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Our daughter just graduated (with a minor in piano) and moved into an apartment. She doesn't have room for a piano so we are considering buying her a digital. All that is necessary is that it plays and feels like an acoustic piano. She would not use the extra sounds, etc. - just needs something to play to keep her skills. We would like to keep it under $800, if possible. I've done a lot of research but would like to get the opinions of someone who has actually used them. We were looking at the Casio PX400, the Casio PS20 and the Yamaha P60. Would appreciate any help!! Thanks.

I recently auditioned digitals in the under-$1,000 range as a gift for my mother, and wound up with the Casio PX400. The action is pretty good and the piano sounds are acceptable. I personally prefer the Yamaha P120 and up, but they're more expensive, especially after you include speakers and a stand. In your price range, the PX400 is hard to beat. I did not like the less-expensive Casio models.

Don't forget to budget a good set of headphones for apartment playing. Many people (myself included) like the Sennheiser open-back designs for maximum comfort in long playing sessions. Plus they sound a lot better than the built-in speakers.

Daphne,

If your daughter just graduated with a minor in piano, she's not going to be satisfied with just any cheap digital piano like the Casios.

I suggest the Yamaha P120. It's about $400 more than you want to spend, but it's worth waiting for. Another option (if you are OK with credit cards) is to go to Sam Ash or some other retailer. They often offer 6 to 12 mo. interest free if you use their card. So in reality you have time to come up with the extra $ without paying interest.

I was afraid to post..because I'm such a novice. But I think too, that the Casio might be a disappointment to a experienced piano student. The key action in the Casio's I've played with have been less than realistic, in my humble (and admittedly novice) opinion. I too, purchased the P120 after much research and if you can spring for a couple hundred more, it's a much better option. Again, in my humble opinion. There are probably others out there that maybe someone will suggest.

Good luck in your search!

Stay away from Casio (based on reputation alone) and go for something a little more high end (professional grade). You can't go wrong with any of the big names (Yamaha, Roland, etc.).

The Yamaha P120 is a popular keyboard because of its quality of tone and realistic keyboard feel. You might find a used one on eBay if you really are stuck for the cash. The P60, while being a good instrument isn't great for someone who just graduated with a minor in piano.

Rodney

Rodney

There's always the P90 which comes sans speakers. I ended up with a P120. I called a friend who is a piano professor at a college in Sacramento and is one of the great jazz piano players today IMO (Joe Gilman) and he thought the P120 offered a lot of bang for the buck. He said many students and pros pick this specific piano for reasonable performance and feel.

The P120 is least suited for jazz and classical. It's agressive bright attack and firm action make it more suited for rock and pop.

Golly, hope all the jazz and classical players who own P120's don't read your post! They'll all have to sell them now and buy what you say...

They sound very much like Yamaha grands and their action feels pretty similar to their grands. If you don't like the Yamaha sound or action then another kyboard may be a better choice but Yamaha's success speaks for itself.

I have a P120 and can also endorse it. Get it with a good set of headphones (the internal speakers are not great), two pedals (one for sustaining, one "soft" pedal), and, of course, a stand (the stand is not included). At a good discount retailer, that should run you about $1200 tops. Get the lowest price you can off the Internet, then show it to the retailer and ask them to match it; they often do.

I know this is a little more than you were thinking of spending, but I think your daughter will happier with this set up and can really make some progress.

The Yamaha P120 seems to go for about $800 - $900 used on ebay:
Click here

That is untrue. It does not have a "bright attack", period. It also does not have a firm action. It has a smooth, weighted action.

Our Buddy rintincop here is never happy with any stage piano. He finds a way to pick on them for no reason at all. To see what I mean, try checking out the Harmony Central Keys forum. He posts unbelievably harsh statements.

Do not go by what rintincop says. It is untrue.

Chris
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I also reccomend the Yamaha P120 Piano. It sounds and feels exactly like an acoustic piano, and it is extremely light and portable. It also has a beatiful wood finish. The acoustic pianos are warm and mellow.

I purchased a Casio PXR400 a few days ago, it's not a bad piano at all for the price. In my case I have a Samick Grand a Yamaha CVP107 Clavinova, but I needed something portable to be taken to parties and this fit the bill. Bottom line in my was thru the years I've spent lots of money on instruments and I just didn't want to spend lots much more money. You may want to pick up the December 2004 edition of Keyboard Magazine. There's an interesting review in the magazine on it.

Thanks to everyone who responded - sounds like the P120 is the way to go!

Daphne

I am selling my p120..u can email me.

I sold my p120 and so did Orange Funk. I would wait and see what is new at the NAMM show in two weeks.

Given 3 models of your choice, I would choose PS20. Very reasonable priced, well made and sounds good. PX400 is not that sound good in piano but has music arranger function and lots of bells and whistles. P60 is low end one. Doesn;t sound that good and has only 5 buttons for everything. That filthy looking black plastic case is a big turn off too.

If you haven't already bought the piano, I'd have your daughter test them all out! She probably has some pretty strong views on what she likes in a piano if she minored in it?