Browse By Category
|
|
Browse By Make
|
|
|
Millennium Action
 |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ABOUT THE NEW
MILLENNIUM III ACTION |
 |
Q:Kawai's "second generation" Ultra-Responsive ABS Action has long been known as the most stable and precise piano action in the industry. Why did Kawai need to improve upon it?
A: Since 1927, the Kawai family has been committed to perfecting the art of the piano. Our mission is to continually "raise the bar" for the piano industry by embracing new designs, technologies and materials that can make the piano sound better and perform more consistently for the player. This philosophy is the foundation of our success and the key reason why Kawai pianos are known as the world's most advanced. To answer the question, we keep improving because that's who we are. |
|
Q:How did Kawai respond to these
requests?
A:First we focused on the need for extraordinary repetition. Research told us that our action could be faster if we made the ABS action parts lighter (in weight). But there would be a side effect – reducing weight alone could result in parts that were not as strong. Obviously, we couldn't accept this compromise (since ABS Styran action parts have been long known for their superior strength versus wood parts. So our engineers came to an important conclusion – before we could make the ABS parts lighter, we first had to make them stronger. |
|
Q:How did Kawai decided upon the right areas for improvement
A:We interviewed top pianists at international piano competitions and asked them to respond to this question: "What would make a great piano even better?" Over and over, their answers centered around their desire for three things:(1) exceptional speed of repetition, (2) superb control when playing "pianissimo" (very soft), and (3) as much power as possible. Since these elements occur as varying ends of the dynamic spectrum, it was clear to us that skilled pianists want the most from a piano when they are trying to be the most expressive. |
|
Q:What did Kawai do to increase the strength of ABS Styran.
A:We added carbon to the ABS material. This increased its strength by as much as 90%! The new composite material (dubbed ABS-Carbon™) allowed us to dramatically reduce the weight of the parts while, at the same time, making them stronger than before. The best way to describe this process is to say that "we made our action stronger so we could make it lighter so we could make it faster." Kawai grand pianos with the new Millennium Action have a speed of repetition that is roughly 25% faster than our previous action. |
|
Q:Were these the only changes Kawai made to the action to improve repetition?
A:Actually, we did several other things to improve speed. One example can be seen in the component called the "backcheck" (click here) on which the hammer rests between repetitive keystrokes. For the Millennium III Action, our engineers made a subtle change to the shape of the backcheck to keep the hammer higher between repetitions. Because the hammers now remain closer to the strings between keystrokes, repetition is faster. |
|
But in analyzing ways to improve control, our engineers discovered that adding a microscopic "grainy" texture (click here) to the contact surface of the jack could dramatically improve control for slow, pianissimo playing without affecting the jack's normal movement. This special texture, along with the reduced weight of the action, gives the pianist unparalleled control for pianissimo playing, especially when caressing an expressive melodic line. |
|
Q:With less weight in the action assembly, have professional pianists complained that the touch is too light?
A:Not at all. Because the keys are evenly balanced, the static weight (a common measurement of the weight required to slowly depress a key) is in line with the conventional touch weight for most top-quality grand pianos
(54-56 grams) and nearly identical to our previous action. The difference is felt in the dynamic weight, which measures the effort required to accelerate a key to normal playing speeds. Dynamic weight determines "ease of playing" and is felt most during fast passages. In this important aspect of touch, the Millennium III really excels. Pianists everywhere have described the overall movement as "swift, effortless and wonderfully responsive." |
|
Q:How were you able to satisfy the need for "maximum power" that the pianists requested?
A:We achieved this quite effortlessly. Additional power was a natural byproduct of adding carbon to ABS. Carbon makes ABS not only stronger, but also more rigid. Because rigid parts tend to transfer energy more efficiently than parts that "flex," ABS-Carbon sends more energy to the string with every keystroke. In short, the player is able to produce more power with less effort. And there's one further benefit – because ABS-Carbon is so consistent in strength and rigidity, there is virtually no variation in power from note to note. Older generation wooden parts tend to be highly inconsistent with respect to rigidity: so the degree of power they produce from note to note can vary widely. ABS-Carbon assures consistent power, which means greater control. |
|
Q:How did Kawai address the need for more control during pianissimo playing?
A: Kawai has long used the exclusive "Carbon Jack" in our actions to propel the hammer upward toward the string. The Carbon Jack is known not only for its incredible strength, but also for its smooth surface and "self-lubricating" quality. The point of contact between the jack and the hammer must always be somewhat "slippery" to allow for a smooth release of the hammer. |
|
Q:So, it appears that Kawai was able to meet all three needs expressed by the competition pianists?
A:Absolutely. In the Millennium III, we've created an action that is a joy to play. Pianists around the world have responded with enormous enthusiasm. And that, of course, is music to our ears. |
|
|
