahogany polished). But the Boston is a 2003 model. The sales man said it has never been sold.

Question:
1. are those two deals sounds good? Which one is better. My husband likes the bright tone of Yamaha, but I like the warm tone of Boston. But we both don't have too much strong preference. Either one will just be fine.
2. For the Boston, if they have loaned it to someone, or it has been used besides in the show room, do they have to disclose?

We will visit the Kawai dealer tomorrow, to check out the RX-2.

Please let me know your opinion.

Thanks

Ling

Ling,

It isn't unheard of for a piano to be in a showroom for 6 months just waiting to be sold. The Boston does have a warmer sound than the Yamaha and I personally prefer a warmer sound.

Jimbo is correct that Estonia and Petrof mean little in rural areas that can't support a dealer for them. In these same markets, Boesendorfer and Bluethner probably mean little as well.

BUT if you can find a dealer for them, you may be very pleased with what you hear.

Philadelpha's classical music station, WRTI, recently sent musicians out to play everything to choose a grand piano for a newly built studio performence space. They chose an Estonia over everything and are raving about it, even though they hadn't heard the name before shopping.

My 2 cents,

Full disclosure - I have sold Kawai, Petrof, and Estonia.

James, there is no particle board in a Kawai RX-2.

Don Mannino RPT
Kawai America

Tomorrow I will be purchasing a Sapeli Mahogany RX-2. A local showroom just received 100 new Kawais this week. As a first time buyer, I was amazed at the difference between individual pianos. Each has its own sound and character. This particular sapeli mahogany was a noticeable cut above the other RX-2's, due in no small part I'm sure to the wood. It made a couple grand difference in the price, but it was worth it.

There's no question as to the build quality on the Kawais, and the price you quote is a good one on a piano of this quality. Just take your time on your choice, and listen to as many as you can. There's a lot of wisdom from the people on this forum. I spent a lot of time reading here before I made my choice. Whatever you decide, may you be happy with your perchase!

You do realize this thread is four years old?

My head was spinning at the prices is the opening posts...

Mmmmmmmm....

No wonder it seemed like such a smokin' deal.

Maybe there should be an "auto nuke" feature for posts over one year old...

I noticed this thread was active again, and just read the added posts. Kentm, out of curiosity, what were you quoted on that RX-2 in Sapeli? I am asking, becasue I just today purchased that same piano in Florida.

So should you choose the Kawai that is muddy and dull and dark sounding, or the Yamaha that is clear and happy sounding?
The terms 'shrill' and 'bright' are catch phrases to describe the Yamaha, by people trying to sell you something else.
Try a Yamaha made in the last 5 years, at a Yamaha dealer and you'll find that they are not Bright or Shrill.
The headaches are caused by the lacquer painted Yamaha hammers on Kawai dealers floor.
John

Actually I did my research, went to the Yamaha and Kawai dealers separately, listened to both pianos, and made an informed decision to purchase the Kawai. Both are beautiful piano, both had nice, but different sounds (although played next to the Boston, the Yamaha had a distinctive shrill sound).

One of the reasons I decided on the Kawai after careful research was for exactly what you wrote in your post. I found the Yamaha dealers to be very negative about other pianos, choosing to sell on what they perceived as weakness in another brand rather than strength in their own brand. Telling me people will be impressed I havaea Ymaha piano sitting in my home is not a selling point.

I told the manager of the Yamah dealer and will state it here, sell on your merits, don't disparage other quality products, and come up with a reasonable market price and you will have a better shot at promoting your insturments and making the consumer feel good about it.

Both of these pianos are lovely, but negative selling does not appeal.

John:
You owe it to yourself to play the Sapeli Mahogany. It is clean and clear...not dark or muddy at all. discussions about the tone of the piano are all so subjective. I played several new Yamahas before buying my Kawai. They do have a very clean crisp sound, but a bit too much so for my taste. I played one C-3 that was so bright I thought it would peel the paint off the wall.

Yamaha makes a great instrument, but I went with what sounds most pleasing to my ears. After all, I've got to LIVE with it.