Kawai Master Series – Which Model Is Right for You?
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Kawai Master Series at a Glance
| Model | Dimensions | Weight | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawai MS123 | H123cm × W153cm × D63cm | 261kg | Premium home piano where space is a consideration |
| Kawai MS130 | H130cm × W153cm × D64cm | 313kg | Serious pianists, advanced students and piano teachers |
| Kawai MS134 | H134cm × W156cm × D66cm | 332kg | Advanced players, studios and those wanting Kawai's finest upright |
What Makes the Kawai Master Series Special?
The Kawai Master Series represents a more refined expression of Kawai’s professional upright piano design, combining the proven qualities of the K Series with upgraded materials, more meticulous finishing and a number of details inspired by Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai grand pianos.
Across all three models, the emphasis is on control, consistency and tonal sophistication. Each instrument features Kawai’s Millennium III action, a solid tapered spruce soundboard, premium underfelted hammers and individually hand-wound bass strings, all chosen to deliver a more responsive and expressive playing experience.
The keyboard is equally considered, with NEOTEX white key surfaces and genuine ebony black keys providing a tactile, premium feel under the fingers. Traditional cabinet styling and carefully finished details complete an instrument that feels as accomplished visually as it does musically.
The result is a range that retains the characteristic warmth and musicality associated with Kawai, while offering greater depth, refinement and tonal control.
Compact Master Series Performance
Compact Master Series Performance At 123cm tall, the MS123 is the most compact piano in the Master Series and an excellent choice for pianists looking for a premium upright for the home. It shares many of the important features of the larger models, including the Millennium III action, solid spruce soundboard, premium hammers and hand-wound bass strings. The MS123 has a warm, balanced tone and responsive touch, with its smaller cabinet making it particularly well suited to a typical living room. Best for: Serious home pianists, advancing students and anyone looking for Master Series quality where space is a consideration.
The All-Rounder
At 130cm tall, the MS130 offers greater depth and power while remaining a practical size for many homes.
The larger cabinet, soundboard and longer strings give the bass more weight and produce a fuller sound across the keyboard. Combined with the Millennium III action, it's an impressive instrument for experienced pianists, advanced students and teachers.
For many players, the MS130 will be the sweet spot of the Master Series, offering the scale and performance of a large professional upright without moving to the flagship MS134.
Best for: Serious pianists, advanced students, teachers and teaching studios.
Kawai's Flagship Upright
At 134cm tall, the MS134 sits at the very top of Kawai’s upright piano range.
Its larger cabinet, longer bass strings and soundboard give it the greatest depth, power and tonal range of the three models. It also adds features including front and rear duplex scaling, additional agraffes and a substantial six-post back structure.
For advanced and professional pianists looking for the highest level of performance from an upright piano, the MS134 is the clear choice within the range.
Best for: Advanced and professional pianists, teachers, studios, institutions and anyone looking for Kawai’s finest upright.
Which Master Series Should I Choose?
MS123
The compact choice
Premium Master Series sound and touch in the smallest cabinet.
MS130
The all-rounder
More depth and power, and likely to be the natural choice for many serious home pianists and teachers.
MS134
The flagship
Maximum depth, power and tonal range from Kawai's finest upright piano.
Experience the Kawai Master Series at Bonners
At this level, choosing an acoustic piano is about much more than comparing specifications. Our piano specialists can talk you through the differences between the Master Series models and help you compare them with other Kawai uprights, but most importantly, you'll have plenty of time to sit down and play. Explore the Kawai Master Series online or visit our Milton Keynes showroom to experience these exceptional upright pianos for yourself.
