Kawai GL-10 ATX4 Baby Grand Piano

Product Description

Model Overview

The Kawai GL-10 Baby Grand Piano, introduced in 2015 as part of the GL Series, has set a new standard for compact grand pianos. At 5’0″, it delivers the grandeur and sound quality of a full-sized grand while fitting into smaller spaces, making it perfect for homes, studios, or performance venues. In 2016, the GL Series received the prestigious ‘Product of the Year’ award from MMR magazine—marking the first time an acoustic piano was honored with this distinction.

In addition to its exceptional craftsmanship, the Kawai GL-10 ATX4 is equipped with Kawai’s innovative Anytime X4 system, transforming it into a hybrid piano. This feature combines the acoustic beauty of a traditional grand with the flexibility of modern digital technology. With the Anytime X4, you can play in complete silence using high-quality headphones, or explore a range of digital sounds, making it an ideal choice for players who need versatile practice options.

The GL-10 is built with Kawai’s renowned Millennium III Action, featuring advanced ABS-carbon technology for unparalleled touch and responsiveness. Other high-end features include extended-length keysticks, concert-length key buttons, solid brass agraffes, and an 11-ply multi-grip pin block for exceptional tonal depth and tuning stability. With its combination of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge digital capabilities, the GL-10 is the ideal choice for musicians who demand both performance and flexibility.

Anytime X4

The Kawai GL-10 ATX4 introduces a remarkable addition to the traditional grand piano experience with its innovative Anytime X4 system. This technology transforms the GL-10 into a hybrid piano, blending the acoustic beauty of a grand piano with modern digital capabilities. The Anytime X4 system allows you to play silently, or at a reduced volume, through high-quality headphones, making it ideal for late-night practice sessions or for musicians who need to practice without disturbing others.

With the Anytime X4, the piano features an intuitive digital interface that offers a variety of sounds and customizable settings, allowing you to adjust the tone and responsiveness to suit your preferences. The system also provides built-in recording capabilities, enabling you to capture your performances easily. This integration of cutting-edge technology into the Kawai GL-10 maintains the acoustic integrity of the instrument while offering the convenience and versatility of digital features.

Whether you are practicing, composing, or simply enjoying music at any hour, the Anytime X4 system enhances your playing experience without compromising the rich, authentic sound of a traditional grand piano.

Action

The Kawai GL-10 ATX4 features the groundbreaking Millennium III Carbon Fibre Action with ABS-Carbon Technology. This system has revolutionized the performance of grand pianos, offering a level of fluidity and precision that is unmatched in its class. The use of ABS-carbon material—stronger and more durable than wood—ensures that the action remains consistent, even with changes in humidity. Long keysticks provide improved dynamic control, while concert-length key buttons bring the playing experience closer to that of a larger grand.

In addition, the GL-10’s multi-laminated keybed enhances energy transfer between the musician and the piano, delivering exceptional touch sensitivity. Steel-reinforced key slips further ensure the piano’s durability, preventing warping over time.

Tone

The tone of the GL-10 is strikingly rich and full, defying expectations for a 5-foot piano. The extended bass strings create a deeper, more resonant sound, while the high-quality solid spruce soundboard is precision tapered for optimal resonance. Maple double-felted hammers provide articulate clarity, especially in the mid-range, offering a tonal palette that’s both warm and expressive.

While the GL Series tone is often compared to that of Yamaha, the Kawai GL-10 ATX4 stands apart with its characteristic mid-range warmth, which evokes the bloom found in Steinway or Mason & Hamlin pianos. The unique design of the GL pianos, including thicker, denser rims and stretcher bars, enhances the overall tonal depth and projection, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of musical genres.

Hammers

Kawai remains one of the few piano manufacturers that handcrafts its own hammers. The Kawai GL-10 features maple-core hammers, which are double felted and T-stapled for maximum durability and strength. This meticulous process ensures the hammers’ resilience, allowing for consistent tone production over time.

Soundboard

The soundboard of the GL-10 is crafted from high-quality, straight-grained, quarter-sawn solid spruce. Precision tapering optimizes the soundboard’s resonance, allowing it to produce a vibrant and rich tone. Full-length ribs are placed along the board to preserve its crown shape, ensuring that the piano remains sonically dynamic throughout its lifespan. Kawai’s stringent selection process guarantees that only the finest soundboards are used in the GL Series, contributing to the piano’s exceptional tonal quality.

Rim/Cabinet

The Kawai GL-10 ATX4 boasts a rim constructed from hand-selected hardwoods, including maple, which provides unparalleled tonal projection and tuning stability. This solid structure enhances the piano’s durability, setting it apart from others in its class that often use softer, less dense materials.

The piano also features Kawai’s SOLID (Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design) construction, where the pinblock and stretcher bar are seamlessly integrated, offering superior stability and tuning reliability. The V-Pro Plate, a vacuum-molded plate capable of withstanding over 18 tons of string tension, is reinforced with a unique crossbone design for added strength. These structural elements contribute to the Kawai GL-10’s longevity and exceptional performance.

The Kawai GL-10’s cabinet is meticulously crafted, featuring a soft-fall fallboard, three backposts, three lid props, and a brass logo. Additionally, the music rack offers five adjustable positions, providing flexibility for any pianist’s needs. The piano also comes with sturdy casters, making it easy to move and place in any room.