It’s hard to imagine just a few years ago a piano that can stand up to the most discriminating pianist for it’s musicality tone and action and yet at the same time be priced slightly above the average entry level pianos from China and Indonesia. But, The Ritmüller line of grand and upright pianos is that piano line. At half the price of the comparable Japanese branded pianos, Ritmüller can stand shoulder to shoulder in quality with the best of Yamaha and Kawai and possesing a sweeter more longer lasting European tone. Made and sold directly by the same factory making the Essex Piano for Steinway&Son. Yet the Ritmüller is rated higher in the “pianobuyer.com” while costing less without Steinway’s additional mark up over the factory’s costs.*
What makes the Ritmüller so good are their incredible designs by one of Europe’s highest regarded piano designers, Lother Thoma. Mr. Thoma is world renowned for his designs and has been responsible for or has been part of the team on most of the highest rated and most expensive pianos from Europe. Never before in the history of pianos has the designer of so many of the most expensive exclusive piano brands designed something affordable. In the past people who purchased a piano at the Ritmüller price point had to settle for an instrument of inferior musicality that might have a famous name on the front but not sound anything like the piano that make that famous name famous.
Take for example the Yamaha GB1 and the Kawai GL-10. Both pianos come from famous manufacturers known for making high quality products. Unfortunately so many corners have been cut on these instruments they’re extremely lacking in musicality. Thud like dead sounding bass sections. Upper ranges with hardly any sustain and sustaining tones which usually die out in a few seconds. These qualities are less present in Yamaha and Kawai’s more expensive instruments although they still have some of these same issues we’ve spoken about although to a lesser extent.
The new Ritmüller 2020 RSH series needed a classic European-sized upright piano to fill in the ranks. This piano features a significantly extended bass-string length and larger soundboard area offering a much wider range-of-expression.
Perfect for any music lover or student, the new 2020 RSH series redefines the musical standard for upright pianos.
The Ritmüller RS160 are the handbuilt series with features and performance that astound most people who play them. These are German pianos in every detail of their sound and musicality at a price that is still thousands less than competing pianos from Japan because of Japanese labor. Stephen Mohler the renowned German piano designer and technician lives near the factory and is there in the factory full time personally overseeing seeing all Ritmuller piano production.
"Chinese pianos are are already pretty close to catching up with Yamaha" says Larry Fine, publisher of infulential 《Piano Book 》and Piano Buyer Website.
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Compare the Ritmüller 170 Model to the Yamaha GC2, tthe Kawai GL30, and you will find a piano that has longer sustaining tone along with deeper bass. Ascetically and unlike the Yamaha GC2 and Kawai GL30 the Ritmüller has a beveled lid, a spade leg, and premium hardware like the more expensive 2 models from Yamaha and Kawai. These comparisons are the same up and down the Ritmüller line.
We’ve had prestigious pianists and venues choose the Ritmüller 212 7f model over pianos that were three times the price at competitors and in our own showroom.
When you shop for a piano does the better known brand have European scale designs?
All of these quality materials are unique to Ritmüller only.
In fact the Ritmüller RSH121T was singled out in the “Pianobuyer.com” as their favorite piano in the category and when you hear it you’ll understand why. Ritmüller’s RSH121 combines affordability with musicality. It play circles around pianos such as the Yamaha B3 or Kawai K300 from the standpoint of depth of tone and musicality. It again challenges the higher level Yamaha and Kawai pianos but at a substantially lower cost.
The Ritmüller UHX132Z is one of the most refined and advanced pianos on the market. Many people have remarked that this piano is reminiscent of the $70,000 Bechstein 52″ which coincidentally was also designed by Lothar Thoma.
Priced significantly less that the Yamaha U3, YUS3 or YUS5 it has a level of sustain that neither can match which also goes for a comparison to the Kawai K500 and K800. It is a strong competitor to the Yamaha SU7 at a fraction of the price.
Please contact us on 9550 9825 to check the stock availablity for the above limited edition.
Reference: Ritmüller | Est. Göttingen 1795 Germany
ABS-Carbon, the new composite material in our revolutionary Millennium III Action, combines the long-term stability of ABS Styran (a composite used in Kawai actions for over 40 years) with the extraordinary strength of carbon fiber. ABS-Carbon produces more dynamic power, greater durability, improved control and unparalleled speed to enhance the playing experience.
Carbon fiber has been called the lightest, strongest material on earth. In Kawai pianos, it allows a lighter design that helps to make our Millennium III Action tremendously fast and effortless to play while sustaining exceptional tone. The rigid character of ABS-Carbon also offers pianists more power with less effort. Its resistance to shrinking and swelling helps to provide these benefits consistently over many years – something conventional wood components are unable to deliver.
While certainly ideal for the sound-producing elements of a piano, wood is less suitable for the many mechanical components in a piano action. Wood is susceptible to breakage from continual stress and can shrink and swell dramatically with changes in climate. This inherent inconsistency of wood parts can impair a piano’s tone and touch—and lead to costly repairs and maintenance.
Carbon fiber technology is relatively new to the piano, but is already being utilized in many other industries to replace wood and other weaker, heavier materials. Here are a few of the current uses of carbon fiber:
The Boeing 777 uses carbon fiber in its construction to fly faster than the competition with lower fuel costs. Similarly, carbon fiber makes up over half the material used for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus 380 to provide increased strength and speed.
The strength, weight and lower density of carbon fiber allows golf club designers to create lighter clubs that result in a faster swing and longer shots. Makers of boats, kayaks and canoes have also moved beyond wood and fiberglass in favor of carbon fiber’s superior strength and stability.
Formula One and other leading racing cars are made faster and safer thanks to the strength and lightweight character of carbon fiber composite parts.
The 1.6 mile-long West Gate Bridge of Melbourne, Australia and its supports are reinforced by carbon fiber because of the material’s stiffness and ability to endure stress.
More top riders are competing in the Tour de France with carbon fiber bikes than ever before. With more strength and durability, carbon fiber has even found its way into the soles of some high-end cycling shoes.
Many manufacturers of string bows for violins and cellos are using carbon fiber due to its lightweight speed and resistance to breakage. Carbon fiber technology is now used in the crafting of violins, guitars and mandolins.
Please contact us on 9550 9825 to find out more benefits of the ABS Carbon Fiber technology.
Reference: Kawai | The Future Of The Piano
Along with along period of edification and baptism, Kayserburg piano has become asymbol of excellent lifestyle and high-aulity pursuit.
Kayserburg is the latest professional high-end piano brand launched by Pearl River Piano Group, an the pianos are created by Pearl River Piano Group's elite team joined with the European technical team.German Renner hammers are hand shaped to bring the finest tone from the German Roslau string wire, solid maple caped bridge and European Siberian solid Spruce hand selected soundboard.
To ensure the perfect and outstanding acountic quality and performance, Kayserburg pianos select the most excellent materials; adopt the European international high-end piano processing technology and manufacture standards.
Named for the French word for ‘star’ (pronounced eiˈtwal), the Kayserburg Étoile Collection brings forward the ultimate expression of turning rare wood’s natural luster, color, and patterns that change from every angle into heavenly beauty.
Of the more than 90,000 species of hardwoods in the world, only about 100 are used in the fancy veneer industry. For the Kayserburg Étoile Collection only the most impactful have been selected; whether it’s East Indian Rosewood, which is considered one of the most beautiful lumbers in the world that is found in many Asian antiques, or Ziricote, an exotic wood native to the Central American that ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown with unusual streaks of pale-yellow sapwood.
Kayserburg pianos generate resonace with music, bring unlimited music enjoyment to performers, and satiffy the pursuit of perfect quality and excellent lifestyle.
In creating the finest pianos in the world, Kayserburg developed the PR2.0 hammer design using imported German felt that is formed over select hardwood cores and then fastened to the cores with t-shaped steel wires for the maximum resilience and structural integrity. Improved hammer shanks adopt the grand piano concept for the ultimate balancing while each hammer requires a minimum of five inspections to earn quality control certification.
Before and after drying in our state-of-the-art kilns, woods are expertly cured to specific moisture contents, which reduces the natural tendency for wood to swell and contract with humidity fluctuation. In crafting each Kayserburg piano, humidity and temperature levels are strictly controlled by dehumidifier and air-conditioning systems to ensure a consistent environment throughout the production line.
To lower the volume and sustain, the hammer rest rail rotates to reduce the hammer strike distance. The Kayserburg vertical pianos action has been doubled from a single rest rail to give the hammer shank more accuracy and to offer more accurate control for both volume and sustain.
To complement the Double Action Rest Rail, Kayserburg has added a Limited Rail device for rapid reset of the Jack during the playing of high-speed passages that require continuous movement of the hammers, resulting in an enriched performance.
The plate supports the incredible tension placed on the instrument by its strings. Like the world’s finest pianos, Kayserburg plates are made with the highest-quality pig iron formed in wet sand molds, then CNC machined and fully finished. Unlike vacuum processed plates, wet sand cast plates are stronger and do not produce undesirable harmonic feedback.
To accurately transmit the vibration of each string to the soundboard, the bridge must be extremely strong, rigid, and resonant. Kayserburg pianos feature vertically laminated, Beech and Rosewood bridges, for increased rigidity, with a solid beech cap. The bridge is glued, dowelled and screwed to the soundboard.
The height of the front caster can be individually adjusted according to the condition of where they are placed, ensuring the piano is always perfectly stable and level.
Because of the difference in string tension, Kayserburg vertical pianos have an unequal distance, asymmetric back post structure. Scientifically designed to balance the bearing capacity of each sound section, the structure provides added stability and strength. Kayserburg verticals have an inner rim of solid beech and solid spruce backposts for a sound that’s warm, clean, and distinct.
Select quarter-sawn spruce ribs are graduated in width and thickness, and feathered for flexibility and frequency response, are glued and hand doweled to the soundboard and then mortised into the rim.
The keys on all Kayserburg pianos are made of solid, straight-grained, spruce for a light key with superior strength and accurate transfer of the pianist’s intentions to the hammer. Genuine ebony wood is used for sharps, while white keys are covered in Ivolan®, an eco-friendly ivory substitute with a gentle gripping surface for a more natural feel and easier control. Each key is individually weighted for an overall even touch. Where the balance rail pin supports the key, a solid hardwood key button and insert ensure stability under the most stressful playing. All pins are solid brass for stability and noise-free sound production. To resist warpage or movement, the keybed is constructed with solid European spruce in a butcher block configuration.
Kayserburg grand piano outer rims are made from maple and inner rims are made from beech. The beams are crafted from the finest quality solid European Spruce and are individually attached to the rim with mortise and dowels, not screws, for structural integrity that will last decades. Many of the world’s finest grand piano rims are made from maple and beech, dense hardwoods that allow for warmer, richer tone with longer sustain.
For greater dynamic range and improved sustain, all Kayserburg pianos have tapered soundboards crafted entirely of tight-grained, European quarter-sawn, solid spruce from remote regions as varied as Siberia to the mountains of Central Europe are the hallmark of Kayserburg pianos. Each soundboard is given years of special seasoning, then handcrafted to ensure a precise crown (natural bowing).
Rather than stamping the pin thread, nickel-plated and cut-thread tuning pins offer more precision and control for longer lasting tuning. The pins are set into a block made of cross-laminated, quarter sawn maple or beech for maximum resistance on the tuning pin thread.
Kayserburg uses only the best: Röslau strings from Germany, with solid surgical grade steel treble strings and solid copper hand-wound bass strings.
Reference: Kayserburg Pianos -Pianos Built For Artists, By Artists
With more than half a century committed to perfecting the design and production of fine pianos, Pearl River has become the best-selling piano in the world. By combining the art of European craftsmanship with quality components and the latest technological advances in instrument production, the pianos that bear our brand are not only critically acclaimed but also offer unprecedented value. Our goal has been and will continue to be, to exceed our customer’s expectations by building the best pianos in the world.
Established in 1956 in Guangzhou, China, Pearl River Piano Group has become the largest piano manufacturer in the world, with a production of over 150,000 pianos annually and more than 4,000 employees. Pearl River is committed to building the world’s best pianos on every level. When you shop for a piano, consider how much every Pearl River piano has to offer. While many pianos are now made in facilities foreign to their headquarters, Pearl River has for our entire history controlled every step of the manufacturing process, from the selection of woods, to the crafting of actions, soundboards, wet sand-cast plates, and every other integral part of the piano. This control ensures a consistently high quality piano true to the exact scale-design.
When you choose Pearl River Pianos for your next instrument purchase, you’re selecting the #1-selling piano brand in the world! Unlike some piano brands who outsource tasks during manufacturing, Pearl River handles every step in-house, from sourcing materials to the final assembly and quality check. The result is the quintessential live piano sound that’s ideal for both entertaining guests and for growing an appreciation of the arts with young, beginner musicians.
Although Pearl River puts out thousands of pianos annually, the company keeps all of its manufacturing in one place – something other piano producers don’t do. The major areas of the decision-making and construction process move forward cohesively in one place. Some of these steps include wood selection and the crafting of soundboards, wet sand-cast plates, actions, and other piano components.
Through this detail-oriented process, Pearl River can maintain the highest level of quality in keeping with the original design.
Pearl River uses the highest quality materials to produce the best-selling pianos in the world. Some of these materials include:
ACCLIMATIZED FOR WORLDWIDE MARKETS
Pearl River takes pride in using state-of-the-art kilns to dry our woods. However, there is much more to “seasoning” woods than that. Both before and after the kiln drying, woods are expertly cured to specific moisture contents, which reduces the natural tendency for wood to swell and contract with humidity fluctuation. With over 8,000 moving parts, a piano’s woods must be “seasoned” to ensure reliability wherever the piano ends up living!
WET SAND CAST PLATES
The plate is a foundation of a piano, its strength supports the incredible tension placed on the instrument by the strings. Pearl River uses “pig iron” from high-quality foundries which is poured in wet sand molds. We use this method for every piano we make. Wet sand cast plates provide more mass for strength, and do not produce undesirable harmonic feedback. Wet sand cast plates are used in the world’s finest pianos.
VERTICALLY LAMINATED BEECH BRIDGES
A piano’s bridge is vital to the tone of a good piano. The bridge transfers sound from the strings to the soundboard, and it is crowned to match the crown of the soundboard. The convex crown of the soundboard is what produces tone, so the integrity of the bridge will affect the longevity of a piano’s tone. Our bridges are vertically laminated layers of beech, and are capped with solid beech wood. Vertically laminated bridges provide superior strength and durability.
GERMAN FELT
Quality felt is important when making quality pianos. Pearl River hammers are made with high quality felt from the most respected German manufacturer Wurzen™, resulting in superior tone and durability.
TAPERED SOUNDBOARDS
Reference: Pearl River- The World's Best Selling Piano