Reconditioned Kawai Pianos
Kawai is the other great Japanese piano maker, and a long-standing rival to Yamaha. We are mainly a Yamaha specialist, but we do take in a reconditioned Kawai from Japan from time to time, prepared in our own workshop to the same standard as our Yamahas.
Kawai and Yamaha, the two Japanese greats
The two makers grew up side by side. Kawai was founded in 1927 by Koichi Kawai, an engineer who had worked at Yamaha and helped build Japan’s first pianos before setting up on his own, in the same city of Hamamatsu. So when people talk about Japanese pianos, they usually mean one of these two.
For most buyers the choice comes down to feel and tone rather than one being better than the other. Yamaha has a reputation for a clear, bright, precise tone that cuts through, which is part of why so many teachers and exam students choose it. Kawai is often described as a little warmer and more mellow, and it is known for hard-wearing actions, having pioneered modern action materials back in the 1970s. Neither is right or wrong. If you can, play both and trust your own ears.
We sell far more Yamaha than Kawai, simply because that is what we import in volume and what most families ask for. So if you have your heart set on a Kawai, the honest thing to say is that our stock of them comes and goes. Tell us what you are after and we will keep an eye out.
The Kawai models we bring in
We are mainly a Yamaha specialist, but we regularly import reconditioned Kawai uprights from Japan. These are the models we see most, all Japanese built and prepared in our own workshop. If you have your heart set on one, ask us and we will keep an eye out.
The lists below cover the wider Kawai range for reference, whether or not we have one in at the moment.
Popular Kawai models
The Kawai uprights people search for most are the K series. We sell reconditioned Japanese Kawai rather than new pianos, but here is a plain guide to each of the popular models:
Popular Kawai upright pianos
These are the reconditioned Japanese Kawai uprights you are most likely to come across. Heights vary, so always check the exact model.
- Kawai K series. The professional workhorse, then and now, from the older K-30 and K-50 to the current K range. Well built and even across the keyboard, a natural rival to the Yamaha U1.
- Kawai US series. The tall ones. The US-50 stands about 132cm, a full professional upright with a big, even tone, much in the spirit of a Yamaha U3 or UX.
- Kawai BL series. The Japanese workhorse of the 1970s and 1980s. Plenty were made, so they turn up reconditioned at sensible money, and they are honest, reliable pianos.
- Kawai KS series. A step up in finish and tone from the 1980s, the KS-1F through to the KS-5F.
- Kawai NS series. Bright, lively uprights from the 1980s and early 1990s that bridge the gap to the modern K range.
Popular Kawai grand pianos
The KG series was by far the most common Japanese Kawai grand, and it is what you will see most often on the used market.
- Kawai KG-1. The baby grand, around 5 feet 1 to 5 feet 4. A lovely size for a normal room.
- Kawai KG-2. At about 5 feet 10, the most popular home grand, with a fuller bass than the baby grand.
- Kawai KG-3. Around 6 feet 1, the professional favourite, and the one many teachers and serious players go for.
- Kawai KG-5. A larger grand at about 6 feet 8, for bigger rooms and a bigger sound.
- Kawai RX series. The professional grands that followed the KG line in the 1990s, such as the RX-2, built to a very high standard.
Above all of these sits the hand-built Shigeru Kawai, the maker’s concert-level range. You are unlikely to see one reconditioned, but it shows how far the marque reaches.
What we look for in a Kawai
The same things we check on any piano. We read the model and serial number, and we go through the action, hammers, strings, tuning and casework, preparing each one in our workshop before it is sold. The reconditioned Kawai we take in are Japanese built, and like a good Japanese Yamaha they will last for decades.
What comes with your piano
- A lifetime warranty on every piano we sell, far longer than the maker’s guarantee that comes with a brand-new instrument.
- Free delivery to a ground floor anywhere in the UK. Stairs are quoted separately.
- Your first tuning at home, free.
- A matching adjustable stool, included.
- 14-day free returns, with free collection and a full refund, on top of your statutory rights.
You can also spread the cost with 0% finance, a deposit followed by 18 monthly payments.
Kawai questions, answered
Is a Kawai as good as a Yamaha?
Yes. They are the two leading Japanese makers and both build excellent pianos. The differences are of character, not quality. Yamaha tends to be brighter and more precise, Kawai a little warmer. The best one is the one you prefer to play.
Are Kawai pianos made in Japan?
The older reconditioned Kawai we take in were built in Japan, in Hamamatsu. As with Yamaha, some of the maker’s cheaper modern models are built elsewhere, so it pays to check the model and serial, which we always do.
Which Kawai is like a Yamaha U1 or U3?
As a rough guide, the Kawai K series sits alongside the Yamaha U1, and the taller US series sits alongside the U3 and UX. Play them side by side if you can.
Do you have any Kawai in stock now?
Sometimes. Our Kawai stock comes and goes, so the quickest way to find out is to ask. If we do not have the right one, we will usually have a Yamaha that suits.
Kawai comparisons and guides
See how the popular Kawai models compare, and read up before you buy:
- Kawai K-300 vs Yamaha U1
- Kawai K-500 vs Yamaha U3
- Kawai K-800 vs Yamaha U3
- Kawai K-300 vs Kawai K-500
- Kawai K2 vs K20 vs K200
- Kawai BS40 vs BS40 Special
- Yamaha vs Kawai, our review
- Kawai piano review, a 2026 guide
- Kawai piano serial numbers, date your piano
More reading:
- Japanese vs Chinese pianos, why the quality gap is real
- Why Japanese Yamaha pianos beat new budget pianos
- Yamaha U1 vs U3, which should you buy?
Looking now?
Because our Kawai stock is occasional, the quickest way to find out what we have is to ask. Tell us what you are after and your budget, and we will let you know if we have a suitable Kawai, or a Yamaha that might suit you just as well.