New Kawai Master Series Upright Pianos

navindra · 2026-02-07T22:37:20+00:00

This is news to me. I'm well-acquainted with the Kawai K Series pianos but apparently Kawai has some entirely new upright pianos on the market: The Kawai Master Series represents the pinnacle of Kawai’s upright piano craftsmanship. Designed without compromise, these instruments unite decades of piano-making tradition with refined structural design to deliver an authentic acoustic playing experience—one that empowers pianists to fully realize their musical ideals. It is built for players who value depth, control, and lasting musical substance. Kawai announces new premium upright piano “Master Series” MS-134/130/123 Kawai Master Series Upright Pianos Kawai Master Series Philosophy I'm not sure how this is different from the K series or if it will eventually replace that series. Built upon the trusted foundation of the K-Series, the Master Series is shaped around a refined structural design created to stand firm over time. At its core is a strengthened back framework that provides quiet confidence, supporting the instrument as it holds tension, preserves balance, and allows the sound to develop freely. This underlying strength gives the piano a sense of stability you can feel from the first note, particularly in the lower register, where depth and presence rely on a structure that will not yield. The soundboard, crafted from carefully selected, straight-grained solid spruce and subtly tapered by hand, is allowed to resonate naturally, responding with warmth, clarity, and control. The result is an instrument that feels grounded and assured, a piano whose strength is never heard, but always felt. A foundation of stability that supports expressive tone and preserves the musical character of the Master Series for years to come. Stu Harrison covers this briefly here @ 6:18:

sweelinck

thepianoplayer416
What I observed about the Boston UP-132PE and other Boston uprights is that they seem to get less prep at the factory than the Kawai K series uprights. As a result, whether any, and how much prep was done by the Steinway dealer where one is being marketed has a significant impact on the tone, particularly on octave 5 sustain.

The K-800AS (K-800 + sostenuto pedal) is the only K-800 model marketed in the US. The K-600 (K-800 without sostenuto or grand style fallboard and music desk) is available in the US. The MS-134 also lacks the grand style fallboard and music desk.

It appears that the new MS series uprights have the same Millenium III upright action as the K series uprights, but the hammers are upgraded. The K-800 uses felt on which Kawai has slapped the Royal George label. The MS series apparently uses Shigeru style hammers. The keystick length of the shorter 48” model, MS-123 seems to match that of the MS-130 and K-500. I don’t know if the K-800 and MS-134 have an even longer keystick, but they have an additional inch of depth.

As best I can tell, the K-800 has hammers that are machine pressed with concert-grade felt, while the M series and Shigeru’s have hammers that are handmade with concert-grade felt.

The MS-134 is 48kgs heavier than the K-800. The sostenuto and mute rail lever of the K-800AS adds some weight, but the MS-134 will still be much heavier. I assume this mostly is due to the more reinforced case. Other differences include a re-designed pressure bar and hand wound bass strings on the MS-134. The strings may be installed by hand on the MS series vs. by machine on the K series.

I agree re: the excellent sustain and resonance of the K-800. It also has a neutral tone— different from the warm tone of the K-500.

WieWaldi

sweelinck The K-800AS (K-800 + sostenuto pedal)

I am confused, which Kawai uprights provide the sostenuto pedal and which not.
Is AS=sostenuto a general Kawai naming rule?

thepianoplayer416

On the Kawai site every picture of the K-series pianos starting with the K-15, K-200, K-400, K-500, etc. is shown with a sostenuto pedal giving the impression that they all have it.

WieWaldi

thepianoplayer416 Don't be fooled by the pictures, The specs often say:
Pedals: Soft, Muffler, Damper

sweelinck

The K-800AS has a sostenuto, the regular K-800 does not. Both are marketed in Europe. Of these two, only the K-800AS is marketed in the US, and it often will just be called a K-800 in the US. However, it will be stamped K-800AS on the plate, and the warranty paperwork and owner’s manual will describe it as K-800AS. The K-800AS has a separate hand control to activate a mute rail.

The K-600 is a K-800 without the grand style fallboard and music desk. It is available with or without a sostenuto in some markets, but only without the sostenuto in the US, as far as I know.

To add to the confusion, the K-700 is a K-500 with grand style music desk and fall board. Neither the K-500 nor K-700 has a sostenuto.

The K-400 is a K-300 with grand style music desk and fallboard. Neither model has a sostenuto.

The K-500/600/700/800 models have Kawai’s neotex key surfaces. The K-300/400 models have acrylic white key surfaces and phenolic resin black key surfaces.

Greg_R

This looks like a possible competitor to the Bechstein Concert 8 or best Schimmel uprights.

sweelinck

Greg_R
Different pianists will have different opinions, but mine is that:

Concert 8 > K-800 > Schimmel uprights

I haven’t played the MS-134 (Master Series version of the K-800).

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