Kawai SK-EX LA (Made in Japan) Shigeru Kawai Grand Piano (SK-EX LA / SKEXLA)

KAWAI SK-EX LA CONCERT GRAND PIANO

Shigeru Kawai

After the war, Shigeru was adopted by the Kawai family, where he initially worked as a factory laborer, deeply committed to his job. Three years later, he began learning piano design from his adoptive father, Koichi Kawai, a pioneering piano engineer known for his contributions to the industry. Koichi emphasized the importance of craftsmanship and quality in piano making.

Following Koichi’s sudden passing, Shigeru took over the company and dedicated the next 35 years to elevating Kawai into a leader in the piano industry, renowned for its quality. Shigeru often expressed his passion for his work, stating, “Creating pianos is the greatest job I have ever had!”

Made in Japan, the SK-EX concert grand piano embodies the pursuit of Kawai’s ‘gold standard’ of piano creation: a peerless instrument, fashioned from the very finest materials, and crafted by passionate artisans drawing upon generations of knowledge and experience.

The Millennium III action

The highly acclaimed Millennium III Action uses state-of-the-art ABS-Carbon components that are extremely light and rigid to deliver faster repetition and more power with less effort. This revolutionary action provides more control, responsive touch and greater dynamics than any other of its contemporaries.

Extended Keysticks

The overall length of each key stick is extended to facilitate more control and provides consistent touch from the front to the back of the key. Key sticks are also built with a higher profile for greater stiffness, allowing them to deliver more force.

Temaki Bass Strings

Those bass strings made using the Temaki method are crafted by specialized master piano artisans who carefully guide the winding of bass strings by hand for total precision and tension.

Shiko Seion Hammers

Shiko Seion hammers are made by our Master Piano Artisans (MPAs), who are true masters of their craft. These hammers are created without heat or artificial hardeners to achieve unsurpassed response and expression. That’s why they take their name from the Japanese words for “ultimate voicing.

Concert Agraffes

Shigeru Kawai Concert Agraffes, made from solid brass for strength and precision, are identical to those on our famous EX Concert Grand Piano. They produce a clear, powerful tone

Kigarashi Soundboards

The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX’s exquisite spruce soundboard — made exclusively from wood aged in the time-honoured traditional Kigarashi process that utilizes the power of time and nature to achieve a state of natural balance — is unique. Executed with the highest level of craftsmanship and finest materials this complex and laborious technique gives every Shigeru concert grand piano its distinctive tonal quality.

Konsei Katagi Rim

The unique Konsei Katagi rim combines a blend of distinctive hardwoods to achieve the perfect balance of tone. Small-pore hardwoods, which offer brightness and projection, are interlaminated with dense, large-pore hardwoods, which give warmth and fullness. The result is a unique combination of woods which results in the Shigeru piano’s renowned richness of tone.

Dual-Pivot Dampers

Meticulous attention to the needs of professional performers is evident in every feature of the Shigeru piano. One example, originally developed for our Shigeru Kawai EX Concert Piano, is the unique dual-pivot damper design that allows smoother half-pedal control for delicate tonal expression.

Boxwood Bridge CapsBridge caps made of boxwood are found only on premium pianos. It is a hard wood with excellent tonal transfer properties, while also providing additional infrastructure with which to hold bridge pins securely. Boxwood bridge caps aid in the projection of treble tones that balance well with the larger piano’s stronger bass voice.

Specifications