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Professional pianists demand exceptional performance. Kawai builds an extraordinary line of fine instruments designed and manufactured in Japan, providing the highest level of quality and long-term performance available in a piano. The quality of action and warm tone found in Kawai pianos make them the choice of an abundance of professional classical artists, as well as discriminating amateur players. Over the past eighty years, Kawai has earned a reputation for outstanding quality and workmanship in the crafting of world-class musical instruments. As a result, Kawai pianos and digital pianos have become the instruments of choice for pianists, teachers, churches, students and piano enthusiasts around the globe.
From generation to generation, the Kawai vision continues. From its humble beginnings in 1927, the company has evolved into a multi-national corporation with nearly $1 billion annually in worldwide sales... employing over 4000 people across four continents. Building upon the legacy of company founder, Koichi Kawai, the people of Kawai have dedicated themselves to a singular pursuit—to transform the future of the piano by skillfully blending the precepts of traditional piano craftsmanship with the latest available technologies and materials. This never-ending quest for perfection, now led by the third generation of Kawai family leadership, has brought about the finest selection of grand pianos, upright pianos, digital pianos and professional stage pianos available today.
At the renowned Shigeru Kawai Research and Development Laboratory, the world's finest master craftsmen strive to extend the boundaries of the piano art form. Day after day, using only traditional hand-crafted methods, these Master Piano Artisans explore new concepts, designs and materials that enable Kawai to continually transcend history's loftiest piano standards. Since the knowledge gained in this one-of-a-kind facility becomes a part of every Kawai instrument, the Shigeru Kawai Laboratory is an essential part of the Kawai family’s quest to perfect the art of the piano.
Kawai instruments are known for their innovative use of ABS Styran action parts, one of the chief reasons why Kawai pianos maintain stable touch and tone over time, better than any other piano. Endorsed by leading piano technicians and proven superior in scientific tests, ABS Styran is supported by over thirty years of proven reliability in Kawai pianos.
Kawai has won Dealers’ Choice awards for their pianos in 9 of the past 10 years. Come in and try one of their award-winning pianos!
From the company’s beginning in 1866, the Heintzman name in Canada has been known as the “Steinway of Canada.” Founder Theodore Heintzman improved the interior quality of his pianos through the innovation of the Agraffe bridge, a transverse metal bridge extending across the cast iron frame that keeps the strings from slipping, improves the clarity in the treble range, and produces a brilliant high tone. By the time of Theodore’s death in 1899, his pianos had won at least 11 awards in the United States and throughout the British Empire, including the prestigious William Prince of Wales Medal in London.
The original drawings, scale designs, and production equipment of the original Canadian Heintzman Piano Factory are being utilized today by “The Heintzman Piano Company Ltd.” The company is introducing new models as well as improving production techniques, keeping in mind the tradition of high quality and fine workmanship that was established in 1866 by Heintzman & Co. of Toronto, Canada.
By using the finest materials, combined with traditional design and state of the art technology, the legendary Canadian Heintzman Piano continues!
The Ritmüller Piano Company was founded in 1795 and soon became one of Europe’s most innovative manufacturers. Ritmüller conceived of the double soundboard that resulted in the characteristic warm, rich tone now called the “Euro Sound.” Ritmüller pianos have entered a new era in their proud history. The entire line has been re-engineered to reflect a new commitment to a classic heritage and standard of excellence. The Pearl River Piano Group, manufacturer of Ritmüller pianos, has commissioned international master piano designer Lothar Thomma to start with the basics of German precision craftsmanship and create a new piano standard. Mr. Thomma and his staff continue the Ritmüller tradition of excellence and innovation using a combination of old world tradition and state-of-the-art computerized manufacturing techniques.
The result is a collection of both upright and grand pianos that compare admirably on every level. Precision components of the new pianos are produced by advanced CNC digital machinery then assembled by expert craftsmen to ensure a blend of both technical superiority and artistic excellence. Roslau strings and Louis Renner premium hammers from Germany, ebony wood sharps, and solid spruce soundboards are just a few examples of the standards of quality and workmanship that comprise every new Ritmüller piano.
“My hands-down favorites in this category [Chinese-made grands] were the redesigned Ritmüller grands made by Pearl River…” So begins the review by Mary C. Smith of the new Ritmüller grands in the Fall 2009 issue of Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer (pianobuyer.com), whose Editor-in-Chief is Larry Fine, author of The Piano Book. Smith also praised the sound quality and sustain of the Ritmuller grands, saying they produce "a clear, bell-like, uncomplicatedly 'European' sound" with a "light, responsive action" with "great dynamic range from very soft to very loud and full."
Famed composer Jimmy Webb (By The Time I Get To Phoenix) and recording artist Barbara Higbie are just a few of the artists who will be performing on the new 7-foot Ritmüller 212 grand piano purchased by the infamous Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, California, a community treasure since the '60s and most recently an internationally known performance venue for bluegrass and jazz. The Freight & Salvage management and artists decided on the new Ritmüller 212 unanimously after comparing it to other pianos on the market. Accolades from industry professionals have been dwarfed only by those of Freight & Salvage management. They’ve received rave reviews from music greats who have performed recently at the legendary venue: “They are blown away by the richness of the sound.”
The history of the Perzina piano began on July 1, 1871, when two brothers, Julius and Albert Perzina, opened their shop in the small German town of Schwerin. They officially named the company Gebrüder Perzina, which means “brothers Perzina.”
The Perzina piano soon became one of Germany’s most influential and prestigious brands. Many of the best musicians and world leaders purchased Perzina pianos, including German and Dutch royalty. Around 1900, the Perzina factory was the largest piano factory in Northern Germany. Today in Germany and other European countries, Perzina is a household known name.
Perzina pianos are recognized for their remarkably beautiful tone and sound and are still considered one of the world’s best pianos. Their instruments are “European Standard Quality,” which means that they must include 90% or more European components, including Austrian white spruce tapered soundboards, individual weight-calibrated keys, Czech Detoa action, and German hammers, strings and pin-block. They play and sound as great as the world’s best pianos, but at less than half the price. Perzina handmade pianos blend “old-world” craftsmanship with today’s “state-of-the-art” technology.
Larry Fine, author of The Piano Book, says that Perzina upright pianos “have excellent tone and action, and have been out in the field without problems long enough for me to feel comfortable recommending them.” Perzina pianos are also rated “A” tier in the “Better Quality” piano group.
Why is Pearl River the fastest growing piano company in North America? Pearl River delivers the best quality for the price you pay. In fact, when it comes to value, Pearl River has no competition. Pearl River pianos are built at the largest piano factory in the world by a staff of over 4000 musical experts with an average of 17 years employment with Pearl River. From harvesting, curing, and shaping the traditional woods used in every component in the piano, Pearl River follows techniques and procedures that in every way duplicate the processes of the finest piano manufacturers in Europe, the U.S. and Japan. There are no shortcuts. Pearl River insists on the finest from sand-cast, naturally aged plates to Italian-style finished cabinets. And every Pearl River piano they build includes a 10-year parts and labor factory limited warranty backed by the USA-based team of expert technicians. You know it’s a Pearl River because you see the name proudly displayed on every fallboard.
Did you know that the Pearl River Piano Group owns the largest piano factory in the world? Located in Guangzhou, China, the Pearl River factory shipped approximately 83,000 pianos around the globe in 2007, resulting in the brand becoming the world’s most selected acoustic piano by unit volume. With a capacity to produce over 100,000 pianos a year, Pearl River now exports to more than 80 countries all over the world. In North America alone, Pearl River started with nothing in 1999 and now has the country’s largest dealer network and is the fastest-growing piano company in the U.S. and Canada. It’s a piano success story that began in 1956 with a tiny piano company producing four upright pianos a month.
The Pearl River Piano Group maintains the highest quality standards. In 1998, the company was awarded the International Standards Organization ISO 9001 Certification for its complete line of grand and vertical pianos, including all parts and components, then in July of 2007, the company was also awarded ISO 14001, certifying compliance with international environment standards. Pearl River is the first piano company in China to receive this independent certification for quality, efficiency and environmental standards.
Pearl River pianos use high quality woods, and their cabinets show attention to detail, including fine outside finishes and interior finishing with no plastic case parts. The pianos are built with soundboards designed to resist cracking and to produce warm, rich tones and other quality parts including hammers, actions, plates, keys, key beds, and Roslau piano wire; all designed to provide a great playing experience at an affordable price.
George Steck pianos have been instruments of distinction since their 1884 inauguration in New York City. From the earliest days of the company’s history, fame and awards have been a tradition. Honors such as the Gold Medal at Vienna in 1873, the Piano Award at the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876 and the 1893 Chicago Exhibit Award began the heritage of excellence that undergirds today’s George Steck Company.
In 2001, the George Steck piano company was sold to ASC, a division of the huge Korean conglomerate Sejung. With their vast resources, Sejung began to create a piano line of great depth and character, with the intention of offering a high quality, yet lower cost, alternative to Yamaha and Kawai. It was decided early on that, rather than scrimping on materials by using laminated/veneered soundboards, all George Steck soundboards would be solid Alaskan Sitka spruce, used on more expensive pianos. The soundboards are also specially tapered to produce a clear ringing tone. Steck pianos use Japanese hammers, a vacuum cast plate, and German Roslau strings. George Steck vertical pianos use the same fine materials as their grand pianos.
All George Steck grand pianos larger than 5’4” have a duplex scale, and their grand piano rims are made of maple, the same material used for Steinway grand piano rims. The wide-tail design of George Steck grands allows their bridges to be placed closer to the more lively area of the soundboard, creating a much smoother transition in the break area from bass to treble. The added soundboard area greatly increases the clarity of the bass.
All of these factors add up to a piano with a remarkable feel and sound. George Steck offers a piano that is very similar in materials to those of larger, better known makers, but at a lower price, thereby offering a much greater value. Come in and play one and see what we mean!
Did you know that Thomas Edison had a George Steck piano?
The George Steck Grand Piano in Thomas Edison Museum is located in the living room. The living room was used for relaxing and chatting of family members and guests. Almost everyone in the family including Edison, Mina, who was Thomas's wife, and their daughters, Marion and Madeline, played The George Steck Grand Piano. Probably, Mina played mostly the George Steck Grand Piano. There is a story that on the night, Thomas and Mina met when she was playing piano at their friend's home. That was how Mina won Thomas's heart.
Pamela's choice, George Steck
At a recent Millionaire fair in Amsterdam, Pamela Anderson, looking for a piano for her son, found and decided to purchase a new George Steck Grand piano. ASC delivered the GS72SVDP1 EBP complete with player system to Ms. Anderson's Malibu House on May 28, 2009. Pamela's choice, the GS72SVDP1 EBP, is a beautiful 5'8 " Ebony polish grand piano with chrome accents.
The Falcone Piano Co. was established in 1982 by Santi Falcone, a Boston area piano technician and rebuilder, who imported pianos to sell in his retail stores. Originally from Sicily, Falcone came to the United States at the age of fourteen and began tuning pianos at sixteen. Troubled by the inferior, mass-produced character of many pianos at that time and by the outrageous prices of higher-quality pianos, he decided to build a piano that was of a high caliber yet affordable.
In 1985, Falcone opened a piano factory in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Many early Falcone pianos were known as the “poor man’s Steinway,” and were loosely based on Steinway designs. His instruments were said to have a “warm, singing tone.” Due to financial problems, the Falcone piano company was sold and resold a few times, and Santi Falcone eventually went into the candy business. In 2001, ASC, the American division of the huge Korean conglomerate, Sejung, purchased the Falcone Piano Company. ASC’s goals were to build a piano that fulfilled the initial mission of Santi Falcone—to build a piano of high caliber yet affordable. ASC/Sejung has enormous resources and has built the largest stringed instrument plant in the world, manufacturing pianos and guitars. Their piano lines are Falcone, George Steck, and Hobart M. Cable, geared towards entry and mid-level pianists.
The top of the ASC line is the Falcone piano, with beautiful woods, such as African bubinga, and distinctive cabinets often found in higher priced pianos. Along with their outer beauty, these pianos have a pure, sweet tone, evenness of scale, and quality parts including German Roslau strings and solid spruce soundboards. Falcone’s top-of-the-line grand pianos, their Georgian Series, are made with Abel hammers, Roslau strings, gold-plated hardware, solid maple-caped bridges, and agraffes on each note.
Santi Falcone originally designed his piano to meet the needs of the most discriminating piano player. Rich European and American traditions of both tone and touch were always present in this development.
Today, America Sejung Corp. strives to uphold the ideals of this fine brand name. Falcone pianos are “the perfect balance of European and American tradition.” With Asian manufacturing know-how and production management, Falcone is now available in North America at prices that all can afford.
Kurzweil Music Systems was founded in 1982 by inventor and innovator Ray Kurzweil, who tells this story about the company's beginning:
"Stevie Wonder was our first customer for the Kurzweil Reading Machine (the first print-to-speech reading machine) in 1976. We became friends and had many conversations about technology as applied to both disabilities and music. In 1982, while giving me a tour of his new "Wonderland" music studio, Stevie asked if it would be possible to build a bridge between the powerful control methods of computer music (in which a broad variety of input devices could be used to control any available sound) with the beautiful sounds of acoustic instruments such as the piano and guitar. I thought about it, and concluded that it would be feasible. Kurzweil Music Systems was born in 1982 with Stevie Wonder as musical advisor."
Since their debut at the 1983 NAMM show, Kurzweil products have been wowing people with the great sounds and feel of their digital keyboards. They were "recognized as the first computerized instrument to faithfully capture the grand piano." Kurzweil was purchased in 1990 by Young Chang and continues a tradition of excellence to this day, especially in new digital products like the MP-10 and CUP-2 models.
Casio makes many products, including reasonably priced portable keyboards and digital pianos. We carry their upper-end instruments, which have graded hammer action and full 88-note keyboards for a more realistic digital piano experience.
The Casio lines include the Privia, both a portable PX-130 keyboard, with good sound quality and performance in a lightweight (25 lbs.) package, and the PX-830 digital piano, with refined matt keys (ivory touch), a pleasing action, great sounds, and a clean, sleek design.
The Celviano digital pianos are Casio’s state-of-the-art, high-end instruments, with a newly developed sound source—Linear Morphing AiF—offering the entire spectrum of authentic grand piano tones from Pianissimo to Fortissimo without abrupt changes to the sound during the transitions, and improved touch and note replay.
Casio provides an affordable, reliable instrument, versatile enough for home, church, school or on stage.
PianoDisc is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of player piano systems. Founded in 1988, it quickly became one of the most successful, innovative and influential companies in the music products industry.
PianoDisc began in a modest-sized piano retail store owned by brothers Gary & Kirk Burgett, in Sacramento, California. In 1979, the two founded a company, Burgett Pianos, which took advantage of each one’s talents and interests. Gary was a pianist and music teacher with a successful studio of his own, and Kirk was a skilled piano technician and rebuilder. Part of their business was a player system called Pianocorder (cassette-driven at that time), which could be added to any piano.
When Pianocorders were taken off the market, in true entrepreneurial spirit, the Burgetts saw this as an opportunity, not a problem. They decided to make their own system, which they named PianoDisc, and began production in March of 1989. Over the years, many generations of PianoDisc player systems have been introduced, each one expanding the capabilities and features of the last. To support a product as sophisticated as PianoDisc, a music library was needed that was just as sophisticated, so the company began recording some of the world’s finest pianists. Over the years, more than 4,000 songs in every category of music have been recorded for PianoDisc and its library is still growing.
Today, PianoDisc systems are in private homes, hotels, restaurants, music schools, recording studios and a host of other places, bringing the joy of live music to anyone who hears them. Wherever it’s shown, everyone agrees: PianoDisc is one of the most exciting music products to come along in decades, and an important component in modern home entertainment.
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We also specialize in world-class vintage American pianos, such as Steinway, Baldwin, Knabe, Sohmer, Mason & Hamlin, and Chickering. When properly restored, these pianos take on a second life of hand-built craftsmanship that puts many new production-line pianos to shame, and, in many cases, new pianos of the same name. Come in and see our vintage, restored pianos and admire the fine handiwork in these instuments!
