Showing posts with label millennium iii action. Show all posts
Showing posts with label millennium iii action. Show all posts

Tuesday, 8 November 2022

Kawai GX2 vs Boston GP178 | Grand Piano Review & Comparison

 
In today’s article and video we’ve got two classic salon grand pianos that duke it out literally every single day in piano showrooms around the world - the Kawai GX2 vs Boston GP178, which are two of the most popular 6-foot professional quality pianos in the world (both measure just under 6 feet at 5’11”.)

We’ll be doing a grand piano comparison with regard to how they feel and sound as well as looking at the similarities and differences in terms of their designs. Odds are if you’re looking for a 6-foot grand piano with a budget of around $40,000, you’ll have both of these pianos on your shortlist. Let’s start with some background information.

Kawai GX2 vs Boston GP178: Brand History & Information

Let's start with what might be the worst-kept secret in the piano industry - both of these pianos are not just made by the same company, but they are actually assembled on the same production line in Hamamatsu Japan.

Boston as a line is of course owned by Steinway and sold through their dealer network. Steinway had some influence on the overall design of Boston pianos and there are a few components in common with New York Steinway's that wind up on the Boston's.

All of the assembly, construction and many of the materials actually come from Kawai, and as mentioned, Boston’s and Kawai’s are put together on the same production lines. While the marketing literature is pretty vague about this detail, anyone who has ever visited the Kawai factory can attest to this, as many of our staff at Merriam Music have over the years.

If you happen to be looking at either piano in a showroom, there’s a good chance dealers are going to steer the comparison towards the brands themselves rather than a technical comparison and breakdown, but we’re definitely going to cover that here.

Let’s move on to a conversation about how these pianos sound.
 

Tonal Comparison: Construction and Piano Sound

The GP178 has a larger soundboard than the Kawai GX2 as a result of Boston’s "wide tail design". This design increases the overall surface area of the soundboard, though this approach can sometimes be at the expense of the bass register which can lack a tight bass sound. Fortunately, the scale design has been done really well so we’re not hearing any issues with the bass register.

Overall the GP-178 has a nice open sound, but there’s not a lot of cabinet resonance or damper resonance going on. The GP178 generates a ton of fundamental tone, but there’s less nuance surrounding the tone compared to the GX2 which has less fundamental, but more cabinet resonance, likely primarily due to differences in cabinet materials and design.

This is somewhat ironic because the GX2 actually sounds more like a Steinway than the Boston does as Steinways are really known for their warmth.

This warmth we’re hearing is from the use of Maple - there's a ton of hard-rock Maple in a New York Steinway. When maple gets resonating, it has a distinct character and the Kawai GX2 also uses a high amount of Maple hardwood content in its Konsei Katagi rim, which is the part of the piano that contributes most to creating the cabinet resonance.

Back to the GP178, thanks to all of the direct soundboard tone, it's effortless to generate power, even if you’re not feeling as much cabinet activation. The sustain is very good, though it seems to go on a little bit longer on the GX2 due to the cabinet activation.

Both pianos have a very colorful sound, and a big part of this is the vertically-laminated bridges that both pianos possess. This feature trickled down from the handmade Shigeru Kawai series, which was mimicked from the Hamburg Steinway.

In terms of the bass sound, the GP178 has more of a bite on the attack of the note and more of a bell-like sound. The GX2 has a rounder, warmer bass tone.

To our ears, the GX2 is doing a better job on the ‘break’ or transition area where the string material changes - a notoriously problematic area for piano makers.

We’ll cover the action in more detail below, but a quick note on action now as it pertains to sound; the keybed feels slightly deeper on the GX2 which equates to a greater degree of lower dynamic control. The GP178 is so easy to get firing, which is satisfying in its own right, and some people will prefer that.

Moving to the top few treble octaves, the tonal differences really start to disappear. This makes sense as we see fewer design differences in this section of the pianos - both have duplex scaling for instance - and very similar string tensions.

That’s pretty much it when it comes to the conversation on sound. To summarize, the GP178 emphasizes the fundamental pitch, while the GX2 has more warmth and cabinet resonance. Onto the action
 

Grand Piano Action: Feel and Response

Much of the sales rhetoric you’ll encounter if you’re considering both of these pianos is related to the action. You’ll find the same thing if you’re looking at a Yamaha piano as well wherein Kawai gets trashed for using ‘cheap plastic actions.’

The fact is, Kawai has been using synthetic materials in their actions for decades now, and the response has been acclaim from players, and praise from technicians for how well they hold up over time.

Today, Kawai is using the same general action (with different levels of refinement) across their less expensive GL series grands, the professional quality GX series, to the handmade Shigeru Kawai lineup including the world-class SK-EX concert grand piano.

That said, despite the fact that any industry debate on the subject is long over, you’re still going to run into salespeople shooting darts at Kawai for their use of synthetics. At the same time, Kawai goes the other way and concedes that sure, they build Boston pianos, but they use an inferior action in the Boston pianos, reserving their premium Millennium III Action with ABS-Carbon Fiber for their Kawai pianos.

Ultimately, both the GX2 and GP178 are receiving very solid actions, though they do play and feel different.

Here’s some factual, objective information about both of these actions; both are assembled and built fully by Kawai. There's some ambiguous language that Steinway likes to use that calls this into question, anyone whose been to the Kawai factory can confirm that Kawai’s craftsmen build and assemble the Boston actions from the ground up, based on a design from Steinway.

Despite their different designs, what’s interesting when you peek under the hood is that both actions actually share quite a bit in common. For instance, the action rails and keyframe are very similar if not the same between the GX2 and GP178.

Both action rails are mounted on hard-rock maple dowels which are anchored into a piece of solid supportive steel underneath. This is a feature that speaks to the solid craftsmanship both acoustic pianos are receiving. Both actions also utilize Mahogany hammers.

Now let’s look at some differences. One of the key differentiators aside from the action material itself, as the GP178 is using wood for the action parts versus ABS-Carbon Fiber on the Kawai GX2, is the key stick length. The GP178 has a standard key length for a 6-foot piano, whereas the GX2 has an extended length key that resembles the length typically found in a 7-foot piano.

The idea behind a longer key stick is to allow the player a greater level of control - a longer lever equals more leverage. This is the main reason that the keybed feels deeper on the GX2 than the GP178 and why it’s easier to play at lower dynamic levels on the GX2. That said, the Boston GP178 overall feels very fluid and very satisfying to play, it just doesn’t offer quite as much control, and also happens to feel lighter. If you like a lighter action, you’ll probably actually prefer the feel of the Boston GP178. If on the other hand, you’d like to be able to dig in more and exact more control, the GX2 is better going to facilitate that.

Both actions have synthetic key surfaces to simulate the feel of ivory on the white keys and ebony on the black keys (Kawai refers to theirs as the exclusive Neotex surface.)
 

Other Components/Features: Materials, Construction & Finishes

At this point, let’s look at some other parts and components of both pianos and see where they are similar and where they differ.

Both pianos feature tapered solid spruce soundboards with a very high grain count, meaning we’re talking about slow-growth spruce here - the older the spruce, the better it transmits energy.

Neither Steinway nor Kawai reveals in their marketing literature whether the Boston soundboards are supplied by Steinway or simply the same soundboards as what Kawai is using in the GX series, but from what we can tell they do appear the be the same.

The beam structure underneath both pianos is quite similar, and the joinery from the beams to the inner rim appears to be the same. The GX2’s rim is slightly thicker. Both pianos have multi-laminated pin blocks, as well as brass agraffes.

You’ll find soft fall fallboards on both pianos, as well brass lid props, and hard finish music desks.

Some areas where they differ have to do with a few innovations that Kawai has incorporated, including a steel-reinforced keyslip, V-Pro plate, and what they refer to as their Stretcher Over-lap Integrated Design with an extra thick stretcher bar. All of these features are to support the GX2’s tuning stability, though the GP178 has equally good tuning stability as far as we can tell.

Both pianos are available in a variety of finishes, you’ll find them most commonly in polished ebony.

A potentially important difference comes up regarding the warranty; both pianos come with 10-year parts and labour warranty, Boston’s warranty is applicable to the original purchaser owner, whereas the Kawai warranty is transferable.

If resale value is important to you, having a transferable warranty is a big deal.
 

Final Thoughts

What kind of showroom do you have to visit to demo these pianos?

In North America, Boston is exclusively retailed through Steinway’s dealer network, whereas the GX series is sold through Kawai’s dealer network. Most major cities are going to have both a Steinway and Kawai dealer, however finding a Kawai GX2 and a Boston GP178 side by side in the same showroom may be quite difficult.

In Japan, however, Kawai's and Boston's are retailed side by side, which is certainly much nicer for the consumer. In North America, you will have to do some driving around if you are making comparisons.

And ultimately, despite being made on the same production line by the same people, these two pianos do offer different musical experiences that will definitely speak to different people. Be sure to check out the video for some playing examples to hear for yourself!

The post Kawai GX2 vs Boston GP178 | Grand Piano Review & Comparison first appeared on Merriam Pianos


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Monday, 31 October 2022

Essex EUP-123 vs Kawai ND21 | Upright Piano Comparison & Review

There’s no question that the new, 48”, ebony polish upright piano market is dominated by the Yamaha U1 and Kawai K-300 due to the combination of price, quality and musical potential these two pianos offer.

Of course, there are a variety of more expensive, high-end options available in this classic studio size, particularly from Europe, but there hasn’t always been a less expensive, new piano alternative. That’s where the Essex UP-123 and Kawai ND-21 come in.

Both of these are 48”, polished black upright pianos that be purchased new in 2022 for quite a bit less than a new U1 or K-300. In fact, both can be had for about the same price as a fine digital piano.

In this article and accompanying video, we’re going to compare a couple of 3-year-old examples of these two instruments and see how they stack up to one another.

Essex EUP-123 vs Kawai ND21 - Background Information

Why is this an Important Comparison?

When our video team was deciding what type of video to shoot one particular week, it occurred to us that we had a unique opportunity in front of us as we had a pair of 48” upright acoustic pianos - an Essex EUP-123e and a Kawai ND21 on the floor of one of our showrooms, both quite new having only been built in 2017.

Both pianos were in exceptional condition and had recently been tuned, regulated and voiced. They both happen to cost almost exactly the same new and are targeted at folks looking for a new 48”, institutional studio upright piano in polished ebony that doesn’t completely break the bank.

Country of Origin

The ND21 is not available in the United States, unfortunately, but it is available in Canada, Europe and Australia. What it is essentially is an Indonesian assembled reproduction of a Kawai K-25, which was an earlier precursor of the current Kawai K-300.

The EUP-123 while boasting a Steinway design is made by Pearl River in China for distribution through the Steinway & Sons dealer network as a way for Steinway to offer a much more affordable product.

Interestingly, right away it was obvious that despite the similar price points, these are actually very different instruments with divergent playing experiences. Let’s start by comparing the tone of each piano.

Comparing Upright Piano Sound

A Perfect Example of a Kawai Upright Piano

Characteristically, the ND21 has a fairly round tone across the entire sound spectrum, which is pretty much in line with the vast majority of Kawai acoustic pianos. Yamaha pianos are generally considered ‘bright’, while Kawai’s tend to be thought of as ’warm’, and while Yamaha has done a lot of work in recent years to darken their sound, these general tonal guidelines still tend to be the case.

The differences between the Essex EUP-123 vs Kawai ND-21 aren’t completely dissimilar to another comparison we recently did where we tested the Boston 178 against the Kawai GX-2. This could be because they’re using similar hammers on the Boston’s as they are on the Essex pianos.

Snapshot of the Essex EUP-123

The EUP-123 has a nice, loud and open tone with lots of resonance, especially in the mid-range and when the top lid is open. At the same time, it also happens to have much less variety of tone, meaning there’s always a punch regardless of dynamic level.

The ND21 on the other hand is capable of a more intimate sound when you want to go there, but when you push it, you can still draw out the same level of brightness as the EUP-123. Typically, when you have differences like this, a large contributing factor is the hammers - both regarding the material selection, geometry and design.

So, that’s a major difference we’re perceiving here - the ND21 has a wider tonal palette available to the player, whereas the EUP123 is providing full-spectrum tone no matter what.

Stylistic Considerations, Design Differences & Bass Register

For players that don’t have or aren’t working towards advanced technique, this aspect of the Essex EUP-123 could be a good thing as the player does not have to work as hard to get a clear treble tone, which can be helpful for jazz or pop playing.

Another difference is the fact that the EUP-123 is designed to have a more reverberant cabinet than the ND21, as evidenced by the huge spruce back posts. The ND21 has back posts too, but they’re entirely structural and don’t really contribute to the tone.

They’ve also gone with a shorter, tubbier bass string on the EUP-123 than on the ND21 meaning the EUP-123 is going to have a ‘woofier’ and more colorful bass tone, while the ND21 produces a more clear bass tone.

There’s no right or wrong here as it really comes down to personal preference.

Soundboard Materials

In terms of the soundboards, both of these instruments have solid spruce soundboards, and neither one uses a laminated soundboard, so that’s a big positive.

Laminated soundboards will be less resonant and thus provide less musical potential. Virtually any acoustic piano with outstanding sound will almost certainly have a solid spruce soundboard.

What Makes the Essex EUP-123 a Steinway Product?

Now, before we move on to action, let’s cover a question many of you might be asking. What is Pearl River getting from Steinway that allows them to market the Essex line as a Steinway product?

Unlike the Boston line of pianos which does feature some genuine Steinway components, there are no Steinway parts making their way into the Essex line. It's a Pearl River product through and through based on designs from Steinway, though it’s definitely one of the nicer lineups Pearl River produces.

Examining Piano Action - Construction and Feel

All Wood Essex Action with Steinway Designed Geometry

The first thing that this Essex piano is reminiscent of in terms of the action is the old Baldwin 247s. These were instruments that had somewhat short actions, but their blow distance was larger, so the strike speed was higher and the result was a very specific sense of motion on the key. This type of action is great for medium and higher volume playing but can be quite challenging when you’re trying to coax a mellow, more gentle tone out of the instrument at lower volumes.

Essex uses an all-wood action with solid spruce keys with Steinway specified geometry and hammer materials. The keytops are acrylic which feels nice on the fingers.

Kawai’s Ultra-Responsive Action

The Kawai action on the ND21 is not the Millennium III action that’s featured in the K series uprights, but rather an older ABS version referred to as the Kawai Ultra-Responsive Action. Kawai always talks about prioritizing control in the lower dynamic ranges, and while this isn’t the case with their newest action design, this sometimes comes with a sacrifice in power.

In this case, the ND21’s max volume is about 5% softer than the Essex upright. Depending on your style of playing, you’ll either appreciate this or not care for it. Unfortunately, at this price point, there’s some compromise that needs to happen between extra volume on the EUP123 versus greater control on the ND21.

The key surfaces are acrylic and phenol, which like the Essex, feels very nice. The composite nature of the action means excellent durability over the long term which is why the industry is seeing more and more companies shift away from wood-based actions and move to composites as has happened with other musical instruments and in other manufacturing industries entirely.

Hammer Materials

Both pianos use hardwood hammer shanks with maple hammerheads - in fact, the Yamaha U1 also uses Maple hammerheads. This is a big plus for both pianos.

What’s Better for Piano Students?

Younger students could definitely have trouble preparing for any kind of recital on a grand piano with a lighter action because it’s going to require a lot more force to get the type of volume you need versus the low effort required on the Essex upright piano for max volume.

This is typically why piano teachers will recommend an upright piano with a medium to heavier action.

Cabinet & Aesthetic Considerations

Finish Options

The ND21 is only available in a black high polish monochrome design with nickel hardware, while the EUP123 is available in a variety of veneers such as Polished Sapele Mahogany and Satin Sapele Mahogany, ensuring there’s a finish to meet even the most eclectic of homes.

Essex pianos are also available with some special furniture designs courtesy of William Faber for a premium.

Hardware Comparison

The ND21 features silver-colored pedals and accents, while the EUP123 features brass pedals and accents. Both pianos feature rugged double rubber casters making them easy to move, and both include adjustable benches with purchase.

Final Thoughts

Summary of the Kawai ND21 and Warranty Information

With the Kawai ND21, we have an instrument that is capable of a tremendous amount of control and finesse for the price. It boasts a dark and rich tonal profile that really, it has no business possessing considering what else is available in this price range.

It's slightly quieter than the EUP123, which for some people will be a positive thing, whereas others will prefer a more powerful sound. It also offers more control from an action standpoint, which is probably also going to be a positive thing long term, especially for a younger beginner.

The Kawai 10-year warranty also happens to be one of the few that is fully transferable within the warranty period, so this can be quite appealing from a resale perspective. Really, there’s not much to quarrel with about this piano.

Summary of the Essex EUP123 and Warranty Information

Over on the Essex EUP123, we've got an instrument with a really nicely resonant cabinet, due to its robust wood back construction and a large, open sound, especially for the price.

The action is reminiscent of an '80s, '90s American-style action which means you’re getting a very strong attack. The trade-off is that it’s more difficult to control in the bottom half of the dynamic range.

Steinway also makes a big deal about the 100% trade-up guarantee to a new Steinway to original purchasers of Essex pianos, but keep in mind that the 100% trade-in value is against full MSRP, which pianos don’t actually sell for. The warranty is also 10 years parts and labour, but this is applicable to the original purchaser only.

Wrap Up

At the end of the day, as we typically say, it’s ideal if you can get out and try both instruments to see which one you really connect with since they really are offering widely divergent musical experiences.

In that sense, it’s a good time to be buying a brand new piano - never before have there been multiple new options with virtually incomparable value overall.




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Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3 Grand Piano Comparison, Including Features, Benefits, Price & More

 The 5’11” Kawai GX-2 grand piano is among our top-selling instruments here at Merriam Music, but for some folks, the 6’2” GX-3 is worth the extra spend all day.

In this article and companion video, we’ll be comparing the Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3 side by side. This should be helpful as these two instruments often wind up on the finals list for families looking for mid-range, professional-level grand pianos.

Let's start with some background information and context.


Background

There’s a list of commonly asked questions that piano dealers get asked every single day. The most frequent are things like digital or acoustic? Upright or grand? Kawai or Yamaha?

Beyond these staple questions, there are some model match-up questions that we often get as well, questions pertaining to the differences between the Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3 are quite common as well.

For a good number of people, their piano buying journey comes down to these two instruments. The GX line is very popular in the modern marketplace and is often compared to say, the Boston GP series (designed by Steinway but built by Kawai in Japan) and Yamaha’s CX series.

The GX line also sometimes gets positioned against the Yamaha S Series in markets where the Yamaha dealers have been forced to more heavily discount, and sometimes people will consider the GX line against Eastern European options.


Why is the GX Line so Popular?

The GX line is so well regarded among industry critics, musicians and institutions because it’s unanimously considered a very high-performing, high-value series of instruments.

When you look at the spec sheet for the Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3, they both read as though you’re looking at a European concert grand piano. In fact, the GX-2 and GX-3 are essentially factory reproductions of the handmade Shigeru Kawai SK-2 and SK-3 respectively.

Front and rear duplex scaling, vertically laminated bridges, special Konsei Katagi outer and inner rims with blended hard rock maple mahogany hardwoods, tapered solid spruce soundboards, V-Pro plates, steel-reinforced keyslips and keybed, extra wide stretcher bars and the list goes on.


Differences from the RX Line

The GX series came out close to 10 years ago now and were released as slightly larger updates to the hugely successful RX-2 and RX-3. The reason for the additional size was due to a slight thickening in the rims and lengthening of the keysticks as the newest version of Kawai’s Millennium III Carbon Fiber action features extended-length keysticks for better control.

For example, at 5’11” the GX-2 is classic salon grand size-wise, but the action will feel more like a 6’6” piano while the 6’2” GX-3 will feel closer to a 7-footer.

The other main upgrade over the RX series and an overall improved cabinet design and new hard finish that is both better looking and more durable.


Key Differences Between the Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3

Despite very similar-looking specs sheets aside from the 3-inch size difference, the GX-3 lists for a substantial $12,000 USD higher than the GX-2. This is due to the fact that Kawai manufactures many more GX2’s as compared to the GX-3, and as such, the GX-3 simply doesn’t have the economy of scale.

Now, if you actually have a GX-2 and GX-3 side by side and take a close look at them, you’ll notice some beam support differences when you look underneath both pianos. The GX-3 has a slightly more intricate cabinet which delivers a greater degree of cabinet resonance.

Otherwise, the differences between these two pianos are purely musical and result from the size differences since components such as the hammers, pinblock and agraffes are all the same, whereas the larger soundboard, strings, rim etc. result in different musical experiences.

We’ll dive more specifically into the sound now, but be sure to check out the video to hear these differences for yourself.


Sonic Differences

Musically speaking, there are a few things widely observed about the GX series as a whole that definitely apply here.

For example, the sustain on both of these instruments is exceptionally good for factory-produced instruments. The treble on both of these instruments is strong and thick with a very well-defined fundamental and yet lots of color too.

The biggest tonal differences start to emerge as soon as you get below concert A down around middle C. The “break” is a little bit smoother on the GX-3, and there’s greater warmth in the bass register. It’s also fair to say that the sound is slightly more open overall on the GX-3 as well.

Let’s expand on these observations and go register by register.


Bass Register

Interestingly, the GX-2 actually offers slightly better rim activation in that lower octave and while the mics we used for the video probably won’t pick this up, you can definitely hear this in person.

Both bass registers offer a similar level of projection, but we’re hearing more of the fundamental on the GX-3 due to the longer strings.


“Break” Area

One of the most significant differences as we move up through the range is the “break” area as we mentioned above. The “break” on the GX-3 is more controlled than the GX-2, and largely, this is a function of the extra string length.

The longer you can make a string, the cleaner you can make that transition.

Moving to the second octave up from the bottom, and there's a lot more of the third and fourth partial coming from strings on the GX-2 than the GX-3. If you play a good amount of repertoire within that particular range of the piano this could be a significant consideration.


Mid & Treble Ranges

Once we move up into the mid and treble ranges, the GX-3 is a little bit more colourful, although the GX-2 still sounds really great with lots of warmth.

GX-2 through this range offers more of a direct sound with less of a cabinet resonance but a more direct soundboard tone.

At the very top of both pianos, differences are almost indistinguishable from one another, which makes sense as the string length up here is basically the same.


Feel and Response

Millennium III Carbon Fiber Action

Both pianos are receiving the same ABS-Carbon composite action - the Millennium III Carbon Fiber action. Both pianos come very well regulated from the factory, and the voicing is generally very good out of the box as well.

The Millennium III action is without question one of the key selling features for the GX series musical instruments, especially for institutions where whose pianos will be receiving intensive use. Carbon Fiber reinforced plastic is more durable than the wood used in other actions at this price point and less temperamental.


Extended Length Key Sticks

At the same time, the repetition speed is extremely good, as is the responsiveness. The extended-length key sticks we mentioned earlier come into effect by providing the player with a greater level of control than they could normally reasonably expect out of a similarly sized piano.

Both pianos feature Neotex Key Surfaces on both the white and black keys, and this is another composite material that mimics the moisture-absorbing qualities of genuine ivory.


Final Thoughts

Summarizing the Musical Differences

The key musical differences between these the Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3 can be summed up as follows; The GX-3 offers more fundamental tone in the lower registers than the GX-2 and a little bit more power, but the overall character is actually quite similar.

As we move into the second octave, the GX-3 has a smoother “break” area, meaning there are fewer of those metallic harmonics coming through that often appear in this part of a grand piano.

In the third octave, the Kawai GX-2 is actually producing more cabinet resonance, and the treble areas are quite similar. This means that if you happen to play a lot of music that’s confined to the mid and upper registers, you’re not going to be sacrificing anything if you opt for a GX-2 as opposed to a GX-3.

On the other hand, if the extra bass presence, power and projection of the GX-3 are important to you, it’s well worth the premium.


Finishes & Aesthetic Features

Both pianos are most commonly sold in a polished ebony finish, but both are also available in satin ebony. That’s it for the GX-3, but as the bigger seller, the GX-2 is available in a variety of additional finishes including Walnut, Cherry and Oak Satin, as well as Snow White Polish, and Walnut and Sapeli Mahogany.

In terms of other aesthetic considerations, both pianos feature soft fall fallboards, as well as brass pedals and lid props.


Wrap Up

We hope this article has been helpful, whether you’re looking for a new piano and these were on the final list, or if you simply like learning about pianos.

For people who maybe only had a chance to check one model out in a showroom, we hope that this has helped shed some light on whether or not it’s worth exploring the other model.

Thanks for reading!