Kawai Pianos

[Alamsah Suhardi]

Dear All

I am living in Indonesia and looking for to buy new Piano for my 8yr old son who is a starter.

The 2 most popular models in Indonesia is Kawai and Yamaha. There are numerous model to choose with different pricings. I am very confused.

Please help me with the following questions:

1> As to Kawai i noticed the following series: KX-21 (china made), K-18E BT, K-25E, K-50E, K-60E and K-80E (all made in Japan). Which one would you recommend for a starter? Should we go from the low-end KX-21 or K-18E BT (UKP2,200) or should we go direct to K-60E (UKP3,400) or K-80E (UKP4,000)?

2> What about if compared to Yamaha U1J (made in Indonesia, UKP1,900) and U3PE? (there's contradicting info about the origin of U3PE, some say Japan, some say China. But from pricing point ie eqv UKP2,500, and given U3PE can be found in China and Korea websites while in Japan is YU30, i suspect it is indeed China made)

Thanks

[Barrie Heaton]

First of all they are both good pianos for any beginner to have, second I would go for one made in Indonesia support your own workforce they make dam good pianos.

1> As to Kawai i noticed the following series: KX-21 (china made), K-18E BT, K-25E, K-50E, K-60E and K-80E (all made in Japan). Which one would you recommend for a starter? Should we go from the low-end KX-21 or K-18E BT (UKP2,200) or should we go direct to K-60E (UKP3,400) or K-80E (UKP4,000)?

I don’t get to tune many new Kawai only second hand ones but they are a good make so some one ells may comment on the models you quoted

2> What about if compared to Yamaha U1J (made in Indonesia, UKP1,900) and U3PE? (there's contradicting info about the origin of U3PE, some say Japan, some say China. But from pricing point ie eqv UKP2,500, and given U3PE can be found in China and Korea websites while in Japan is YU30, i suspect it is indeed China made)

Thanks

As a rule of thumb for Yamaha the letter prefix in front of the serial number tell us which production plant that piano was made eg end of 2004
UK E319356
China C70782
Japan 6096212 (no prefix)
Indonesia J2111081

Now the PE stand for the finish not the model these are some of them:
PE Black Polyester
SM Simulated Mahogany
SW Simulated Walnut
OPNAW Natural American Walnut Satin
SMAP Maple Satin
PDM Mahogany Polyester

for me I would go for the U1

Barrie,

[Alamsah Suhardi]

Thanks for your feedback Barrie.

I went to the local dealer to see the Yamaha U3PE. It was still in the box and the dealer somehow refuse to open it for a test as he prefer to keep it "virgin".
The serial is 6106873 and the box was printed "made in Japan". It seems this dealer is the only one that has the stock in town.

But does it really make sense for a brand new Japanese U3PE to sell at eqv UKP2,500 in Indonesia?

[Alamsah Suhardi]

Btw, i also tested the Indonesian-made U1J. Unfortunately, it sounded very metallic. The dealer himself did not recommend me. That's the problem with business in Indonesia in general. The best quality is normally prioritized for export leaving the local Indonesians with secondary quality.

[Barrie Heaton]

If you compare it to the price in the UK it is cheep however, shipping costs ect are big factors in price plus import tax and VAT.

Comparing UK prices to the rest of the world is not a good idea as we tend to pay more for just about everything if it is in your price range I would get the boxed one the serial 6106873 would say end of last year

Also things as they are in your country the guy may just want to turn over some money. I would say that buying a piano is the last thing on most folks minds in may parts, eventually replacements will have be got by the homes, hotels and bars that had pianos so the cost could go up.



Barrie,