Every Innovative Idea Began with a Problem

For Kawai piano craftsmen in the 1960’s the problem centered around wood. While certainly ideal for all of the important sound-producing elements of a piano, wood was woefully inadequate for many of the critical components found in a piano’s action.

The problems? First, wood was susceptible to breakage when subjected to continual high stress. But far more troublesome was wood’s tendency to shrink and swell dramatically with changes in climate.

Lacking alternatives, piano makers simply accepted the shortcoming of wood, forcing piano technicians to “treat the symptoms” by replacing failed wood parts and making continual adjustments. But Kawai craftsmen remained troubled… for they knew that these inherent weaknesses of wood posed a serious threat to the quality and character of a piano’s touch and tone.