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My new Shigeru Kawai SK5 arrived this past weekend!

Searching for a piano was a great experience and I enjoyed trying out many fine pianos.

As a bit of background, I cross shopped mostly high-tier brands (including Steinway, Steingraeber, Estonia, Bluthner, Bechstein, and Bosendorfer). Notable makes I did not try were Yamaha CF/SX (no availability) and Fazioli (not enough time). My goal was to find a 6-7 foot high end piano that I would keep for decades. I was not price agnostic, but for FWIW I would've been willing and able to purchase any piano if it "spoke to me".

Reasons I chose Shigeru Kawai:

1. Touch and Tone (obviously). For my preferences and playing style, the Shigeru Kawai action was the most responsive and controllable. I felt this to be true across the entire model range, irrespective of piano size

2. Support/Service - Kawai US headquarters is 30 minutes away from me. I figure if there's a problem it's easier to deal locally. Additionally, since Kawai is a bigger company I have higher confidence that the company would be able to support issues that come up in 20 or 30 years (though no one knows the future). Furthermore, I am a repeat customer at my dealer (Kim's Piano). I previously purchased a Novus NV5 from them. At that time, they gave me a very fair price with their initial quote, and when I had some minor complaints about sticking keys after purchase they promptly sent out a technician to regulate the action.

3. Reputation - I spoke to a couple piano technicians who all vouched for the excellent and consistent build quality of these instruments. (Though there are many other makes that are equally well regarded)

Thank you everyone for making this forum a helpful and supportive virtual space.

Keep making music!

Congratulations on your new Shigeru Kawai SK5!

Lovely story. CONGRATULATIONS to your magnificent grand. May you have many wonderful years together!

Listening to the Chopin competition you made a great choice, not to mention that Shigeru I came across in London sometime ago.

Congratulations on acquiring your beautiful Shigeru. I’m sure you will enjoy playing it for many decades to come. I’m also sure since you live not far from the Kawai headquarters, you can get the Kawai Master Technician to come and get your SK5 to its performance peak when you’re ready.

By the way, you could upload more pictures or maybe even a video of your beauty. hint hint.

Beautiful piano, may it give you much joy.

I believe that you have found your "dream" piano and the cogent reasons for your choice affirm that. Congratulations and and may you enjoy hours and hours of enjoyment with your lovely piano!

Robert.

Beautiful! Would love to play one someday

Congratulations! 🎉🎊🎈 it looks fantastic, and I’m guessing it sounds even better than it looks! May it bring you many happy years of music making!

Just in time for Thanksgiving. Can't wait to hear it.

Congratulations! I had a great experience at Kim’s piano and nearly bought a Shigeru from them. Ended up with my Bechstein that I fell in love with over multiple visits there.

Great piano.

But please do something for yourself and hand on the walls some acoustic treatment. Some sound reflectors and absorbers. Unless you buy fancy things from Vicoustic and etc, stuff itself is not very expensive. Just hire company who will do measurements and who knows how piano should sound in a room or a small (chamber) concert hall. Given the cost of the piano it will not cost much (should not exceed cost of good concert stool), but sound quality improvement will be tremendous.

I'm so jealous! I can only imagine what it's like to own a piano like that. Sometimes I pretend that I'm playing such a piano when I'm pounding away on my 1964 Yamaha U3. Dreams are free, at least!

Congrats on attracting such a thing into your life. Enjoy!

I'm glad it is delivered! It looks great there.

I'll support what maucycy mentioned, some room treatment might be a good idea. Maybe even some slightly heavy drapes on the windows. The piano position looks great, and since it looks like the room opens into the house space hopefully the sound isn't too intense.

Stay in touch!

I don't think the OP expressed any problem with the sound or touch, so I don't think any acoustic treatment is needed.

A lovely instrument! Congratulations

Beautuful instrument - Congrats

I can't help here, unfortunately thinking is not your strong site.

This room screams for treatment.

What a nasty, mean spirited comment.

The room doesn't even have any furniture in it yet but you think the OP should get an acoustic treatment other than furniture. You may be the first person in the history of PW to suggest that kind of thing for someone who has not indicated any problem with the sound or touch of their piano. A reasonable person would wait for the room to be furnished and suggest an acoustic treatment if and only if the pianist has some problem with the sound. That has been done many times on PW.

Congrats! Now you have to fix that room, looks very empty . Need some acoustic thought.