What is Millennium III ABS-Carbon action?

Millennium III is Kawai's proprietary action system using carbon fiber composite parts in place of traditional wood components. Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature, which can affect the feel and performance of a piano action over time. ABS-Carbon parts are dimensionally stable, maintaining consistent touch response regardless of environmental conditions.

What is the difference between the GL Series and GX BLAK Series?

Both come from the Ryuyo factory, but the GX BLAK Series features Millennium III ABS-Carbon action parts, hand-tapered soundboards, and more advanced construction specifications throughout. The GL Series uses a standard acoustic action and is positioned as the entry-level acoustic grand. The GX BLAK Series is for players who want professional-grade performance in an acoustic instrument.

What sizes does the GX BLAK Series come in?

The GX BLAK Series is available in five sizes. The GX-1 starts at approximately 5'4" and the GX-7 reaches 7'0". Mid-range models — the GX-2 and GX-3 — are the most common choices for home use and professional studios. Larger models offer deeper bass resonance and greater projection suited to performance venues.

Is the GX BLAK suitable for professional concert use?

The larger GX BLAK models — particularly the GX-5 and GX-7 — are used in competition settings and professional venues. For the highest level of concert performance, the Shigeru Kawai collection represents the pinnacle of the Kawai range, with hand-voiced instruments used at events such as the International Tchaikovsky Competition.

Why is ABS-Carbon used instead of traditional wooden action parts?

Wood is an organic material — it responds to moisture and temperature, which can cause it to expand, contract, and sometimes warp over time. This affects the consistency of an action. ABS-Carbon composite materials are engineered to be stable, so the action geometry stays precise. For players in variable climates or anyone who wants consistent touch year-round, this is a meaningful advantage.

GX BLAK Series

Professional acoustic grands.
Built to perform consistently.

The Kawai GX BLAK Series is built around Millennium III ABS-Carbon action — a professional-grade mechanism designed to stay consistent regardless of climate or season. Five sizes, from salon to near-concert, for the serious pianist.

The GX BLAK advantage

Millennium III ABS-Carbon Action

ABS-Carbon composite action parts resist warping from humidity and temperature changes, maintaining consistent touch response regardless of climate or season. The result is a piano that plays the same way in January as it does in August.

Hand-Tapered Soundboard

Each GX soundboard is hand-tapered by craftsmen in the Ryuyo factory — thicker at the center for structure, thinner at the edges for resonance. This technique optimizes vibration across all registers and contributes to the GX BLAK's tonal projection.

Five Concert-Caliber Sizes

From a salon grand to a near-concert instrument, the GX BLAK Series covers the size range required by professional studios, performance venues, and serious home pianists. Every size uses the same Millennium III action and construction standard.

Who it's for

For serious home pianists

If you play at an advanced level and spend meaningful hours at the piano each day, the GX BLAK Series delivers the touch and tonal response that repays that investment. The Millennium III action is more consistent than standard wooden actions.

For professional teaching studios

The GX-2 and GX-3 are popular in professional teaching studios where a serious acoustic grand is needed but a 7-foot concert instrument is impractical. Students benefit from the professional-grade action from their first lesson.

For performance and recording

The GX-5 and GX-7 are built for concert stages and recording spaces. With size and projection appropriate for larger venues, they represent the professional tier before moving to the handcrafted Shigeru Kawai collection.

GX BLAK Models

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GX2 AURES 2

$56,495

GX-2L

$57,095

GX-1

$43,895

GX2

$50,095

Common questions

What is Millennium III ABS-Carbon action?: Millennium III is Kawai's proprietary action system using carbon fiber composite parts in place of traditional wood components. Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature, which can affect the feel and performance of a piano action over time. ABS-Carbon parts are dimensionally stable, maintaining consistent touch response regardless of environmental conditions.
What is the difference between the GL Series and GX BLAK Series?: Both come from the Ryuyo factory, but the GX BLAK Series features Millennium III ABS-Carbon action parts, hand-tapered soundboards, and more advanced construction specifications throughout. The GL Series uses a standard acoustic action and is positioned as the entry-level acoustic grand. The GX BLAK Series is for players who want professional-grade performance in an acoustic instrument.
What sizes does the GX BLAK Series come in?: The GX BLAK Series is available in five sizes. The GX-1 starts at approximately 5'4" and the GX-7 reaches 7'0". Mid-range models — the GX-2 and GX-3 — are the most common choices for home use and professional studios. Larger models offer deeper bass resonance and greater projection suited to performance venues.
Is the GX BLAK suitable for professional concert use?: The larger GX BLAK models — particularly the GX-5 and GX-7 — are used in competition settings and professional venues. For the highest level of concert performance, the Shigeru Kawai collection represents the pinnacle of the Kawai range, with hand-voiced instruments used at events such as the International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Why is ABS-Carbon used instead of traditional wooden action parts?: Wood is an organic material — it responds to moisture and temperature, which can cause it to expand, contract, and sometimes warp over time. This affects the consistency of an action. ABS-Carbon composite materials are engineered to be stable, so the action geometry stays precise. For players in variable climates or anyone who wants consistent touch year-round, this is a meaningful advantage.

Kawai Acoustic Grand Piano Lineup

EntryGL SeriesEntry acoustic grands ProfessionalGX BLAK SeriesProfessional grands ConcertShigeru KawaiConcert grands

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The GX BLAK advantage