Blüthner Model 1

What famous musicians think of Blüthner pianos...

The GL-30 grand piano will surprise you. Its 5'5" frame is smaller than a traditional "grand piano". But the GL-30 is built to exceed expectations. A treasured model in the renowned GL grand piano series (which was named "Product of the Year" by the world music industry's MMR magazine in 2016), the GL-30 is a high-quality instrument with a superb range of tonal expressiveness. It features the revolutionary Millennium III Tail Piano Action with carbon-fiber composites that offer the player a sensitive, consistent touch year after year. In a flexible size that adapts admirably to a wide range of performance spaces, the GL-30 will outperform any comparable grand piano.

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

THE POWER OF THE PIANISSIMO

One of the most coveted attributes of a quality piano is a wide dynamic range: the ability to play not only thunderous fortissimos but also the most delicate and sensitive pianissimos. The technological superiority of the Millennium III action becomes most evident in its extraordinary ability to produce the perfect pianissimo. It may seem paradoxical, but the GL series technology shines brightest when it whispers.

RIGID FOUNDATIONS FOR THE TOUCH MOVEMENT

The keyframe rail is the central hub of a piano's operation. The keyframe rails in the GL series are made of durable extruded aluminum and combined with our advanced dual-beam technique, providing strength and stability. The hammer and jack rails are securely held in place to maintain the precise tolerances of the action design and ensure consistent touch throughout the piano's lifespan. The entire surface of the hammer rail is finely serrated to securely hold each hammer shank in place for optimal alignment. The hammer shanks are made of PBT resin, allowing the action screws to remain tightly secured without contraction or expansion. These meticulously designed features form the rigid foundations of the GL series, ensuring the precise motion of the keys over time.Carbon ABS is much stronger and more durable than wood, virtually impervious to the effects of humidity-related contraction and expansion. This unique combination of strength and stability allows the action components to transfer energy to the hammers with unmatched efficiency, power, precision, and nuance, delivering an exceptional playing experience. 

Tone

TAPERED SOUNDBOARD IN SOLID SPRUCE

The soundboard is the heart of a piano, responsible for transforming the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich and vibrant tone. Kawai uses only straight-grained solid spruce, quarter-sawn, for the soundboards of the GL series. Each soundboard is carefully tapered to optimize its sound-producing capabilities. Only soundboards that meet or exceed our strict quality requirements are selected to be installed in our GL series grand pianos.

TONALITY

Kawai grand pianos are renowned for their expressive tonality and expansive dynamic range, enabling pianists to effortlessly share and communicate their passion.

Duplex scale

DUPLEX SCALE SCALE

The instrument's duplex scale system provides harmonics in the midrange and treble, adding depth and breadth to the overall sound.

AGRAFFES

The staples ensure precision in string alignment, spacing and angles to produce a more uniform tone and consistent vibratory length of each note.

HARDWOOD BRIDGES

The bridges transfer the vibration of the strings to the soundboard. The bridges in the GL series are made of solid maple or beech and are carefully adjusted and fitted to the frame for perfect string pressure and optimal sound transfer.

SOLID' (Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design)

The "SOLID" construction creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support the tension of the strings. First, the windchest is mounted on the frame. Then, the windchest and yoke bar are integrated into a single structure, firmly anchored to the waistband. The extraordinary thickness of the yoke bar illustrates the structural integrity of this sturdy frame, designed to ensure stable tuning and powerful sound.

THE C.O.R.E. SYSTEM

"CORE" is an acronym that stands for "Convergence for Optimum Reflected Energy." Convergence refers to how the points of strength, including the rim, frame, and soundboard, all come together towards a central point at the core of the instrument. This convergence creates the foundation for an extremely powerful "CORE" central core that maximizes the sound reflection capabilities of the inner rim, resulting in exceptional sound quality.

SOLID (STRETCHER OVER-LAP INTEGRATED DESIGN)

The "SOLID" construction creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support the tension of the strings. First, the windchest is mounted on the frame. Then, the windchest and yoke bar are integrated into a single structure, firmly anchored to the waistband. The extraordinary thickness of the yoke bar illustrates the structural integrity of this sturdy frame, designed to ensure stable tuning and powerful sound.

EXTENDED FINGERBOARD LENGTH

Longer keys make the game easier to play and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The benefits for the player are better control and more power with less effort.

SLOW-CLOSE LID MECHANISM

Our slow-close lid mechanism incorporates a dual-damping system that protects fingers and the keyboard from potential damage caused by a sudden closure.

THE KEYBOARD TRAY WITH STEEL REINFORCEMENT.

The keyboard tray must be strong and stable in order to support the weight of the entire mechanics over time. GL Series keyboard trays are made from extremely robust hardwoods, laminated and reinforced with a steel support spar that increases the strength and rigidity of the keyboard tray to prevent any loss of energy.

V-pro frame

V-PRO FRAME

The frame is the acoustically neutral metal superstructure on which the strings are tensioned. All frames in the GL series are cast using the V-Pro process. The additional strength comes from the new frame design. The result is a highly robust, stable, and elegant frame.

SMALL DOOR WITH STEEL REINFORCEMENT

The 'little door' of a piano is that long horizontal piece of wood bordering the front of the notes. Because it's made of wood, this part can twist or bend with changes in humidity, causing the keys to jam. The 'small doors' of the GL series are reinforced by a steel rod that prevents these deformations. The keys move freely, with the 'small door' remaining straight and at a regular distance from the keys throughout the piano's life.

WINDCHEST AND TUNING PEGS

The pinblock on all GL series grand pianos is fully laminated with a minimum of eleven cross-banded layers of North American hard rock maple for maximum strength and balanced torque. The tuning pins are made from the finest carbon steel, threaded for maximum continuous rotation, and nickel-plated for enhanced appearance and long-term protection.

RESISTANCE

Strength enables a piano to maintain its integrity over time. GL Series pianos have the remarkable strength to thrive under the rigors of long-term use.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions

CLASSIC SALON GRAND

The SK- 2 also features Shigeru Kawai's unrivalled components, including a custom cone soundboard, Shiko Seion hammers, Konsei Katagi structure, integrated reinforcement layering design, Shigeru's acclaimed Millennium III action and a double pivot design for the dampers.

KIGARASHI SOUNDBOARD (KE-GAH-RAH'-SHE)

The conical soundboard of a Shigeru Kawai piano is exclusively crafted from the finest spruce wood, which has been dried using the traditional Kigarashi process. A material can only achieve its natural balance through a long period of air drying. This meticulously executed, lengthy process forms the foundation that gives Shigeru Kawai grand pianos their unique and full sound.

KONSEI KATAGI BELT (KON'-SAY KAH-TAH'-GE)

THE MILLENNIUM III ACTION

SOLID STRETCHER OVER-LAP INTEGRATED DESIGN

THE SHIKO SEION HAMMERS

EXTENDED KEYS

CONCERT CAPSTAN

TEMAKI BASS STRINGS

SPRUCE STRUTS

CONCERT BRIDGES

DOUBLE PIVOT DAMPER

EXQUISITE CRAFTMANSHIP.

The passion for excellence lies deep in the heart of every Shigeru craftsman.

UNRIVALED PROGRESS.

True creativity can never stop striving. It must continually progress and evolve.

THE EXPERT'S CHOICE

PIANOS MADE TO PERFECTION.

UNPARALLELED HERITAGE. 

Shigeru Kawai's dream, passion and honor.

GRAND CONCERT

The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand is the pinnacle of the Shigeru Kawai range. Fewer than 20 are made by hand each year, making the SK-EX as remarkable for its rarity as for its sound. Extraordinary tone, incredible range and breathtaking response are the hallmarks of the SK-EX - an unrivalled concert grand piano.

The largest of Shigeru Kawai pianos is worthy of any concert hall and is as dazzling to the eyes as it is to the ears. The unmatched sound, touch, and consistency of the concert grand piano are the result of exquisite materials and craftsmanship used in its construction.

KIGARASHI SOUNDBOARD (KE-GAH-RAH'-SHE)

The conical soundboard of a Shigeru Kawai piano is exclusively crafted from the finest spruce wood, which has been dried using the traditional Kigarashi process. A material can only achieve its natural balance through a long period of air drying. This meticulously executed, lengthy process forms the foundation that gives Shigeru Kawai grand pianos their unique and full sound.

KONSEI KATAGI BELT (KON'-SAY KAH-TAH'-GE)

The exclusive Konsei Katagi rim leverages different hardwoods to achieve the ideal sonic balance. For the inner rim, finely porous hardwoods are used to provide superior brilliance and projection of the high-frequency range of the sound spectrum. These are layered with wider-pore hardwoods that offer warmth and fullness to the sound. The synergy of structurally divergent hardwoods produces a powerful and pleasingly rounded sound, which is the hallmark of Shigeru Kawai grand pianos.

THE MILLENNIUM III ACTION

Our Millennium III action utilizes extremely lightweight and rigid carbon ABS components to deliver faster repetition and more power with less effort. Microscopic surface textures on the action parts provide unique response and control.

SOLID STRETCHER OVER-LAP INTEGRATED DESIGN

The Solid Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design (SOLID) creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support the immense string tension. With SOLID design, the soundboard is manually fit to the rim. The soundboard and rim are then integrated into a single unit and securely fastened to the rim. The final harmonic structure possesses exceptional strength and rigidity, allowing for stable tuning and powerful sound.

THE SHIKO SEION HAMMERS

Shiko Seion hammers take their name from the Japanese words for "ultimate expression". They are created exclusively and proudly by our master piano craftsmen. Without the use of heat or artificial hardeners, each hammer is hand-pressed and tuned to produce a melodious, well-balanced tone.

EXTENDED KEYS

The overall size of the keys is extended to facilitate nuanced control across the entire playing surface. The key buttons also have an enlarged section to ensure increased resistance and power transmission.

CONCERT CAPSTAN

The use of hardwood maple key buttons adds stiffness to the keysticks for improved energy transfer. The redesigned key buttons on the Shigeru Concert Series instruments have been doubled in length to provide exceptional energy transfer and optimum power.

TEMAKI BASS STRINGS

In Japanese, the term "temaki" means "hand-rolled." During the slow temaki process, the master craftsman patiently hand-spins each bass string for absolute precision and tension, ensuring rich character and superb depth of sound.

SPRUCE STRUTS

Spruce is known for its unique ability to conduct and preserve sound energy. However, it is generally considered too valuable and costly to be used as a structural material. In Shigeru Kawai pianos, all interior struts are made entirely of the finest spruce.

CONCERT BRIDGES

Identical to those used on our renowned SK-EX concert grand piano, Shigeru Kawai concert bridges are individually made from brass bars to ensure optimal precision and strength. This results in a clear, powerful, and impressive tone.

DOUBLE PIVOT DAMPER

Every feature of a Shigeru Kawai piano demonstrates the meticulous attention given to the needs and demands of professional pianists. The double pivot damper mechanism, originally developed for the Shigeru Kawai EX concert piano, is the only one that allows smooth and precise control of half-pedaling for delicate tonal expression.

EXQUISITE CRAFTMANSHIP.

The passion for excellence lies deep in the heart of every Shigeru craftsman.

UNRIVALED PROGRESS.

True creativity can never stop striving. It must continually progress and evolve.

THE EXPERT'S CHOICE

PIANOS MADE TO PERFECTION.

Over seven thousand five hundred Concert Grand pianos have been made in Estonia.