Hi all, I've been researching this for sometime, and I'm fully searched-out. I know this product doesn't exist, and I also know there's demand. The idea isn't new:

- Fully portable keyboard for practice
- Portable = fits in overhead cabin luggage, light
- Weighted keys, say 51
- High quality piano sound
- Good enough for practice on travel
- Reasonably priced

I know having read other threads, people have even cut down Yamaha keyboards, the Vax 77 used to exist (too expensive/heavy?) and so on. Clearly we all want similar things

I'm proposing a group of us get together, start a Kickstarter project and get this done. I've started some companies before, so I have a few clues on that, but really (although this could develop into a company), I'm more into it to actually GET the product! I don't want to stop practicing when I travel...

Who's with me?

You want something with weighted keys and high quality sound that will fit into a carry on bag? It doesn't sound incredibly likely or practical.

This seems to come very close to your requirements. maybe?

This is far from fitting in overhead cabin luggage....
Anything beyond 49 keys would be too long for a normal suitcase...

I'm in.

The best approach might be to explore feasibility of cutting down a current Yamaha or Casio slab.

Speakers would probably have to go, but for this purpose that wouldn't bother me.

49 keys is also a very poor substitute for a piano. Whenever I play on a keyboard that short, I end up frustrated and not wanting to play. Also, I can't see any manufacturer putting resources into a 49 key, weighted piano. They are just toys at that size (or synths).

I even tried roll-up keyboards! Don't waste your time and money, useless for serious practice and will hurt your hands.

There seems to be quite a lot of practice rooms for hire in cities. It might be an idea to see if these are available in your destination and normally they have long opening hours.

Also I recently spent quite a lot of time playing in a music room after clearly saying that I wasn't buying anything but was away from my instrument. No hurt in asking, they might like people playing to attract beginners or completely understand your need to practice.

Hi,

I too like the idea of a higly portable instrument. But what compromises is one willing to make? 49 keys does sound rather limited. What about a foldable instrument. An istrument that folds in two. The biggest issue is lenght of the piano much more than the thickness. So with a foldable instrument one could reduce the lenght of say a 76 key instrument in half. Off course one needs to see that the instrument when assembled is still rigid enough to take "passionate" playing.

Kind regards,

Wouter.

heck.; what I propose seems to exist already.. there goes my fortune to make.. LOL

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/26/vax-77-folding-music.html

No longer produced and anyway very expensive...

Which is probably what yours would be, very expensive. It probably had to cost a lot to cover production costs. Maybe you could find a used one on ebay?

...Also has spring-loaded rather than weighted keys and very expensive.

It hinges the wrong way. It should fold bottom out rather than keys out for better protection of the keys.

Hi all, great responses! To try and respond to everyone so far

- Agree needs to be at least 61 keys
- Needs to proper, weighted keys, completely
- I think the VAX FOLDING keyboard failed because a) was still hefty, and b) was in the thousands of dollars
- I think this needs to come in at $500ish?
- Have often thought of and tried to find practice rooms - but practically speaking very difficult, and don't always have time. usually i'm in the hotel room, wishing i could practice...

Clearly we need an engineer, but I think the first thing might be to collaborate on a Kickstarter style project and get a design, some funding, and then make it happen!

Check this thread:

http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/692966

Nice pictures there of a modified Yamaha. Doing something like that isn't cheap, but is cheaper than starting your own manufacturing company. ;-)

If you really want it to be carry-on size, you'll need to keep it to 49 keys. (Unless you attempt some kind of folding thing.)

If a Casio PX-150 could be adapted, at 25 lbs for 88 keys to start, it has the potential to be pretty light.

Anotherscott, is that the link you really intended? It seems to be off topic.

I agree, though, that establishing a template for "sawing off" a Casio or Yamaha, and maybe finding a tinkerer willing to do it for a number of traveling pianists, is the likeliest way to get something without having to spend a larger amount than we could ever raise for this project.

Maybe propose this to Yamaha, Kawai, Casio, etc? I know Kawai has a guy who watches this board.

Thanks for the heads-up, I don't know how that happened! Fixed.

Correct link is:
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/692966

So, Alex and Anotherscott -- an obvious first line of inquiry is whether the firm and person who did this job for Peter Moll is still around and might be interested in doing something like it again, but for a number of people, right?

How about a "pull apart" implementation instead of folding to get the length down ?
With a little mechanical ingenuity they could snap back together "keys to keys" for protection during transport.

Some small number of keys, say 64, perhaps an optional mid section octave to expand to 76, or 88 with two of them.