<html> Hey Dale, We will have at least one at the CA state PTG (I am trying to bring my favorite SK-VI) and most definitely at the Reno convention. Pacific Northwest we can't handle yet because it's across the border, and we have no Shigeru Kawai pianos in Canada yet.  I was hoping to bring one to the PA state, but I'm not sure at this point. There's a good chance I will be able to borrow one from Avery Pianos in Providence for the New England regional. There is also a web site at <a href="http://www.shigerukawai.com/" eudora="autourl">http</a>://www.shigerukawai.<a href="http://www.shigerukawai.com/" eudora="autourl">com</a> but it doesn't have much in the way of technical information. Don At 10:13 PM 1/25/01 -0600, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Hi Don & List, Kawai and Don were kind enough to supply two of the Shirgeru SKIIIs for us to use in the Technical Institute last July in Arlington as well as an EX and many other fine pianos. The SK's were incredible instruments- you could have heard them in any of several tuning classes(including Mannino san's)and you would remember the round legs. Just wanted to publicly thank Kawai and Don for their support. Maybe we could see them again in Reno??? Thanks Don, Dale Dale Probst, RPT Member, TEAM2001 PTG Annual Convention Reno, NV --July 11-15, 2001 email: wardprobst@cst.net (940)691-3682 voice (940) 691-6843 fax TEAM2001 website: <a href="http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm" eudora="autourl">http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm</a> -----Original Message----- From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org" eudora="autourl">mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org</a>]On Behalf Of Donald Mannino Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 11:14 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: S. Kawai Hi Dave! As Kevin so aptly described them, the Shigeru Kawai pianos are Kawai's new hand-made line of grands.  They are the same scale designs as the larger RX pianos, but are built differently and with some different materials.  Since they are hand built they are very limited in quantity, so there are presently less than 20 dealers in North America. They come in 5 sizes, SK-II (5'10"), SK-III (6'1"), SK-V (6'6"), SK-VI (7') and SK-VII (7'6"). The soundboards are made from long-term aged Japanese spruce (air-dried a minimum of 5 years before final seasoning), and have cold-pressed hammers and hand-wound bass strings (wrap is fed by hand instead of numerically controlled string machine).  The cabinets are somewhat different, with round legs and some fancier features - but it is the sound and touch that really makes them nice. The actions and dampers in the Shigeru Kawai pianos are installed and regulated by Kawai's concert technicians in Japan, so they come from the factory quite well regulated and voiced. As you might expect, they cost quite a bit more than the standard RX pianos. Although Kawai has had other limited production models in the past (like the original GS models and the R - 'Artisan Select' models), these are built similarly to the EX concert grand.  The added labor really adds to the price. Don Mannino Kawai Piano Company At 09:05 AM 1/24/01 -0600, you wrote: Ok Don, tell us, what is the S...... (can't remember how it's spelled) Kawai that is advertised in the January Journal (pg 33)? dave David M. Porritt dporritt@swbell.net Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275</blockquote></html>