Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Switching from digital piano to upright piano

Hello everyone,

I am currently taking private lessons under the ABRSM syllabus (am currently learning at a grade 2 level although I do not take exams as I have no need for certs yet) using a Yamaha CLP-645 and I am thinking of switching to an upright as my teacher also claims that acoustics will be better for my learning.

I am considering getting a secondhand Yamaha LX-113T as my budget only allows up to that so I wish to ask if that is a good piano to last me till the end of my grades. Furthermore, this model seems similar to be similar to JX-113T in terms of appearance so I would also like to ask if anyone knows what the differences between these two models are.

It appears that the JX is a current model, the LX isn't on YAMAHA's current Australian model range, so might be a previous model. It appears they're both made by YAMAHA in Indonesia. While they're not as good as the Japanese pianos - they'd be good pianos up to diploma level.

Check out the market though, as there is quite a variety in that general price range - KAWAI as well, plus some of the Korean and Chinese pianos.

Play a cross-section of them - buy the one which you enjoy most.

The other possibility is a near new higher grade piano - eg a YAMAHA YUS1, KAWAI K3 etc - similar size, quite a bit dearer new and a nicer piano, but you might find some 10 yr old ones in as-new condition for the same price range as the LX/JX. Spend a bit of time trying out near-new 2nd hand pianos in piano stores as well.

The only thing with a used piano, it's worth getting it checked out by an independent technician, just in case there is something untoward - albeit unlikely in a near new piano.

On doing a search for this Yamaha I came across this link from 2002 on this website which poses almost the same question.
Yamaha LH
Personally I would have thought the 645 was more than adequate at your level but it sounds as if your teacher might not really like or know much about digitals.

I highly doubt I can get my hands anywhere near the YUS series for the same price as the JX from where I live.


My teacher did say the 645 is enough for my level but I believe it won't hurt to start on acoustics early.

I think, especially coming fron a non-hybrid digital, an acoustic piano is a totally different experience. So if you want to be good at playing acoustic, i agree with your teacher.

I have a yamaha cp33 (older gh action) coupled with a great vst, and a 1985 yamaha U3. I use both daily, the difference in touch and response/sound is like night and day. It took me a while to be able to play the U3 at about the same level as i can play the digital. Now i highly prefer it.

Once you get your acoustic, don't be surprised if you have some trouble with dynamics in the beginning!

Digital pianos make you sound better than you are. It is far easier to play pp and below on them. Also, the una corda
effect is usually not really at all like an acoustic. I will say this though, there's an inspiration/motivation to practice advantage on digitals that have record functions and tempo alteration functions. For me, I can affect dynamics, phrasing, and line much better at slower tempos. So when you record at a very slow tempo with close listening and then jack up the tempo you can hear what you might sound like if you practice enough - that is to say GLORIOUS.

Beowulf - you mentioned a second hand LX 113 would be in your price range. How old is the LX 113 you’re looking at? What is your price range? A nice acoustic upright can effectively teach you all the required playing techniques up to mid level piano testing. Many of us have grown up playing our parents console pianos and still placed in recitals. It is possible that a console piano will meet your needs if a piano tech gives it an A-OK. You might want to consider an older bigger upright that would still be in your price range. It might not be as pretty but in comparable uprights, the taller the piano the bigger the soundboard and the longer the strings. It really improves the sound and dynamic range. Also, the piano action improves and gives the player more control over dynamics.
The new hybrid pianos have nice actions but are much more expensive than a good used acoustic upright. Best of Luck! Like your username!

I totally agree with you on the touch as I find myself tripping too much whenever I get the chance to play on acoustics at the stores where I pass by. Ideally, I would have liked to keep both a digital and acoustic for different obvious reasons, but there's just no more room in my current apartment for me to do so.

Judging from my own experience, this is true.

When i first had an acoustic i could not play soft on it at all and i thought the action was heavy. I started blaming the piano, and asking questions on this forum wondering if the piano was ok.

Now after some months im probably still in the adapting process, but i can now play soft(er) and with a pretty good dynamic range, and the action now actually feels light. Strange, but true.

I am actually going down to a secondhand store to take a look so I can see what else they have to offer. I won't limit myself to just the LX-113. Thanks for liking my username!


All the more reason I should start early!

If i could give you some advise, it would be this:

Your clp 645 probably has options for the touch curves. Something i did since i realized what it is like to play acoustic, is set that to the softest possible option. (my cp33 has 3 options, soft medium and hard, so i put it on soft. I could adjust more within the vst settings but i haven't looked into that.) This will make it a little harder to play softly, and i think therefore more comparable to an acoustic piano. So i would say this will be better practice to play acoustic.

Also, don't play with the volume too low. Actually, put it as close to "too loud" as possible. I think this will also be better practice, because if the volume is low, you will tend to play harder to compensate that. The volume is never low on an acoustic, and it will require a delicate touch to control it.

These are things i didn't realize when i only played the digital.

Maybe go with a slab/stage type digital. You could stand it on end in a closet when you're not playing it.

may I ask which vst that is?

Thanks

Of course! I have the garritan cfx (full version) it's great. Right now im in the process of adding the Ravenscroft 275 to that (buying from a member here) so i can switch back and forth between different sounding piano's. That one should be nice also, but i haven't played it yet.

Thanks

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.To me there is nothing wrong with a 130 sized U3 piano.If one needs a" pretty" upright there are
plenty around which are not very good.I personally like tall ebony
polished pianos because they remind me of the piano's of a bygone
era.Perception is more complicated than what a couple of guys feel
when they see a tall dark piano.

LadyBird- I didn’t intend to imply that a bigger upright was less attractive. I was suggesting an older used upright might be better than a new smaller console. In my limited experience the “cosmetic appearance” of an older piano might come with more dings and dents. A bigger older cosmetically flawed upright would be a better value to the OP.

No one minds,for some a tall dark.,for others a short blond, just like Starbucks Coffee.It is just taste ! Sometimes people fall in love with
someone with a few more " dings and dents" than others.
As for the op I think a good digital is better than a bad accoustic.
Take your time in buying as good an accoustic piano as possible.

You are correct of course, if I am supersenitive it is because
a few posters have openly expressed repugnance for tall
ebony polished verticals in rather graphic details.Like everyone
else certain things can get under one's skin.
I just wanted to say just as someone may prefer a cherry coloured 115 sized upright another is enamored with something totally different.