The Kohler & Campbell KCG-500 Piano
I purchased my baby grand KCG-500 in October 2005– about a year and a half ago. I couldn’t be more pleased. Many people advised me to purchase a used piano because they were less expensive and I could afford one with a better brand name, but I wanted something that was mine from day one. The piano has an MSRP of $14,000, according to the Blue Book of Pianos. I purchased mine for significantly less than this.
This Kohler & Campbell piano is 5’1.5, with a soundboard of 1661 square inches. It measures 41 inches high by 59 inches wide. It’s available in ebony or ivory finishes, and mine is an ebony satin (not polished). This piano is manufactured in Indonesia, and comes with a 12-year warranty (but you need to get it tuned each year to preserve the warranty).
What I like best about this piano is the overall feel, and how my body interacts with it. The action (keyboard) is not too sensitive. Although it doesn’t have as “soft” or as “smooth” a feel as some of the higher-end European pianos, it’s more appropriate for the kind if music I play. I don’t play classical– I actually play pop/rock music by ear, and it’s ideal for that. The sound is crisp and not blurry.
Purchasing a piano is a matter of personal preference. For grand pianos, prices range from $5,000 to $300,000 and even higher. It’s important to decide which size piano you want (vertical, baby grand, or grand), what you want it to sound like, and how you want it to feel. You might think that a $15,000 piano sounds better than a $30,000. Don’t automatically assume that a piano is “better” just because it costs more. The price is usually driven by the location where it was manufactured and the quality of the parts that are used.
My only complaint with this piano is that it developed a small crack in the soundboard after about three months. The crack does not affect the sound quality, but I obviously wanted to prevent it from getting bigger. I had a Dampp-Chaser system installed on the piano, which regulates the humidly. With the Dampp-Chaser, the piano stays in tune for longer and the life of the piano is preserved. There was also a buzz on one of the notes when I first purchased the piano, but a piano technician was able to fix that for me.
This piano is a gorgeous addition to my home. The ebony satin finish is quite elegant and it’s definitely the centerpiece of my living room.
