Pearl River GP150 Grand Piano

Product Overview

Pearl River is, by unit count, the best selling piano company in the world. It’s based in China’s large industrial centre of Guangzhou, and derives its name from the Pearl River delta area that surrounds the city. It began in 1956 and has emerged as one of China’s most reliable builders of pianos. The pianos were amongst several competing for recognition as higher-quality, export-ready Chinese musical instruments in the 2010’s, along with Baldwin, Sejun, Perzina, Pallatino, Hallet and Davis, amongst many others. However, sound management and strategic partnerships with Schimmel and Steinway have given an undeniable momentum to the factory and its leadership.

The Ritmuller line of pianos – an enhanced version of the GP line of Pearl River, features improved materials, increased factory prep, and in some cases more sophisticated design. Both badges offer pianos from the baby grand size right up to full concert grand pianos.

Action

Pearl River designs and produces its piano actions, borrowed heavily from market leaders Yamaha, Schimmel, and Kawai. The actions are made with hornbeam construction and aluminum action rails, slow-fall fallboards, and improved geometry. They also use spruce keys for light-weight strength.

Tone

Excellent piano tone comes not just from design and materials, but craftsmanship and precision in the construction. One millimeter here and there can translate into a properly resonating structure vs not. As a result, Pearl River pianos utilize CNC machining to ensure a perfect fit between sand-cast plates, the underbelly of the piano, and the rim. Roslau piano wire is a premium and preferred choice amongst piano makers, and is a rare addition to a piano of this pricing.

The Butcher-block style pinblock uses cut-thread tuning pins, and when combined with the stabilized multi-layer soundboard, ensures excellent tuning stability.

Hammers

Pearl River makes its own premium hammers, and is one of the only manufacturers in the world who does. This rare company also includes Yamaha, Kawai, C. Bechstein and Steinway. This has allowed them to manage costs and quality at a higher level than other Chinese manufacturers, who are either forced to use low-cost domestic 3rd party options, or import more costly German hammers from Abel or Renner.

Soundboard

The GP150, along with the GP160 and GP170, uses a solid-core spruce soundboard. This is particularly useful in North America because of the varied and highly dynamic climate that most metro areas experience here. Layered soundboards are virtually immune from cracking, and also maintain their crown longer than the more elastic (and therefore more delicate) solid spruce soundboards.

Cabinet

The GP150 is available in a wide variety of finishes, such as Grained Mahogany Polish, Mahogany Polish, Ebony Polish, Walnut Polish, White Polish, and Satin Ebony.

Features Overview

• Solid Brass Hardware
• German Röslau Strings
• Pearl River Hammers with imported German Reinforced White Felt, Mahogany Hammer Core
• Pearl River Action
• All Spruce Tapered Soundboard
• 17-ply maple, cross banded Pin Block
• Slow Close Fallboard
• Middle Pedal: Sostenuto

Available Finishes

• Grained Mahogany Polish
• Mahogany Polish
• Polished Ebony
• Walnut Polish
• White Polish
• Rubbed Ebony Satin