In the competitive 48-inch professional upright market, the Ritmüller UP121 series, including the UP121RB , and the Kawai K-200 are two of the models discussed for players seeking "forever" pianos. While Kawai is famous for its high-tech Millennium III carbon-fiber action and modern stability, Ritmüller takes a different path, blending the massive manufacturing power of Pearl River with the old-world soul of legendary German designer Lothar Thomma.