Today I was in a piano store looking at a Kawai K50 upright and I was distracted by a Kawai GM-10 baby grand. I liked the touch very much and the sound was quite agreeable to me also. A bit of voicing to soften the mid range and clean up the treble a bit (not much) and it would be very much to my liking. The dealer offered what seems to be a good price for it but I am worried about it because it is made in Indonesia.

Has anyone any experienc with the GM 10? Does it hold it's tune and keep its action over the years?

Also I would appreciate any information about the quality of Kawai Indonesian pianos. I was not aware that they started making grand pianos in Indonesia.

Thanks

CD

CD,

I was seriously considering a GM-10 in my piano search. In the end, I opted to stretch into an RX-2. However, I learned quite abit about the GM-10.

There are two versions of the GM-10. They are the GM-10K and the GM-10LE. The pianos are structurally identical. However, the GM-10K is assembled in Indonesia and the GM-10LE is assembled in Japan.

Some folks I spoke too felt the GM-10LE's sounded a bit better from the factory and may receive better attention at the factory. I never determined whether this was sales pitch to opt for the LE or reality. To me, they sounded very similar and any difference could likely be removed with proper setup and regulation.

If the assembly in Indonesia is a concern for you (as it was for me) you may want to look into the GM-10LE.

Hope this helps.

Regards.

oct19 and I went back and forth over a series of emails on the GM-10. I almost pulled the trigger on a GM-10K until I realized that another dealer had the Japanese built GM-10LE. I've now had the GM-10LE in my home for about a month.

Tonally, this piano is quite good for such a small grand. That being said, it definitely is a SMALL grand and as such there are tonal limitations, especially on the keys to the left of middle C. The piano seems to be holding its tune very well. We're approaching the time of our free tuning and it seems like only a few keys are marginally out of tune. There are a few keys which make a bit of a ringing sound and I'm hoping the technician can correct this.

I really like the action/touch of the piano. In this regard, it is definitely superior to many vertical pianos I've played.

In short, this piano sounds like a decent quality vertical, but has the action and touch of a grand. In my opinion it is also a lot prettier than any vertical I've seen and adds great atmosphere to the room

If I had the money and space, I would look at an RX-2. If an entry level grand is suitable for your needs, I think it would be hard to do better than the GM-10.

Finally, I should mention that my understanding is that Kawai is coming out with a GM-12 (built in Japan) to replace the GM-10LE. Only the GM-10K (Indonesian) will continue to be built. You may want to ask the dealer about this.

Is the GM10LE still being produced? I was told that the GM10K is replacing the GM10LE?

How do I begin to make a decision on a smaller (4-11 to 5-3) grand piano. Currently considering Kawai and Yamaha.

ett,

The GM-10 LE is no longer being made. It was replaced by the almost identical GM-10 K, which is made in Kawai's factory in Indonesia.

The GM-12 is only just becoming available. It will most likely be a little higher priced than the GM-10LE, as it has the new Millennium-III carbon composite action.

We just prepped the GM-10K to be shown at NAMM next month, and it was a very nice piano with a surprisingly warm sound. The GM-12 will naturally have the benefit of more experienced workers in Japanese production, but the GM-10 actually gets considerably more time in final regulation and tuning - specifically because the factory workers there are still on a learning curve.

The GM-10K construction in Indonesia, by the way, is being managed by one of Kawai's MPA's (our top concert technicians who build the Shigeru Kawai pianos), and he was formerly in charge of Shigeru Kawai making in Japan. Quite a change (and challenge) for him, but he is an exceptionally quality oriented man.

From a service standpoint, they are very reliable pianos. Honestly, I'm hard-pressed to tell the difference between the LE and the K.

It has, to my ear, the fullest sound of any petite grand that of recent manufacture. It is far more tunable than its competition, that's for sure! But if you can stretch a little and get the RX1, you won't regret it.

If dealer or warranty issues are a concern, I'll add that Kawai is the most responsive company that I do contract work for. They are very interested in good relationships with customers and techs. Warranty situations are dealt with promptly and efficiently.

Buy the one that sings to you from a dealer that you can trust!