Comparing Elite Pianos: Fazioli vs. Shigeru Kawai
Today we examine two different yet wonderful pianos: A Fazioli and Shigeru Kawai! These instruments are considered leading figures on the concert stage and you can listen, ask questions and learn about these brands!
Find the start time in your time zone by clicking the photo or following this event link:
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/comparing-fazioli-shigeru-kawai-pianos
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
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Would you say these pianos are harder for ordinary everyday pianists to control because they are more sensitive to nuances in touch, pressure and weight applied, etc?
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Thanks for doing this. Just a heads up that I got the âLive in 1hâ email right when it was about to start.
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My Kawai (non Shigeru) also has the same issue with the pedals. Itâs remarkable how Fazioli doesnât have that problem at all.
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Thank you for this lesson, Dominic! What I found surprising (at the very beginning when you showed us the inside of the pianos) was the difference in the size of the holes within. The Fazioli had one larger hole inside, plus smaller ones, and the Shigeru Kawai had all the same size. Or that is what it looked like. That likely affects the sound as well. Like the type of wood that is used.
Thanks for always being so responsive to comments. The volume adjustment was super helpful.
That would be great to hear the difference in a concert hall between these gorgeous instruments. I can envision how the Fazioli is transformed in such a space.
Ah, that is very interesting the way you are describing the Fazioli and how it can be "pointed" and "sharp", but then in a large concert hall, it blooms to become rounder.
Fazioli is brighter. The Kawai has such a smooth, rich sound. Both are quite beautiful!
It was grand to hear about the "best instrument you have ever touched" - a 9 ft. Fazioli at Colburn!
The Chopin etudes sounded phenomenal on the Fazioli. Sparkling, yes. I agree with you and Carol.
How fascinating that the depth of the keyboard on the Fazioli is shallower. Wow. I see!
Brahms - best on the Kawai, yes. I agree.
Yes, I heard that little metallic sound on the Kawai.
Shallow depth of key requires better technique for soft playing. Great question by Vidya about that (sorry if the spelling is incorrect.)
Good to know that that metallic sound is often not heard on a Kawai in the concert hall after microphone sounds are mixed, especially.
Great question by Jenny, too, about environment.
That was fun to hear about all the different pianos that you play on!
Thank you for the Happy Mother's Day wishes!
Wonderful Livestream, as always! Thank you, Dominic! Thank you, everyone!
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This is so helpful! It's great hearing you go from piano to piano playing the same piece/phrase so we can hear the differences immediately. The more examples you provide, the easier it becomes to really hear the contrast.
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Weighing in late in the game. One thing not discussed here is price. I have la 2001 Shigeru Kawai SK-5 6'6" grand in pristine condition. It is a wonderful instrument and I bought it for many many many thousands less than I would have paid for a fazioli of the same year, size and condition. Shigeru makes only 200 pianos a year so used ones are hard to find - it took me a full year to find mine (after months of searching online I walked into a local piano broker's showroom and there it was lol). They began manufacturing SK in 2000, not in the 70s as Dominic mentioned. I think the company started in 70s but first pianos were finished in 2000.
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Vickie horowitz did you select the SK because of the value for the money, or because you preferred it to the fazioli? If cost were no object, would you have chosen the faz?
Iâd welcome any advice you might offer on how to go about finding such a used, top notch instrument. I would love to find a used 7-9â, top notch piano in the USA, but I find the search process almost insurmountably challenging.
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Honestly if I could afford a Fazioli I may have gotten one just for the "prestige", but I do prefer the action on my shigeru. I do have a lead for you... my SK-5 was owned by a woman who bought both an SK-5 and an SK-6 brand new (serial numbers are only 6 apart). She put the SK-6 (7'2") in her main home and the SK5 in her vacaion home. I think she has either passed away or is in a care home now, hence the sale. When ai found my piano thenSK6 wasnt for sale. Hoowever, after I bought mine I saw that the broker (Peninsila Piano Brokers in menlo park, Ca (or maybe it is palo alto) had gotten in the lady's SK-6. I went and saw it. It was clearly the piano in her main home as the hammers have the wear you'd expect on a 2001 piano (mine, which was in the vacation home) looked showroom new). I showed my piano tech pics of the sk6 as i briefly considered buying it but it is just too big for my house. My tech said the hammers could be filed and the the action regulated and should be good to go. I am not 100% sure the piano is still at the broker's showroom but you should look. Knowing what I paid for mine I am guessing you could get the sk-6 for 30k-ishwhich is a STEAL, even after shipping costs. Inwould expect at least a 50k price tag on it. I truly think the broker doesnt know what a jewel he has. The piano was dusty but the case looked fine. Just google Peninsula Piano Brokers. Let me know ifnI can help further. The price is just my guess based on my own experience.
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PS:
Of course you should hire a local registered piano tech to look at it for you if you are interested.
