Kemble Windsor vs K121ZT

[awjs01]

Hello,

Can anyone help explain the major differences between the Kemble K121ZT and Windsor models (apart from the 3cm in height!).

I like the sound of Kembles and can just about afford to go with the silent series version of one of the above, rather than the Oxford.

There's a 600 quid difference in the RRP (Windor is the cheaper) and I was wondering what this buys me?

Thanks!

Al.

[fumbler]

Hi,

My reasoning says that a larger frame (and presumably longer strings and larger soundboard) will produce a better sound. However 30mm is not a huge difference. Everyone says try them all and chose the one you like best, so size doesn't really matter according to that criterion. I tried a Windsor and K131 at the weekend and the K131 was far worse than the Windsor, even though the technician said they were both prepared equally well. As for money, if you really want a K121 then beg or borrow the difference. You will be sitting in front of the thing for a long time. My own personal choice is moving towards the Windsor.

Have you considered the Yamaha P121NT? Made in the Kemble factory at Milton Keynes, better than the K121 according to the Yamaha salesman, and a steal at discounted prices (around £3k). Kembles are discounted too, but not so widely or by as much!

Rgds.

[awjs01]

Thanks for your comments.

As a footnote, since we're talking about Yamaha and Kemble...

I visited a piano dealer over lunch and played a Kemble Oxford (got that warm Kemble sound and really liked the piano), a Kemble Cambridge (truly awful, bright almost tinny) and a Yamaha U1 (the mellowest tone of the lot oddly enough - softer hammers than standard I was told).

So it just goes to show!

As I said, I'm thinking of a silent series, and my short list is looking like:

Kemble Oxford
Kemble Windsor
Kemble K121
Yamaha V124
Yahama U1

I might just stretch to a U3, and I'll add the V121 to the list following your comments!

I've got a lot of playing to do!

Al.

[fumbler]

Hi Al,

I thought that the Oxford and Cambridge were indentical inside, both at 110 cm, with the Oxford having a traditional case and the Cambridge the more modern case. It just shows that if you bought without playing (order a different size, or colour, for instance) then what arrives might not turn out to be what you thought.

I can't remember off hand the model number and price of the silent 121 Yamahas. I don't know whether these are UK built or not, either. But that nice Mr Venables will know.

The worrying thing to me about the Kembles (and I am an old buy-British man, too stuck in my prejudices to change) is that the octave below middle C sounds, well, a little tubby. It's like this on the Kemble DVD too. This is the Kemble sound, the salesman said. Hmm. With a little luck I'll try a Windsor/K121/P121NT next week. I'm sure to end up more confused.

Getting back to the difference between the Windsor and the K121, I don't think that the additional 22 mm would make much difference at all. But there's probably a difference in soundboard, string and hammer quality, and case build quality. The K121 is 61.5 cm deep by 153 cm width, the Windsor is 58 by 152. I think I'd be happy with either.

Oh yes, the Windsor has a two-piece folding key lid, and the K121 is one-piece. Funny, that.

(Sorry, I have no knowledge of the silent side of things. I don't intend to be silent.)

Rgds.

[Barrie Heaton]

Hi Al,

I thought that the Oxford and Cambridge were indentical inside, both at 110 cm, with the Oxford having a traditional case and the Cambridge the more modern case. It just shows that if you bought without playing (order a different size, or colour, for instance) then what arrives might not turn out to be what you thought.

They are the same However, what awjs01 will have experienced will have been a badly prepped piano However, some times dealers do leave some pianos bright as some players like them that way

The worrying thing to me about the Kembles (and I am an old buy-British man, too stuck in my prejudices to change) is that the octave below middle C sounds, well, a little tubby. It's like this on the Kemble DVD too. This is the Kemble sound, the salesman said. Hmm. With a little luck I'll try a Windsor/K121/P121NT next week. I'm sure to end up more confused.


(Sorry, I have no knowledge of the silent side of things. I don't intend to be silent.)

Rgds.

This is common on the smaller Kembles it can be toned out to some degree and some are much worse than others, the Windsor 118 has a better bass to work with than the 110 range so this problem can be worked out more on the 118

The silent system on a Kemble is the same as the Yamaha

Barrie,