🎹Kawai K-500 vs Fridolin F130 Upright Piano Review, Comparison, & Demo🎹
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2020
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#K500 #Fridolin #Kawai
Welcome to another piano comparison video here at Merriam Pianos. Today, we’ll be looking at the Kawai K500, and the Fridolin Schimmel F130.
While the K500 is probably already known to many of you, the F130 is a relatively new entry to the market that you may not have heard of.
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Fridolin F130
Background:
The Fridolin F130 is a 51” upright piano that falls into a small, but growing category - the European/Chinese hybrid category. Some of the best known offerings in this category include C. Bechstein’s Zimmermann, and Steinway’s Essex pianos. Offerings from this category in the past have typically been inconsistent at best, but there’s been real strides made over the last few years.
The Fridolin stands as one of the best examples of European/Chinese collaboration, and really serves as a genuine alternative to a part of the market dominated by Kawai and Yamaha. It’s 100% designed from Schimmel, uses many high end European components, and is assembled by Pearl River in China. The F130 stands as the tallest piano from the Fridolin upright line, and musically speaking, is a totally different musical experience from the K500.
Piano Tone:
I’m not sure how much the design contributes to this, but a quality I find consistent with a lot of Schimmel’s is an interesting harmonic wash effect. That’s not to say clarity is sacrificed, but there’s this definite washiness to the overtones.
The F130 features duplex scale in the treble section (as does the K500), which is fairly unique among upright pianos. Compared to the K500, the treble is not as dry and not quite as precise, making for a colourful and different overall tonal palette.
The mid range has a ton of cabinet resonance, much more so than the K500, which tends to be more soundboard heavy in the tone. Looking at the back of the cabinet, very solid spruce backposts contribute to the very active and resonant cabinet. The sustain is excellent, with a different character than the K500 since the F130 has a white spruce soundboard, compared to the Sitka in the K500.
Kawai K500
Background:
The K500 is part of Kawai’s K series, and is entirely made in Japan. The K series received a substantial redesign several years ago, and incorporates many of the same design innovations found in Kawai’s GX grand line.
The K500 also stands at 51” tall, and is positioned and compared against the Yamaha U3 constantly. Compared to the Fridolin F130, both instruments are very good, but sound totally different and will ultimately appeal to folks with different musical preferences.
Piano Tone:
The K500 is definitely a more powerful piano as compared to the F130. It’s a little bit more colourful overall, which is likely due to the tapered soundboard (untapered on the F130.) Tapering a soundboard allows more of the soundboard to activate and resonate, especially at mid and lower dynamic ranges.
The K500 has longer key-sticks in the action, which allows the player greater control over the action, also especially in lower dynamic ranges.
The K500 also has duplex scale in the treble section, and it definitely helps thicken up the tone. The attack on the K500 is more focused with more attack, but less washy than the F130.
The mid range is much more colourful and dynamic than the F130, generating more overall sound to work with. There really isn’t anything to dislike about the K500’s full bodied mid range.
When it comes to the break, the F130 has definitely one upped the K500 here with a smoother transition. Some folks might actually prefer the abrupt transition, but if smoothness is the goal, the F130 is the winner here.
Summary:
These are both great instruments, no doubt. In my opinion, for serious classical players, the K500 might be a better choice due to a faster action that offers more control. For folks who play other styles, it becomes much more subjective and really comes down to which tone you prefer. Definitely check both of these pianos out if you’re looking for a great, tall upright piano.
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I am a broke college student. Not even close to being able to afford a acoustic piano. Nor have the space for one. But when I get that notification for a new video, I click.
Great work! 👍
Thanks, Stu for this new series of reviews of Schimmel line. Every new brand/line you review really broadens my vision in this vast ocean of acoustic pianos. Personally, I feel K series Kawais still work better for me than Fridolins. However, if you ever had the chance and the time to do it, I would love to see you compare a W. Hoffman (which, I can tell from your reviews, you love it very much) with a Wilhelm Schimmel - that would be very interesting. All the best from Turkey, Ali.
Excellent reviews these... 👍👍
Thank you for a very in depth demonstration of the wonderful pianos both sound
wonderful , loved it.
Thank you for posting these reviews of the fridolin pianos. I was able to play some of their instruments today as well as some kawai instruments. I was surprised by the fridolin pianos. Very nice action and tone on both lines of pianos.
Nicely done.
Thanks, Stu. Comments, and a two-part question. I first came across your reviews just two days ago, and have now watched quite a number. Probably my favourite piano reviewer already: lots of pertinent information combined with lots of demonstration. And, importantly (and so unlike so many others), you play pieces that demonstrate the PIANO, rather than just try to show how fast you can play. As Liszt said to one of his students trying once to impress him: "Do you think I care how fast you can play octaves?" In any case, the real capabilities of a piano are best demonstrated, if I am correct here, with slow, quiet music. Any piano can play loud. But how sweet, does it sound? How does the sound hold together? How quietly can you play it? How good is the sustain? What's the actual tonal quality? (And certainly, whenever I'm asked to play somewhere, I observe a rule of thumb: If it's a poor piano, I'll play something fast. If it's a good piano, I'll go for something deep and controlled.) So, many thanks. Please keep it up. Now for my question. You said: "There are really only three instruments...that fall in this category of successful execution of a true European design with a Chinese manufacturer," namely, the Fridolin, the Essex, and the Zimmerman. What about the Albert Weber? It's not based on any particular European piano (as far as I know), but it used Renner action, Abel hammers, German Adolf bass strings, and German Roeslau wire. It also uses Agraffes. No duplex scaling, though (or no mention of it, anyway). So it has lots of German material input (and might even have a better action than the Fridolin-which does not, from all I can discover). In your experience, how would the build quality of a Korean-made piano (one of the few still made in Korea) compare with that of a Pearl River piano? I have not yet found an Albert Weber, and there are almost no reviews of it online. Thanks again, Stu.
really enjoyed your playing and comparisons. THank you. We sell the Schimmell pianos in most of our stores.
Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! I will be sure to pass on the kind words to Stu. The Schimmel line is absolutely fantastic! They are instruments in that ooze musicality and expressivity. :)
Thank you for the comparison. To my surprise, I do like the F130 in the upper treble sounds as well as the better blend between the middle to the single string lower register. Great in-dept review. If I were to buy a piano today, I would choose two to buy, the Kawai k500 and the MP11se for the digital. Great savings over the Kawai Aures k500 :-)
Don’t buy anything associated from CCP China which commits genocide, forced sterilization, murder and censorship! Wake up people or you will one day will be speaking Chinese!!!! Your not saving anything if you do and will be participating in the Holocaust!! Bring that to your attention!!’ Wake up!!!
Nice review.
Thank you! And thanks for tuning in! :)
"The Break" is exactly the right term and the goal is not ever to hear where it is (even though we know where it is) ! Excellent review. The middle range of the Fridolin 130 is sketchy to my ear.
It’s taken me quite a while to really settle into my Kawai, when I first got it into my home I had a really hard time controlling it - So much power and volume for a small/medium room with a hardwood floor.
Having an action that offers so much control definitely seemed to expose weakness in my playing technique (coming purely from a digital). I’d say it took a few months to truly adjust and take full advantage of the action and dynamic control! I’d never had much of a chance before then to really spend a lot of time with an upright.
It helps to put a carpet on the floor and maybe a tapestry on the wall behind the piano.
I have a K500 and I have the same challenge. I knocked out a wall to enlarge the room, bought thick carpet and heavy curtains and hung a heavy rug on the wall. I still usually play with the soft pedal held down after 6 years. ;)
I don't like putting the piano right against a wall with a duvet behind it or having the lid fully closed - it sounds better if it can breathe.
@@MathsYknow we don’t care about you clown
@@gustavopaulette3496 That's an unusual response for a pianist. It's more like what I'd expect from a boyracer gym douche.
It would be nice to hear more about the two Schimmel models which are really German pianos, made right there in Braunschweig Germany.Of course I mean the Classic series and the flagship Konzert series.Bavarian spruce soundboards, with full Renner action.Hand made and well prepared by European technicians.
The Fridolin is really a different brand that Schimmel makes in China.
By the way the Kawai K500 is a much better grade of piano than the Fridolin 130.(fully Japanese made)The Wilhelm is made in Poland and has a warm tone.(the action Chinese made)This is a far better piano than the Fridlon not as good as the high end Classic and the Konzert series though.When buying a piano buy a good model from an excellent brand.Fridolin is the bottom of the barrel.I am really surprised he compares to the K500 Kawai!
At least Roberts Piano in England calls any breaks in the scaling "breaks." The Fridolin sounds nice though not dynamic enough for me. It's a bit too subdued. As for Euro/Chinese collaborations, yes, Feurich is a very successful one. Hailun seems to be doing a fine job with their pianos. In time, I see manufacturing moving out of China and going somewhere else, maybe Indonesia and, down the road, other countries as well.
I see you working at the circus down the road clown 🤡
is the piano over your right shoulder the Fridolin F-121 Walnut? same as my model if so great upright !
I always like your reviews and you are the best reviewer on the TH-cam. Some how I feel that this two piano comparison in not so useful. It would be great if you can compare this with Kawai K300i/Yamaha U1J or Essex EUP123 then it make more sense. I have played this F130 and was not happy with the sound and action the piano which I had played that was sounding very boxy. Yamaha & Kawai has more consistency. Some of Hilun and Pearl River make Ritmuller and Kayserburg piano sound and responds much better than F130.
Thank you so much 🙏
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! The reason why the F130 was compared to the K500 and not the K300/U1/EUP123 is the size. Both of these instruments are around the 51" height. Comparing the F130 against the other models wouldn't be a like-to-like comparison. With that said, when it comes to tonal preferences, every player will have their own tastes and opinion. Thanks again for tuning in and happy playing! :)
In this recording the KAWAI sounds for me always almost the same if its played loud or quiet, the tone doesn't realy change, it's just quieter or louder but not realy softer/warmer and harder. The difference in warmth between loud and quiet tones is not big enough - almost like a digi-piano with just one Sample-Layer, always a bit to harsh for my taste. The Fridolin for me is better in this.
Seems better than Kawai. A true European character. When a piano still speaks with a few unisons out, it is good.
Could you please share the name of the song you play from 7:00...?....Thanks alot for a nice review.
Hi! Brent here! I would have to ask Stu as to what song that is, but it is quite beautiful! Thanks for tuning in! :)
First time that I can clearly say that the two pianos presented sound different.
Trying to find information about this Fridolin by Schimmel and there is not much around. How would you compare this F130 against the K300 in terms of reliability and volume Stu? To bring to a house, my son played both and liked both but he actually liked the touch and sound of the F130 more. We did not like the K200 we tried, dont know why cause in mos videos sounded great but in real life in the shop it did not. What a difference in sound when you are in front of it.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The Fridolin Schimmel pianos are excellent European-sounding alternatives to Kawai K and Yamaha U series instruments. One of the most impressive specs of the F series instruments is the use of a AAA solid spruce soundboard. The gives the piano a rich, colourful tone. Personally, I would rate the Kawai K300 as a more reliable instrument (namely because of the amazing Millennium III carbon fibre action), but I would say that the volume output would be at the least comparable if not a little in favour of the F130 due to its taller size. The F121 would be a closer point of reference to the K300 in terms of height. Also, in terms of your comments on the K200, a big factor in the overall sound and performance of a piano is how it is prepped. A poorly-prepped piano does not optimize its musical output. The K200 should have a lot of musical potential, but, to extract that musical potential, an experienced technician needs to properly prep it. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
@@MerriamPianos thanks very much for the swift response it does
Whoa no the Kawai doesn’t have more color it is just more bitey, cutty on the attack. More American.