I'm planning to upgrade my piano and focus on kawai k-5. But since k5 is not offically sold here so all the sellers do not have k5 models, they only have k3,k6,k8 . Now the problem is ,if I tend to buy k5, I should pay the money and then wait for my only k5 model to come. I have to accept it no matter what I feel about it. Because they don't sell k5 and don't know how to deal with it if I reject it. Since I have tried k3,k6,k8,I think I will like k5, but still wonder whether there's obvious difference between k5 model and model? Or they are quite uniform in sound and touch with only tiny difference? If the answer is the latter, then I can take it easy, otherwise it's maybe a risk for me to buy a piano which I have never played.
Welcome everyone to make comments.

henrietta,

Although there are always slight differences among K5 models, piano to piano, the K5 pianos are generally quite uniform in sound and touch.

Bear

Bear, I think he is asking that what's the difference between the K series models, like between K3 and K5, K5 and K6 etc.

henrietta, why don't get a K6 or K8? It should perform better than the K5. Is budget the problem?
BTW, you can always support your home manufacturer. Get yourself a Hailun. It should be cheaper than anywhere in the world.
If not mistaken, Ningbo is quite close to Shanghai. Why not try to ask if you can visit the factory. Perhaps you come back with a HL121. LOL

Thank you Bear 1:)
to tanjinjiack:
Bear 1's answer is just what I'd like to know.

About k6,k8, I believe they are better in some way than k5.But they are just too large for me.Since I'm going to place the piano in a room below 20 square metre,the height of 125cm is really an appropriate size.Here we seldom select tall uprights for home use because they are so loud.Maybe for some music schools they are very good choices.

I haven't paid much attention to Hailun before.So glad to know it receives good reputation overseas:) I'm not sure, but it's price should be about $2000 here.It makes me so curious to know what's its price in Europe?
Maybe I really should spare some time to try the model:)

$2000 as in USD?

In Malaysia, Hailun is stenciled as Wagner. (It's Hailun actually but bears 'Wagner' on the fallboard.)

a 48" costs us around RM9000, which is about 45000RMB, the taller one is RM10000+, and that makes up to 5000RMB.

Just some extra info, the HG178 is about RM25000 here thus 12500RMB.

Either way, $2000 should still be cheaper than us even if it's in USD.

In US, I think it's about the same with in Malaysia, or perhaps a little bit higher or lower. Let the folks from US to tell you the price.

In Europe, I have no idea on the price. However, I think there's more Wendl & Lung (made by Hailun) in Europe. Again, let the folks from Europe to tell you the price.

If it's in a small room, why not the 48" K3?

Buying a kawai k3 is also the seller's advice since used in a small room. K3 is really nice,however compared with k6, it seems producing a thinner and brighter sound which is less impressive.
I just guess k5 might be a better choice based on some comparison between k3 and k5 on the forum.
How I hope I can play it myself before decide to buy:)

Hi Henrietta,
Kawai supplies Australia with a K35 121 cm model which has the Neotex key tops and underfelted hammers of the K5 but which are not found on the K3. The K35 has the Millenium III action as the other K series. Check to see if this piano is available in Shanghai.
It may be just what you are looking for. The K5 features except for it's height.
Cheers

to Downunder:
The only model I can try now is k3,k6,k8.What's the k35 you mention? I think it's maybe not available in China because I'm not able to find it on offical website.
But the k35 seems to imply it's a little advance over k3.

Yes, the K35 is in-between the K3 and K5 with its better hammers and key tops. It is supplied to Australia for institutional use. I am aware that Kawai does not have the piano advertised in their K series brochure. I thought you may be interested in seeing if it is available. I'm leaving for Hong Kong this morning and will check to see if they are available there.
Cheers!

downunder:
If I'm in Hongkong, things could be so easy.They sell k5 and I can carefully choose one among several models.That's so nice.
Now in Shanghai maybe I should really consider the larger k6? At least I can play before buy,but just afraid it may make too big sound at home.Lots of people say that tall uprights are not necessarily nicer ones due to technique limitation.I don't know whether that's true when it comes to such nice brand like Kawai.

Anyway, wish you a good trip.

Hi Henrietta,
I just got back from Hong Kong this afternoon. I talked to Oscar at Parsons Music in Times Square (Causeway Bay). He is familiar with the K35 but said they are not able to import them. I assume it is just something Kawai does for the educational institutions here in Australia. They cost around $1500 dollars more than the K3 but have the additional features that I mentioned. I encountered the same thing that you did though, Parsons do not normally stock the K5 but as was your experience, they can order it. They had the K3, K3 ATX, K6 and K8 uprights on the floor along with a number of Kawai grands and a really wonderful Shigeru grand. With the K6 you would be gaining the additional 7cm in height and agraffes. Whatever model you decide on, I would encourage you to only buy the piano that you can play in the store. I think we are both aware of how much one piano of the same model can differ from the other. Parsons had six different Seiler uprights on their floor, some the same size, and I was amazed at the tonal contrast between the pianos, The same with the three Steinbergs and the five Schimmels. Parsons does a good job of having them prepped and in tune. I find the Australian dealers pay minimum attention to prepping and seldom do I find a piano on the floor in tune. The technician I use always tells me to find the piano I love. He can do fantastic things with pianos through voicing but prefers I buy something that is already as close as possible to what I like. He says there is a limit to as far voicing can be taken. Best of luck to you in your search. Let us know what you decide on.
Cheers!

Just to top up what Downunder says, the agraffes in K6 is something, according to Mr Larry Fine in his The Piano Book, small brass fittings, with holes through which the strings pass, screwed into the plate of some pianos to keep the strings perfectly spaced.
Function? As mentioned, to keep the strings perfectly spaced and provide a good upper bearing point for the speaking length.

Have you get contacted with the Hailun yet?

Downunder:
I have also tried Schimmel and Seiler before,very nice ones but exceed my budget.Kawai is really proper for me and I think my choice may be between k5 and k6, for k5 as my preference but without playing before buying,and k6 more expensive,larger and louder than what I require, yet knowing what your future piano sounds like.
It's a little difficult choice and I shall take enough time to think about it,not an urgent affair.If difference between k5 pianos is so tiny then maybe it's worth taking the adventure to buy the small k5. Buy the way,technicians who is capable of voicing more than tuning the piano is really not easy and cheap to find here.So I must buy a piano as closer to what I like as possible.

tanjinjack:
I haven't tried Hailun yet.Some Chinese pianos are good accroding to the price.I just own one at home and plan to upgrade to a better one.Once have the opportunity I will try it but I'm not sure the model HL121 can be found here.

Just phone Hailun up, tell them where you are and ask where is the local dealer they can locate for you. Visit the store, play the piano, like it? BUY it!

In my opinion, Hailun should be considered as the best Chinese piano nowadays. Pearl River and DongBei are other Chinese names notable by the foreigners although their reviews are not that great of Hailun. Anyway, they are worth trying.

You might also want to widen your search to May Berlin and Weinbach. May Berlin is made in China but supervised by Schimmel while Weinbach has most parts made in China but assemble in Czech Republic. Both should be possible to find in ShangHai and who knows it is still within your budget.

Ever considered used piano?

Jinjack,

I'm curious to know why you are pushing so hard for the member to investigate Hailun. As far as I know, you have never seen or played a Hailun yourself. Correct me if I'm wrong. What makes you knowledgeable about Hailun? It's helpful when members here advise others based on their personal experience[/b] . IMO it's not helpful when members simply regurgitate what they might have read here.

Your statements about Weinbach are just plain wrong. Weinbach pianos were never made of Chinese parts in the Czech Republlic. Weinbach pianos were most recently made in China of parts that were also made in China. They have strings made of European wire, but are otherwise Chinese. Older Weinbachs were made in the Czech Republic of Czech parts. The OP here is shopping a vertical. Any Weinbach vertical she finds is almost certain to be an older Czech model. Do you really have any experience with either the Chinese or Czech-made Weinbach verticals?

Do you realize that the maker of the Chinese Weinbachs has just gone out of business? You should think twice before giving advice.

In what way do you believe the May-Berlin is supervised by Schimmel? Do you think that Hannes Schimmel-Vogel is in China greeting each May-Berlin as it rolls off the production line making sure it meets his personal standards? Be careful what you say here. It is true that May-Berlins sold in Europe are checked out at the Schimmel European point-of-entry, but do you really think that May-Berlins for sale in China are sent from China to Germany after asssembly and then sent back to China? If that were true, most of the piano's cost would be freight.

Henrietta is interested in a Kawai K5, 6, or 8. These are all fine pianos. I like DongBei and Hailun products as much as anyone, but without factoring in price paid, IMO those Kawai models have more to recommend them.

Well, I will really have to say, I have never played a Hailun, nor a Weinbach.

Regarding Weinbach, it's said in Petrof website.
http://www.petrof.com/upright-pianos-other-upright-pianos.html
Also, a local dealer of Petrof told me about it being assembled in Czech but parts from China. He might not be telling the truth though.

Regarding May Berlin, I read about it from a quite reliable source but I am unable to recall it.

My intention is just to want a buyer to open up his or her options. She's interested in Kawai, but there should be more options she should consider. I myself am a great example. I first started out on Kawai and Yamaha only, but soon after I start to consider other pianos that offer in a lower price point. There's times I wonder on used pianos of Kawai and Yamaha, too. Now, I don't know which one should I choose!

I am really sorry to say in fact I did not sample a lot of pianos. I am a student and I have to care on my coursework and work on my finals which is about 2 months away. I can't squeeze much time to travel to a dealer, play some pianos, make some notes and come back to my hostel. I have many assignments to pass up and many tests and quizzes to prepare. It is my first year in college and I really I can do well. On the other hand, my passion on piano searching remains high though. I have been constantly reading this forum, reading up old archives and also googling some other info I am looking for. I, too, have bought The Piano Book to read as well. Indeed, my words are not convincing as it's not from true experience but my words do pass through various checking in my minds before I make the decision to click on 'Add Reply'. I preview my post, edit my post, to ensure minimal errors. At posts that I am not good at, I remain silence. You should be able to notice I usually wonder around posts on the Japanese and Chinese make which is of my interests. Even I have tried a Steinway B out before (which probably the best piano I ever played so far), I have just posted on its superior tone only.

I feel glad to discover this forum and feel even happier to meet friends. I am delighted that I learn a lot in this forum. I wish to contribute to this forum but my knowledge is very limited. Thus, whenever I have the chance, I will try to voice it out, just like many other forumers replied to my posts when I have doubts. I thank them but I don't hope for a thank from any OP. It's about sharing opinions, not just experience.

Jinjack,

I know your enthusiasm is genuine and you have been frustrated in your attempts to get out and play the pianos. I just think you should be cautious and a bit skeptical about what you read here.

Unfortunately, a lot of what is posted here is simply not true, just as a lot of what piano salesmen say is not true. Sometimes the falsehoods are exposed by responding posts, but often they are not.

If Henrietta were shopping K2s or K3s, I would agree with you that she should sample all of the competing domestic brands in her own Chinese marketplace. K5, K6, and K8 are different animals though. Their competition comes from Yamaha, especially the YUS series, and from authentic European brands like Petrof (excluding Uncle Anton ) and Bohemia. I sincerely hope that you have the chance to compare all of these yourself.

Thanks.

Indeed I have been very cautious of what I read here. After all, these are all opinions and experiences and are easily biased. I am very careful on it and I won't type out anything I am unsure about.

You are right. K5 and above are different animals. I thought they are just bigger sized sister of the K3 only. I am glad to see a Chinese in the forum and I really wish I can help out as I am considered a Chinese as well (My grandparents are from the mainland China). Perhaps I overdid it...

Agree about the value of members inside China. A few have passed through here but their stays have been short. Members (both industry and non-industry) living in China would be a great forum resource. Members from Malaysia are okay too, even if they don't reside in KL.

Hey, it's about an hour to get into KL from my house. It's about the same time too from my college.

Sigh, my area got no grand pianos on display...

It's true that the piano market is so large and complex.We have a lot of piano brands here produced in China having relationship with Steinway,Bechstein,Bluthner,Petrof,Baldwin,Hoffmann,etc.We even have a lot of Chinese made Yamahas and Kawais here. These pianos are not bad ones.However sometimes they may easily be overvalued according to what the sales person tell you.It's just not a secret that many of them do not tell the accurate truth about the making process of the pianos they sell.
The best thing to do before buying a piano is to go to piano forums. Some days ago I just posted a thread about the Chinese made Hoffmann.

tianjinjack,here's a nice Chinese piano forum for you:(maybe you already know it)

http://bbs.popiano.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=112


Thanks very much for turandot's seriousness and tianjinjack's warm heart.