Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Portable (small) keyboard recommendations?

My main instrument is a Yamaha Clavinova - an 88-key keyboard that's in a wood frame so it looks more like an upright acoustic piano than a keyboard on a metal stand. It is portable if two people carry it.

I'd like to buy a small keyboard to take with me if I'm away from home for a few days to a week - so I can get my practicing time in. It would have to be small enough for me to fit it in my car trunk and easily carry to my hotel room. It could be 66 (instead of 88) keys, but I would want the keys to be weighted so it would feel like a piano.

Any recommendations?

Bob

Dear Bob,

You're not alone. But there is a hole in the market. There is NO short-scale weighted action keyboard available. Here are some threads about this.

1. http://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1236.0.html

2. http://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3023.0.html

3. http://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3775.0.html


But I am having one custom built. See the thread:

4. http://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2525.0.html

When it's ready I'll send out a note for everyone to read.

Good luck.

Regards,

Peter

Peter,

I know this sounds crazy...but I am currently looking into EXACTLY the same problem. I play those dumb electronic keyboards and I can't stand the feel. I want to throw them out the window.

You say you are looking for a crazy engineer...maybe I can help. No promises, but I make some extremely complicated things from blocks/sheets of aluminum and lots of imagination.

Check out my website.

Also, check out this link to our SEMA 2004 car. We will be featured this year in the front lobby. (SEMA is one of the top 10 automotive shows in the world.)

Kirkham Sema Show Car 2004

David

i have a yamaha p80, (although i heard it may be discontinued by yamaha, but im sure there is a parallel model) which is light enough for one person to carry, and is full 88 keys and piano feel.

disadvantage is no built in speaker, u will have to also take along a small pair or use headphones.

Take a look in the Digital Forum.

Dear David,

Thanks for your note and your strong interest. Congratulations too on you audacious car designs! Let's see whether Audio Electronics in Dallas makes my 53-key Yamaha P-80 successfully -- they should be done in a week or two, they say. I'll keep everyone posted on the outcome.

Regards,

Peter

PeterG.....
I've followed your posts concerning this subject b/c I too wish I had something truly portable ...... Do remember to start a thread b/c there are a few of us interested in this!

Dear Bob331, Katie and others,

I have just received shipment of my Yamaha P-80 keyboard which was cut down, LITERALLY, from 88 keys to 53. The weight is much less and the size such that it makes travel easy. I'm very pleased with this solution. See the details at my other post on the Synth Forum (part of Piano World Forums).

Regards,


Peter

What was the cost to cut the keyboard down?

I was in a local music store (NYC) the other day and tried out a Casio Privia keyboard. It has a very nice piano "feel" - and at a reasonable price (about $500). It's 88 keys and a bit longer than I would have liked, but maybe that's what I've got to live with.

Bob

Bob, I'm also considering the Casio Privia. It gets decent reviews, although I'm also considering getting the PX-300 instead of the PX-100. The only price I've seen for the 100 is $499.99, both on-line and at music stores (Guitar Center) and Best Buy. The 300 is $599.99. I've seen a few on ebay, but they're not much cheaper, and when you add shipping, it's about the same (except no tax on ebay.

If you end up with the Casio, I'd be interested to hear how you like it.