Tone is the rich, resonant sound quality that emanates from a well-crafted piano. A fine instrument should be capable of producing exceptional tone through the full range of musical expression – powerful, delicate, short, long, fast or slow. Whatever the dynamic requirement, the piano must respond with a clear expressive sound that reflects the player’s intentions. Superb tone is the first hallmark of every Kawai grand piano.
The soundboard is the very heart of the piano’s tone. Its purpose is to transform the vibrations of the strings into a beautiful, resonant tone. Kawai uses only straight-grained, quarter-sawn solid spruce for all grand piano soundboards. Each one is tested with state-of-the-art equipment to measure the speed at which sound energy travels through it. Only those that exceed our demanding resonance standards are selected for use in Kawai grand pianos.
CORE is an acronym representing “Convergence for Optimum Reflected Energy.” Convergence refers to the way the piano’s strength centers – rim, plate and underside beams – all focus toward one central point at the heart of the instrument. This focus creates an incredibly strong “core” foundation that maximizes the reflective capabilities of the inner rim.
The material used for the inner rim is also critical. The harder the inner rim material, the more sound energy will be reflected back into the soundboard for optimum resonance. RX Series inner rims are made of Matoa, an extremely dense hardwood that ensures maximum reflection of sound energy, resulting in greater tonal power and sustain.
Bridges transfer the vibrations of the strings to the soundboard. RX Series bass bridges are made of the highest quality hard maple or beech. Treble bridges are vertically laminated with 13 layers of maple and mahogany for maximum strength and optimal transfer of sound. The RX-6 and RX-7 feature a single, continuous bridge that helps to smooth the transition between bass and treble registers.