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Joined: Jun 2001
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a new semester at the music school is starting up and i'm rarin' to go with my piano studies. but i will be spending many weekends away from home, at a place where there is no piano. i'd like to get a DP that has a good action and good-enough tone to use on weekends for the next academic year so that i don't show up at my lessons unprepared. i know zilch about buying a DP. where should i start? how much should i expect to spend? what are good used models to look for? i can leave the DP at the weekend place, so it can be a full 88 keys, and i'd like it to have pedals. headphones so i can practice when others are sleeping is good, too. (believe it or not, i am NOT interested in embarking on another "grand obsession" project--i just want something that is "good enough" and i don't want to spend a lot of time on this. i've already got the acoustic piano of my dreams at home. )
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Hi, Have read your book as it was very engaging and quite descriptive, especially the chapters that mention as to how the Grotrian piano was built, starting with the wood and various parts. Couldn't put it down, although I do admit taking a peak (okay, I "cheated") to get to the end of the story! As for practice digitals, see if you can go to a local store to try out all of the following, as you will have to decide for yourself as to what your ears like (for sounds) and as the the feel (or, action) of the keyboard: 1) Casio PX-130 2) Yamaha P95 3) Yamaha P155 4) Kawai EP3 I have owned the Casio PX-130, and, I can recommend it since it has very good piano sounds as well as a nice action, which is weighted (but not too heavy) for any type of playing. The Yamaha P95 would be very similar to the Casio in its features. The other choice (although more expensive) might be the Yamaha P155 or Kawai EP3, although you may find it easier to locate a Yamaha to play on as the Kawai is usually found online, unless you can find someone who carries Kawai digitals. Casio PX-130: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-130-88-Key-Digital/dp/B002IVK0FEKawai EP3: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EP3Kawai/And, if you tend to shop online (as I do) then the above links may be useful, otherwise, many folks prefer to go to their local piano shop so that they can try out the pianos, first hand. You can't go wrong in choosing any of the pianos, above.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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thank you, pv88! this is exactly the sort of answer i was hoping for, a few choices that will meet the basic requirements so i don't have to reinvent the wheel.
i'll take the first opportunity to try out the DPs you recommend!
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Keep in mind that nothing is ever "set in stone" (so-to-speak) as to which model might be right or wrong, as it really boils down to the preference of the player. There are no "rights" or "wrongs" when selecting a digital piano.
1) What sounds are pleasing to your ears? 2) How does the action respond?
Most of the lower end digitals will have (more or less) the same features, so do pick the one you like the most.
Glad to be of some help...
pv88
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just like an acoustic. but i'll probably have to ignore my picky ears to be happy with a digital, so the functionality and the touch are what i'm going to focus on.
i'm so pleased you enjoyed my book!
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Even less expensive options you may find acceptable for practice purposes are the Casio CDP-120 and Korg SP-170.
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Loved your book! Nice work.
Given the earnestness of your search for that Steinweg, I'd imagine that the low-end digital pianos won't satisfy.
In any digital you sacrifice sound quality relative to an acoustic piano. But some of the keyboard actions are quite good.
The low-end goods are easy to find at retail music stores, but I find their actions to be too light, and the feel is not acceptable.
The better units can only be found at piano dealers. There are many pianos from Kawai, Yamaha, and Roland to be found at these dealers. The actions on those these are far better than on the cheaper models.
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what about buying a DP with a better action used? are there especially good models to look for on the used market?
or is it better to buy a DP new?
i'm basically looking for an alternative to practicing on a keyboard drawn in pencil on a table. my main practice instrument will remain the grotrian.
a good action and the ability to use a pedal would be best. i'll put up with a less than stellar tone if i have to.
i'd prefer to spend less than $500, if i can get away with that.
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I think that the Casio CDP-120 (as mentioned above) would be a decent board since it is lightweight and portable, although you still have to add a stand and a separate sustain pedal: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-CDP-120-88-Weighted-Key-Digital-Piano-107039448-i2059365.gcBe aware that stands vary greatly, as you do not want a standard "T" style stand if you want to be able to sit down in front of the piano, since the cross bars will get in the way and your knees will knock into them. Very annoying! Here is a good stand you can try: http://www.amazon.com/Stage-Heavy-Mixer-Keyboard-Stand/dp/B0010HDS2OThis will cost you $100 more, so you are looking at $500 to combine the Casio with the stand. Cheaper stands will tend to wobble around a bit, and, you want something that is stable. Take note for what the height adjustments are on the stand you buy as you want the tops of the keys to be right around 29 inches from the floor, as that is standard height. Anything higher could present a problem with sitting down to play your piano, since you want to have a bench that you can adjust to be higher if need be, so that your arms are close to being level with the key bed. If the stand is too high (for example) you then have to adjust your sitting height by raising the bench / chair even more. The stand should have a lowest setting of not higher than 25 inches or so, like the stand above. You can then add in a few inches for the keyboard itself, which sits on the stand. Combined, you want a total height (from floor to the tops of the keys) between 28 and 29 inches. And, you will require a full sustain pedal, not the cheap switch that usually comes with the piano, as it can skate around under your foot: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-US650...;sr=1-1&keywords=digital+piano+pedalThe M-Audio pedal works very well with Casio keyboards as I have used one with the Casio PX-130. Also, there is one other item to consider. Do you already have a bench? A bench / chair is only important in that it gives you the proper sitting height at your piano, relative to the height settings of the stand you are using, in which you might have to adjust to get things just the way you want it. Anyway, that includes all of the main details for deciding on the items you will need.
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what about buying a DP with a better action used? are there especially good models to look for on the used market?
or is it better to buy a DP new?
i'm basically looking for an alternative to practicing on a keyboard drawn in pencil on a table. my main practice instrument will remain the grotrian.
a good action and the ability to use a pedal would be best. i'll put up with a less than stellar tone if i have to.
i'd prefer to spend less than $500, if i can get away with that. Below $500 on the new market you only have Casio, really. Basically only the PX130. Just don't judge all digital pianos by your experience since it is a low-end model. If you just want an improvement over a drawn keyboard or perhaps an unweighted keyboard, the PX130 will be a very large step up. You may be able to do better on the used market. Unfortunately digital pianos sometimes hold their value much more than you might expect. On the used market you can look for Kawai's (basically all of them have a good action) or any Yamaha that features a GH action (that would be any Clavinova and most of the Arius line). Notice that many Yamaha Arius pianos are mistakenly sold as Clavinovas on the used market. Rolands tend to be a little expensive and I'm less familiar with the older models, so I can't give you much advice there.
Last edited by gvfarns; 08/16/12 05:43 PM.
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Buying used is quite reasonable. There are many budding pianists who give up the digital, just as others do with an acoustic piano. And digitals depreciate rapidly, so a used piano might be had for little money.
But I suspect the search will take some time. Sellers might not know about the rapid depreciation, and so will attempt to sell at a modest reduction off of their original purchase price ... all to know avail. Eventually they may lower the price. Negotiation is in order.
So a ten-year-old top quality piano might be a reasonable choice. Save for wear and tear, they're very nearly as good as the brand new models. (This industry moves VERY slowly, with no great leaps in sound quality year over year.)
So, old is good.
At $500, though, you won't get much. A ten-year-old piano selling at $500 might compare favorably to a new $1500 unit. So look at today's pianos in that price range (example: Yamaha YDP-161, among others) and then see if you can find one it's ancestor models on the used market.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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The Yamaha P-95, which was not listed, is available for about $500 and has, I believe, a better action than the Casio. I think I would stay away from Casio in general....
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My situation's not quite the same as yours, but I just picked up a used PX130 for $250 and added Casio's furniture stand and 3-pedal board for another $125 new. Casio and Yamaha sell tons and tons of their entry level DP's so they're relatively easy to find second-hand. Something like this might work well for you if you can get a good deal. As far as the action goes, well, like anyone on this forum will tell you, you have to try them yourself to know if it's acceptable or not.
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Below $500 on the new market you only have Casio, really. Basically only the PX130. Also Casio CDP-120, Korg SP-170.
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PX130 .... it's really a no brainer at that price level.
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.
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I too enjoyed your book. I especially enjoyed reading about many of the people and places in NYC that I knew from my own grand piano hunt in late-2000 and early-2001. I've also experienced many of the post-purchase frustrations you describe in your book. Frankly, if I had to do it over again, I'd probably buy a Ritmuller or Hailun and lower my lofty expectations, or maybe I'd get a Shigeru.
I realize the DP I'm recommending is well beyond your budget, but try playing the Roland RD-700NX (Studio Grand setting) while wearing a good set of headphones (Sennheiser HD-600 are the phones I use). I've played a lot of DPs (I also own a Yamaha AG N2 and an old Yamaha P-80), and I own several software pianos (Ivory 2, Galaxy, Pianoteq, Steinberg The Grand 3, Garritan Steinway). I spend most of my time practicing on the Roland. I really like it. Great sound; great action. When I bought it, I kept the box and packing materials thinking I could unload it easily on eBay if I needed to without losing too much money. A while back, I threw the boxes away. I'm not selling that board anytime soon.
Full disclosure: I've never played a Casio. If the action is good, you can always upgrade the sound with Ivory 2.
Last edited by kippesc; 08/17/12 04:05 PM.
Steinway B Yamaha AvantGrand N2 Roland RD-700NX
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thanks for all the good advice and the kind comments on my book. i haven't started DP shopping (still busy with a deadline) but all your advice will be put to use. i'll post back when i get going with this.
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by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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