Keyboard Systems on Kawai Electronic Pianos
As a world-class acoustic piano manufacturer, Kawai believes that the feel of a piano is the most important aspect of any player’s experience. Without a keyboard that responds to the player’s every movement, it is impossible for a piano to produce the desired sound and expression. That’s why Kawai engineers have focused on creating keyboard systems that deliver the same level of precision and responsiveness as an acoustic piano in digital pianos.
Wooden-Key Action
Kawai's wooden key system has long been recognized as providing the most natural and realistic fingertip feel of any digital piano. All 88 keys are made of solid wood to create a natural and rich feel, similar to that of a grand piano.
These keys have extra length, which gives the pianist greater control and expression . A pivot point in the center of the keys allows movement of both ends and lifts the hammers up off the back of the key. This is the same mechanism as an acoustic grand piano and is only available on Kawai's wooden-key systems.
Thus, this system offers the performer a level of expression and control only achieved in grand piano action mechanisms, creating the ultimate experience for pianists.
Kawai's The Grand Feel (GF) and Grand Feel II (GFII) are the latest in Kawai's long line of wooden key actions. In addition to the aforementioned attributes, both actions offer graded hammers, key counterweights, "Ivory Touch" key surfaces (white keys), Let-off and triple sensor key detection. Both actions offer the longest key length of any Kawai digital piano. The GFII action also adds "Ebony Touch" key surfaces (black keys) along with improvements in the hammer weights. 
Grand Feel Compact (GF-C) Key System
As the name suggests, the Grand Feel Compact (GF-C) key system is designed to deliver the realistic finger weight and touch of the industry-leading Grand Feel key systems in a more compact size.
The long wooden keys for all 88 black and white keys have been preserved, and the movement of the keys is carried out by a seesaw mechanism, which has been used in acoustic grand pianos for centuries.
Despite its small size, the GF Compact extends the pivot point of the keys, providing a more stable and consistent finger weight when playing the back keys. This feature gives the pianist maximum expression and control, even in a portable size.
The RM3II key system is a previous generation action that offers similar features to the Grand Feel (GF) system. This system features features such as a center pivot mechanism, graded hammers, key counterweights, “Ivory Touch” surfaces (for white keys), a let-off mechanism, and triple sensor key detection.
The AWA PROII is an earlier generation wooden keyboard system. It also has the mechanical design features mentioned above and is equipped with differently weighted hammers and key counterweights.
Both systems offer pianists an expressive, precise and natural keyboard experience and maintain the core advantages of Kawai wooden-key pianos.
Thanks to spring-less technology and a sturdy construction, the keys are stable and smooth in both upward and downward movement, resulting in a natural, realistic, and high-quality playing experience for the pianist.
The RHC system is based on the principles of the RHIII action and is ideal for portable digital pianos, with a more compact and lightweight package. For example, the ES110 model is perfectly compatible with this system, allowing for comfortable playing at home, on stage or for practical training.
