Kawai Classic Salon Grand Piano.

  The RX-2 was one of the most popular models of the award-winning RX Series line of grand pianos first introduced in 1995. As a collection, they were chosen “Acoustic Piano Line of the Year” by MMR Magazine in 2003, 2004 and 2005. After a successful 18-year tenure, the RX Series was replaced by the much-anticipated GX BLAK Series in 2013.

Advanced Precision from ABS Stryan

“Kawai has the most advanced piano research and development facilities in the world. Selected action components within this piano are made of high-tech materials including ABS Stryan. High-stress polymer technology has allowed Kawai engineers to scientifically apply this technology in Kawai’s Ultra Responsive™ piano action. The results are improved piano performance, superior musical tone and extended durability. Over a quarter of a century of intense testing has proven these materials to be superior to wood in critical actions areas.”

Taken from the Kawai RX-2 brochure.

This piano was purchased new in Albuquerque at the long-time Kawai and Steinway & Sons authorized representative, Washburn Music in 2000. It is a one-owner and lived its life so far under just one roof. It has been here in this arid climate and it is happily acclimated and well adjusted to the low humidity. These are durable, low-maintenance, well-built pianos and it should give decades of musical enrichment to the next owner. The piano had very little playing time so there is minimal wear in the action and other moving parts. It is in excellent condition – structurally and aesthetically. Only the best technicians have serviced the piano. We are happy to warrant the instrument for two years. We had to do very little to it in the 88 Keys Piano Restoration shop and it was in nearly sell-able condition when we acquired it. The original matching bench with storage is included. Complimentary local, first-floor professional delivery is also included.

Special Features

• Millennium 111 Action™ with Carbon Fiber

• Exclusive Carbon Jack

• Exclusive NEOTEX™ Key Surfaces

• Mahogany Hammer Mouldings

• CORE™ System for superior tone

• Exclusive “Hard Finish” Music Rack

• Steel reinforced Keyslip

• Ultra-Slow Fallboard Closing system

The scale design is is a Full Duplex Scale that enhances the treble tone. The middle pedal is a True Sostenuto for the serious pianist or professional. The RX-2 has three lid props to display your piano the way you like– long, medium and short.

Many schools and universities are All-Kawai Schools so the piano majors will always have a quality instrument to rehearse on during their studies, including New Mexico State University.

The inside rim is finished in a warm red mahogany.

Half lid prop position is a handsome way to display the piano.

Yamaha 5-foot Classic Collection Baby Grand Piano.

  Yamaha pianos have earned a well-deserved reputation for superior quality control and virtually perfect preparation at the factory. They arrive at the dealer in flawless condition. Technicians are enthusiastic about servicing them due to their exceptional engineering and design. They enjoy an avid fan base of customers and a fierce loyalty perhaps greater than any other piano manufacturer.

Many highly respected musicians are Yamaha Artists and endorse these pianos, especially in the pop and jazz genres. Elton John comes to mind, with his bright fire engine red concert grand. One can’t view YouTube musical performances without seeing the ubiquitous Yamaha piano logo in most of them. Incidentally, the logo design is three tuning forks intertwined. They have a crisp, clear tone which is rather pleasing for runs up and down the keyboard. The company also builds excellent digital keyboards, guitars, sound and recording equipment, horns and reed instruments, and much more. Many schools of music have become All-Yamaha Schools as a means to attract students desiring quality musical instruments during their studies and practice. You will find their products nearly everywhere else too: homes, churches, on stage, in the recording studio, and the like.

As always, this piano is sourced locally, per our company policy. It was purchased right here in Albuquerque in 2006 at the local Yamaha piano dealer and has spent its entire life here. So, it is happily acclimated to our unique desert Southwest climate and low relative humidity. It is in excellent condition – structurally and aesthetically and should offer the new owner decades of musical enjoyment. It was played very little so the moving parts in the action have minimal wear. It has always been serviced by competent and knowledgeable technicians. We had only to do our usual dealer prep in our restoration shop and nothing more. That means pitch correction, voicing, tightening action screws, minor action regulation, cleaning inside, etc. It has the classic Yamaha touch; fast, accurate and responsive with an excellent repetition. The tone is classic Yamaha, meaning harmonic-rich and sonorous with an excellent dynamic range. That means the pianist can perform the subtlest pianissimos and most forceful fortissimos. The original bench with storage is included. The finish is a traditional classic polished ebony. Complimentary local first-floor professional delivery is included.

The Yamaha model GB1 grand piano replaced the GA1 model in 2005 with an improved scale design and some plate changes for better tuning stability. This model represents the most cost-friendly option in the lineup and it is the smallest grand piano they build. It was built in Yamaha’s modern factory in Jakarta, Indonesia where labor costs are significantly less than in Japan. With over 10,000 individual cataloged parts in this piano and each tiny part having to be handled by human hands, it makes sense to build it where labor costs are less. Also, there are some features that their more expensive models are equipped with but aren’t necessarily a priority for everyone. For instance, the middle pedal is a bass sustain pedal instead of a costly true Sostenuto. It has a standard scale design and not a Duplex scale. There isn’t a lock and the cabinetry and bench are plainer. It doesn’t have a slow-close fallboard, either. But it still has the legendary Yamaha keyboard touch and tone-quality.

Many schools have become “All Yamaha Schools” as a means of attracting the top students.

Yamaha “Classic Collection” 5’-3” Baby Grand Piano.

  Cheers! A special find so hurry, it won’t last long! This Yamaha model G1 grand piano was purchased here in Albuquerque in 1980 at the authorized Yamaha dealership, Paul Muench Studios on south San Mateo Blvd. SE. As a result, it is happily acclimated and well-adjusted to our unique climate and the piano has had a very stable, serene and peaceful life here in Albuquerque. Pianos that have been moved a lot have more tumultuous lives and it usually shows in their internal anatomy. There is very little wear in the piano’s action and it’s obvious this low mileage piano wasn’t played very much. It is in excellent condition – structurally and aesthetically and the instrument should provide decades of musical pleasure and enjoyment. We will be happy to offer a two-year warranty. The original matching adjustable Artist bench with music storage is included and so is local first-floor delivery.

This instrument has the classic Yamaha tone-quality that the company has made their well-earned reputation on. It has a wide dynamic range and will play very quietly (pianissimo) through very loudly (fortissimo). The harmonic content (timbre) isn’t too bright nor is it too mellow and it is fairly uniform from section to section. Some Yamaha models are thought to be too bright or harmonic rich but this one has more of an American tone-quality, meaning left of center mellow with a strong bass response and a singing treble. Worn hammers are often the culprit with bright Yamaha’s. That certainly isn’t the case here. The duration of tone (sustain) is substantial which lends itself to classical music and standards. The attack isn’t percussive but more of a rounded one that once again, is more of an American quality. The touch is classic Yamaha, as well, very responsive, balanced and even, that will permit the pianist to play emotively and express themselves in their music. It is a wonderful instrument to sit down, relax and enjoy.

Yamaha pianos are well-known for their excellent engineering and design plus rigid quality controls in manufacturing. The G-series models (G1, G2 and G3) were built in the main factory in Hamamatsu, Japan where their more desirable models are built. Based on sales, this line of pianos is arguably among the most popular in the long history of grand piano building worldwide. The Yamaha piano-action is universally praised by musicians and technicians alike. Artists endorsements are numerous with Elton John coming to mind. Many colleges and universities have become “All-Yamaha Schools” as an attraction to potential students desiring quality pianos to practice and perform on during their studies. Yamaha pianos are well-known for being reliable low maintenance instruments requiring fewer tunings, repairs and regulation. This appeals to music department budgets. Current new Yamaha models have become very expensive for a variety of reasons including rising labor rates, costs of materials and unfavorable currency exchange rates so that makes this piano an excellent value comparatively, with other Japanese-built Yamaha pianos.

Beautiful piano tone-quality in a small 5′-3″ cabinet.

The Yamaha model G1 is built in the main factory in Japan.

Boston – Family of Steinway & Sons Pianos.

5’-4” Baby Grand Piano.

Steinway & Sons officials say that the Boston piano represents an entirely new concept in piano design. They launched their Boston line of pianos in 1992 with the stated goal of providing their dealer network a quality, moderately priced piano for those customers “who were not yet ready for a Steinway”. In keeping with this philosophy, Steinway offers a full trade-up value to upgrade to a new Steinway piano at any time in the future. They are designed by Steinway engineers and built in the main Kawai piano factory in Hamamatsu, Japan. Five models of grand pianos have been available. This Boston model GP-163 II grand piano and the other models are sold only through select Steinway & Sons dealerships. Having them built in Japan, Steinway takes advantage of the efficiency and high technology of the manufacturing process there, while utilizing its own prodigious design skills to build a piano with more musicality than is normally found in that part of the world. There is a natural inclination for consumers to compare the Kawai piano to the Boston, but most listeners believe Boston’s have a bit more tonal color and a warmer, more mellow sound with a little less attack. Though the piano was built to spec by Kawai factory employees the final custom voicing at the factory was done by Boston’s own piano technicians.

The most obvious design element in the Boston is its wide grand piano tail. The bass bridge is permitted to be located closer to the lively, central part of the solid Sitka spruce soundboard. It is larger too, in that area, enhancing the bass response. It also serves to smooth out the break between the bass and tenor/treble strings, which can be noticeable in smaller grands. Like the Steinway, a Boston soundboard is thinner and tapered for a greater freedom of movement. It’s thickness varies from 8mm in the treble to 6mm in the bass. The GP-163 is 5’-4” so it has longer strings (47” – #1 string speaking length) and once again, additional soundboard area (1776 square-inches) than the average baby grand of 5’. The Boston has a low-tension scale design in order to improve its duration of tone or sustain time, and bass clarity. This also permits the “singing treble” that Steinway & Sons pianos are well-known for.

Several design elements are similar or identical to the Steinway piano. Both use beams underneath that have radial bracing to reinforce the rim and contributes to the longevity of the soundboard crown. Their vertically laminated bridges provide better tonal transmission. Boston piano-actions incorporate many of Steinway’s refinements and their patents issued by the US Patent Office. Hammer flanges are rosette-shaped to match the hammer rail in both pianos to promote better hammer spacing, and their duplex-scale design with agraffes that are tuned enhances the treble tone quality. The middle pedal is a true Sostenuto function, another Steinway patent. Boston pianos are used exclusively by a number of prestigious music schools and festivals including Aspen, Bowdoin, Brevard, Ravinia and Tanglewood.