Interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up.

First, debunking a few things as a piano technician:

Yamaha's action is built with wood while the Kawai's is built with plastic.

They are both effective systems. There was a time when the plastic used in pianos was inferior and led to problems. That is no longer an issue. In the future, everything will continue to move toward carbon fiber as it continues to get more consistent and more economical.

The felt head of a Yamaha is more compact and over time will soften, while the Kawai's felt head is punctured with holes and over time will harden.

The felt is going to harden on both brands of hammers. They will both continue to brighten over time. You're repeatedly slamming a piece of fabric into hard, high-tension steel strings. The felt fibers will become more and more compressed as the piano ages.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Most piano salesmen know very little about pianos. They are there to sell you pianos, but they aren't technicians and they LOVE to repeat things that makes their brand seem better than the competition.

• If you have any concerns about a piano, hire an independent piano technician to look it over (will cost you $50 to $100). You can judge a dealer by how they react to this. A worthwhile, trustworthy dealer will welcome your tech and give him/her free-range over the piano you're interested in.

• Prices are negotiable. Always. Don't want to pay for the delivery cost? I guarantee you can talk him down and get him to throw in a couple of free tunings.

• Beware of "100% trade in." You're probably not going to trade in the piano you purchase and it probably only applies towards much more expensive grands. They want you to trade in your $4,000 upright for a $40,000 grand. If you can see yourself doing that, it's something to consider. Most of the time, it's just not something you'll use.

• Go off of the manufacturer warranty, not the store warranty. I've done warranty work for both Yamaha and Kawai. It's often best if the local dealer is cut out of the deal entirely and the technician acts as a go-between between the manufacturer and the customer.

• Entry level pianos can be okay. It's good that you're looking at Yamaha and Kawai and not their sub-brands or off-brands. The most recommended uprights are Yamaha U1s (or better) or Kawai K-2s (or better). The taller the piano, the longer the strings, the better the piano.

Where you've already made up your mind and you don't need us to settle the Yamaha vs Kawai debate for you:

• Sound wise, I think I favor the Kawai.

• But I found that my hands felt more agile while playing the Kawai.

Happy hunting!