A little about Shigeru Kawai
In a quiet corner of the busy Kawai factory lies the Shigeru Kawai Research & Development Laboratory, and it was here the Shigeru Kawai Grand Piano was conceived and born.
Shigeru Kawai is the luxury brand name for the handcrafted Kawai grand pianos produced in Japan. These stunning instruments were first established and produced in 1955 by Shigeru after the passing of his father, Koichi, who founded Kawai in Japan over 100 years earlier.
Within the Shigeru range there are six models of grand piano, all of which combine elements of craftsmanship and technology and are built using aged wood from the gorgeous Ezo Spruce found on the northernmost island of Japan.
Technological advancements have led to the creation of Shigeru Kawai’s signature Millenium III action, which is made from modern composite components.
With fewer than 250 of these models created each year, every piano is crafted with great care and all offer a rich tonal depth.
A little about Steinway
Steinway & Sons are possibly the most well-known piano manufacturer in the world. Every Steinway & Sons piano takes over a year to be built by their master craftsman and each piano is made of more than 12,000 parts.
Steinway was founded in 1853 by German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway in Manhatten, New York.
He worked with his sons in American piano factories, learning each part of the piano in detail before they began to build technically refined pianos for themselves.
Steinway pianos quickly grew in popularity with large demand for them in specifically in Europe. This led to them opening a second factory in Hamburg, Germany and they soon became known as the producers of the best concert piano in the world.
These instruments are built one at a time using one of three types of timbers: spruce, maple and mahogany, and the boards are stacked for a year or two in order to dehumidify.
Each piano has its own character and is built by passionate craftsman who love their trade. In 2014 it was noted that 425 members of staff at Steinway had served for 25 years; others even longer.
How do I choose?
With both brands steeped in history, producing hand-crafted pianos using natural materials and being pianos of choice for many successful musicians, the main difference between the two is the price.
The Cost
A new Shigeru Kawai piano sits at a similar price point to a slightly older (pre-1950s), restored Steinway model (which may not have been restored using all original parts). So, if it’s a brand-new piano you’re after, then you should certainly pay close attention to the Shigeru Kawai.
If you have a budget of between £30,000 and £35,000 you will struggle to find a modern Steinway (model O upwards) that has totally authentic parts throughout and is in excellent condition.
Therefore, at this price point it would certainly be prudent to consider a new Shigeru Kawai. However, if you have a slightly higher budget for a more modern second-hand Steinway then this is a highly revered brand that is a fantastic long-term investment.
The Shigeru Kawai offers superb value for money considering the size and quality of the instruments.
You cannot get a Shigeru smaller than 5’ 10”, which is the same as a Steinway model O, but Steinway have 2 models before the O (Read More Here) that are slightly smaller in size but even pre-owned, they cost not a lot less than a brand-new larger Shigeru Kawai.
Who prefers which brand?
Artists such as Icelandic multi-instrumentalist, Ólafur Arnalds, and popular band, Coldplay, are known to favour the Kawai brand.
Others such as Lang Lang, Billy Joel and Harry Connick Jr. , opt for Steinway.
Visit Coach House Pianos
At Coach House Pianos we invite you to come and try the two for yourselves. Purchasing a piano is a personal thing, and what is right for one is not right for another.
We recommend trying a good selection of makes and models so you can see and feel for yourself what your preferences are.
Coach House Piano's London Selection Centre
We are extremely passionate about ensuring you select the perfect instrument to fulfil your requirements.
Please feel free to call and speak to one of our unbiased piano selection specialists who will be glad to assist you on your exciting piano selection journey.
