Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Viscount Classico DPs? Are they good? Any type of info?

I've been trying to find a decent used DP for a cheaper price, and came across an ad that someone is selling a Viscount Classico SV-70. I've never heard of the brand at all, and I couldn't find enough topics in the pianoworld search engine, nor google for that matter, to make anything of their quality. I know they're originally made in Italy, some people like them a lot, and I found a site that stated this particular DP was first made in 1996. Does anyone know any definitive info on Viscount pianos?

The person is selling this for $400, which I know is too high, and may be able to talk them down to $300, which I also think is too high. But, as I've been searching for a better DP than I have now, I've come to realize that people/stores/etc. greatly overvalue used DPs, and I'm just gonna have to accept that I will pay more than what I should.

I used to own the Viscount Classico 50. I guess it's a simpler version than the one you're looking at. It's full 88-key graded hammer, though a lot lighter than a Yamaha, Kawai or Roland graded hammers. In my opinion, it's good for beginners up to about a year. Once you advance into early intermediate, expressiveness will hinder, e.g. staccato, p, mp, mf, f isn't quite right.

Maybe the one you're looking at is much better since it has that SV-70 model number? Try to get it down to $200 to get you through the 1st year? Again, I'm not familiar with their prices. It was given to me by a family friend and now I only speak as a former owner. So I don't want to do injustice to your current seller. I guess just do your best but keep in mind, if you continue, you will have to replace it sometime down the road.

I gave mine to my 7 yrs old niece, who just started lessons this week. If I am to sell it, I think I'd feel guilty asking for more than $200.

Why pay $300 or $400 for a 14 year old DP when Casio has a new PX130 and Korg has the SP170 both for $499?

Even 10 years is getting very old. Technology moves forward and today's $500 DPs have features not available in the 1990's. Things like multi-layered samples and damper resonance. Not to mention availability of parts and repair and a warranty.

Think about re-sale value the new $500 Dp will have a resale value of at least $200 in three or so years so you cost of ownership will be about the same.

Yes sellers over value their pianos. Wait 30 days if he still has it offer $100. the asking price is way to high

Yeah, I definitely hear you. I struggle with it back and forth. I had a string a bad luck with cars and shady sellers recently and lost some money, and have tried to find something under $350, but maybe I'm being a bit too rigid with that logic. I guess I also thought even though it'd be older, I could get a better durable brand (Roland, Yamaha, Korg, etc.) than say the Privias.

Here's some info that I hope will help with others that are reviewing used Viscount digital pianos. Viscount is a very reputable company - one of the Global 200 largest instrument manufacturers. It was founded in 1890 and currently has factories in San Marino (Italy) and Mondaino (Italy) as well as an R&D facility in Ancona (Italy). The Viscount SV-70 was produced in the mid 1990's but it was made in Italy and parts are still available in the US through Viscount Tech Services in Wisconsin (715.231.4096). There are no 'published' prices/values for used digital pianos, so it's often difficult to say whether a certain model is "worth the money". I guess Economics 101 - it's worth what someone is willing to pay

I will say from almost 20-years personal experience that the Viscount digital pianos are well-built pianos. These employ primarily wood cabinets (solid wood feet, wood rims on grands, hard-wood veneers, etc....) so I think they stand up well over time as pieces of furniture. In addition Viscount digital piano models all used Fatar (Italy) key actions - which historically have been very reliable. Certainly, technology changes, and older models become 'outdated' when compared to more recent innovations.

Hope this info is helpful...

Kind regards,

- Gary

Cool! Very, very helpful. Thanks.