Kawai mp8 ii

Yotata

Hello everyone, I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with this particular board. I have an opportunity to purchase it, but I am not sure how heavy its keyboard is. How is it compared to the newer mp11 se, vpc1? I have heard it has a lighter action than its older brother the mp8. Thank you in advance.

CyberGene

@Yotata, welcome 🙂 He's a Bulgarian member from another forum who asked me about MP8 II and so I invited him here because someone can help him. @Johnstaf, was it you who owns a MP8 II?

Yotata

CyberGene Thank you so much!

Johnstaf

CyberGene @Johnstaf, was it you who owns a MP8 II?

Sorry CG, I didn't see thing. I have an MP10. The action is like a VPC1 without the third sensor. It's not really for me.

Del Vento

Kawai is great in keeping information of old models alive. Start with https://kawaius.com/product/mp8/ if you haven't already and then continue at https://kawaius.com/technology/wooden-key-actions/

For more details about that older actions, see https://web.archive.org/web/20010610005623fw_/http://www.kawaius.com:80/nextlev.htm and https://web.archive.org/web/20040804021127fw_/http://www.kawaius.com:80/digital_actions.htm and https://web.archive.org/web/20091115120136/http://www.kawaius.com/main_links/digital/digital_actions.htm

I owned an old Kawai with the AWAII and it was very good for its time. The MP8 is newer. My instrument had Harmonic Imaging Technology and it was good for its time, but certainly not earth shaking. Not sure you care about the internal sound, the MP8 has a newer iteration, so it'd be better than what I had. Doing a similar sleuthing for the Harmonic Imaging II technology will certainly provide info about it.

I tried the ES8 and I did not like the action at all. As such I would never buy the MP7 (or MP7SE) which has that action. However I would consider the MP8 if I were in the market for a similar instrument.

Obviously you will need to compare price/performance of this used model with VPC1 and MP11 which are its direct competitors. If price is more than half of the competitors, I would not buy the used one. For negotiation tactic, I would use also the price of the MP8 even as I said before I would never buy that.

Also, make sure to check every single key by playing them one-by-one carefully at least at three velocities: pp, mf & ff. Old board can develop problems which you want to know before purchasing. If there is a problem (e.g. not perfect response), you might still want to buy it, but it's a risk and as such you should negotiate the price further down, especially because it may be hard to get it serviced since it's a old model.

Best of luck!

Yotata

Del Vento thanks a lot for the detailed answer. The main purpose of wanting to get one of these slabs is the chance of practicing quietly, but with a more authentic action. I own a Yamaha Motif xs8 with upgraded keyboard (gh3 natural wood) and corrected key weights, I bought many different lower register sets of different graded Hammer actions and made a frankenstein with all heavy hammers. I did have the chance to test both mp8ii and vpc1, then went back to my Motif to compare back. It seemed to me the gh3 keyboard felt heavier and a struggle to play. But I still like the wood keys and the action of the mp8ii. That's why I am hesitating, I don't want to put Money in to a board that would spoil my technique, but the feeling of the wooden action was nice.

Del Vento

Yotata thanks a lot for the detailed answer.

You are most welcome!

Yotata That's why I am hesitating, I don't want to put Money in to a board that would spoil my technique

The action of the MP8 was once Kawai's top-of-the-line. We have something that's arguably better today, but it won't spoil your technique. As such, if the price is right for the condition of the board, and if you like how it feels, go for it. The fact that you are handy and can fix it yourself (like I did with some used purchase of mine, and parts can be found online these days) greatly mitigates the "what if it breaks tomorrow" concern (once again, provided the price is right).

Yotata I bought many different lower register sets of different graded Hammer actions and made a frankenstein with all heavy hammers

I am curious about that. I'm building something like the Cybrid, you can read some posts with my journey so far in this forum. While you wait for the answer of others in this thread, why don't you start another one with some info on what you did? Even if you posted that elsewhere (e.g the KVR DIY) and would mainly just link to that other place, I think people here would like to see it!

In any case, best of luck about this potential purchase and in general for your musical journey! Ah, and welcome to the forum!

Yotata

Thanks very much, I appreciate your hospitality here, later on I might share the whole process of upgrading the gh keyboard, but it's a long story. Have a nice evening 😊

Yotata

Johnstaf May I ask, is the mp10 action good for practicing? I mean, would it hurt your technique and make your hands weaker, when you go play the same piece on an acoustic? If the mp10 action is better, I have an option of buying a vpc1.

Johnstaf

Yotata I don't think it would make your hands weaker. It's a very heavy action.