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Hi!

Recently bought a VPC-1, love but I am afraid it might to heavy for me, felt inflammation creeping up that I problems with before.

Looking for recomendations for good DP with lighter action.

Especially if there are actions that actually release the weight after you strike the key. I find that many digital keep an upwards pressure.

Played extensively on a lighter grand at home, and no problems
with that.

I read that kawai kdp 75/120 might be a model that actually releases the weight a bit. Any other suggestions?

People often mention the Kawai ES110. The KDP models have a similar but not identical action.

I don't see how they would reduce the upweight. Digital piano actions just don't do it, I guess.

There are then (expensive) hybrid pianos from Yamaha ("AvantGrand") and Kawai ("Novus") that have actual acoustic piano actions inside with only minor modifications. They come with upright and grand actions.

Kawai's grand hybrid "Novus 10" even reduces the key weight when the damper pedal is held down like a real grand does. Yamaha doesn't. And uprights are then different in design anyway.

Casio's "Grand Hybrid" isn't as authentic in design as Yamaha and Kawai.

I personally don't have any recommendations as I'm not really a pianist and haven't ever felt that the upweight is an issue with my "casual tinkering".

I agree with the acoustic action for hand problems, either an acoustic or hybrid piano. I am not aware of any DP action that disconnects from the hammer weight after pressing down. The acoustic disconnects but then the hammer rests on the backcheck albeit with less leverage.

Someone else on here with hand/finger problems uses a Kawai ES110 and claims to be doing just fine. Try one first if possible.

If you can stretch the budget the MP11SE is what you are looking for. Close to no upward pressure and longer keys.

Kawai MP7 was on the light side... I"m not sure about the newer MP7SE which has a different action. I also haven't played the MP11 or MP11SE.

It's harder to find light action slab pianos than it used to be. Roland FP7 and FP7F were lighter feeling than any of the current Roland actions. Yamaha CP5 and CP1 were lighter feeling than any of the current Yamaha actions. Casio PX-x00, PX-x10, PX-x20 were lighter feeling than the current Casio actions. (The x is a 1 or a 3.)

I can just reiterate I do find the ES110 very good for my aging fingers. Perhaps comparable to the Kawai Millenium upright action (which I aslo tried at the same time) in the ways that count. Worth a try anyway. I'm not sure if the newer KDP 120 is the same; the action contains so called "improvements" but it felt good for a shortie. I was comparing it with CLP 735 at the time, both switched off.

Since youre using just for controlling.. maybe Casio Gp 300/310 ?

How would you rate gp300 vs kawai ca79? Action wise.

About the same price.

Mp11se seems reasonable, only worry is the slip tape issue.

Thanks for suggestions everyone!

Just to report my experience and ask a question,

Was at a Steinway gallery that also sells Kawai.

Didn't like CA79 and CA99 at all, unfortunately. Felt like it was nothing there. Also soundwise a bit underwhelming.

Question: I assume MP11se feels sort of the same?

NV5S - great instrument, thought it even sounded better than NV10 (non-S), though the action of NV10 was very nice.

Strange what is taxing on the fingers, I found VPC1 too heavy and made old inflammation creep up. But playing for an hour on a pretty heavy Boston grand that i liked very much (heavier than their large Steinways) was no problem.

Going to try SL88 grand, some say its even heavier than vpc1, some say it lighter.

But if MP11se is like ca79, it doesnt seem as interesting.

I think Rolands PHA50 action that sits in various of their models is a vey good and quite light action. It doesn't have any mechanism for releasing upward pressure though but I don't think it's too bad.

I had the same problem with my CA58 and it was gone when I switched to an acoustic (silent K300). Somehow your finger joints may also be sensitive to a DP action. For me it is not strictly a DP vs AP difference because there are acoustics that are too heavy for me too (e.g. K500). And it is encouraging that peterws (who has the same problem) is now happy with his ES110.