Hi I don’t play acoustic piano but I have a Yamaha Clavininova These are expensive, but last summer I bought my daughter a Yamaha Dgx 660 This has a full set of XG lite voices as well, and a good selection of built in Styles And very nice Piano section and action. If you take the 3 peddle option a very useful piano and more bang for bucks So a bit more than just a piano plenty of info on the web. Here is a link to the Yamaha site .
Casio has a good line of inexpensive and light keyboards: https://www.sweetwater.com/c498--Casio--Keyboards_and_Synthesizers. I use a Casio PX 5s for gigging. 88 keys and only 24 lbs. Nord has a 73 key piano, only 22 lbs, which I would love to have, but it's $3500.00!
Leilani (my wife/music partner) plays guitar and Tactile MIDI controller but wants to expand her musical horizons by getting a digital piano.
She wants 88 weighted keys with good piano action and of course realistic piano sounds.
Being that it's a learning instrument, she doesn't want to go into the multi-thousand-dollar mode.
Any suggestions from people who also play acoustic piano?
Thanks, Bob
Bob, you gonna want to save up a ton of cash because I recomend the Nord Piano 4 digital piano. It has real piano weight keybed, string residents simulation, spilt layering, 120 voice poliphony, 1gb for the Nord piano libray of free high quailty virtual pianos and keybord instruments. The Nord piano is ment to be treated as a digital traditional piano mean that you can only download harpsichord, electric piano, grand piano, and upright piano sounds.
Yeah, you need to spend a couple of grand at least to get something with 88 keys and weighted action. Browse Sweetwater.com for the selection with the specs you want.
I did some study in this a while back when my son was looking to buy. The Casio and Yamaha have the best price point that we found. The conclusion for us was, they all sound fantastic at the medium price point. The real thing you are buying is the "feel and touch". My son plays, so he sat at a lot of them before he settled on the Yamaha.
The "touch and feel" of a keyboard is very subjective. You have to try them all to find one that feels good to you. One man's touch..........you know the rest.
No longer available. I don't recall for sure what we paid 4 years ago, likely around $299 USD? Has been a good investment based on the fact that he still plays this regularly.
I have had a Yamaha DGX660 for about 6 months now. Replaced a Casio arranger and a Yamaha P115 in one instrument. Full 88 keyboard with accoustic piano feel and sound. Probably under $1000 in US. Yamaha have free 3 pedal unit with purchase. Will take years to exhaust the amazing features of this machine. Garth
I've got a now discontinued Kurzweil Mk 10 Digital Piano. It feels like I'm playing a real acoustic piano, although the touch is a little light. For me, the Yamahas have a little bit of a spongy feel to them that I don't get with the Kurzweil. Of course mine is now about 20 years old, but it's going strong. Kurzweil sold to Young Chang (Korean instrument company), so I can't comment on their current offerings. It was about $3000 way back then.
Something else you might want to consider is using a MIDI controller and a computer with a VSTi piano.
Keyboard feel is a very personal thing - what works for one person might not work for another. I've played my share of weighted keyboards, and I've never warmed to them. I'd rather play an unweighted keyboard, as long as it had a nice velocity response. For years I had the good fortune to play on a grand with a very light touch - I loved it.
Then again, I'm really just a hack guitarist who happens to play mostly chordal piano.
I see fairly good reviews for the M-Audio Hammer 88, which is a weighted controller that lists in the $400 range. I haven't played it, I'm just mentioning it as an option.
There are a lot of really good pianos VSTis out there, such as:
I'm a "chord hack" like David in his post above mine. That being said, I have friends that are very serious keys players. Both own multiple keyboards from different manufacturers. Both settled on playing Yamaha PSR-910 series keyboards as their main daily player. I was the original owner of one and sold it to one of these guys and he's used it daily since he bought it from me. He prefers the piano voices and feel of a Roland he owns but chooses the Yamaha for it's versatility, size, weight and features.
I purchased a Yamaha PSR-670 from the other friend and absolutely love it. For me, it is a much better fit. Because it is newer than the 900 series that date back to around 2010, it has many updated features that address some of the changes that modern music have evolved to.
For you as well, these series of keyboards are workstations and are focused more on creating styles and songs than an arranger keyboard that focuses on having tons of styles and easy access for live performance. So one of these keyboards may be beneficial to your Norton Styles business when your wife isn't using it....
I also wouldn't be afraid to buy a used one. I had a older Korg for a while that only had 30 voices, but the piano sounds were awesome.
The Williams Rhapsody 2 digital piano fills your home or studio with impressive looks, great sound, realistic feel and plenty of features. Rhapsody 2 is built around 12 custom sounds crafted from a world-renown grand piano, vintage electric pianos, organs, strings, synths and more. The new and improved weighted keybed provides a higher standard in realistic response and feel. Modulation/FX control provides realistic rotary and vibrato effects on select instruments. Includes 12 demo songs, USB MIDI port, 2-track recorder, and convenient features such as split/layer, transpose, metronome, plus separate headphone and stereo out jacks.
Was: Regular Price $499.99 Savings: Your Savings $200.00 Your Price $299.99
I got to agree with Floyd.... that's a crazy good deal on weighted 88 keys.
If you're not going to transport it to gigs, it would be a great keyboard to have. Can't beat weighted keys on a piano. My synths are all non-weighted and it doesn't "feel real". Touch sensitivity .... louder if you play harder and softer with a gentle touch would really cap that as a must have.
If she's gigging with it.... look for something more transportable even if it costs more.
Casio PX5S is 88 weighted keys, sounds fantastic, and has lots of live performance features. Clicks in at just under a grand. It’s held that price point for many years. And it’s very light weight because it’s mostly plastic.
Banks of performance presets are laid out for performers, rather than banks of voices.
I hated this feature at first but now I really dig it.
She has it narrowed down to a couple of models, a Roland and a Yamaha but wants to hear them alone with a few minor contenders.
Business slows down a week after the New Years Eve blow-out before it picks up again. We want to plan a trip from West Palm Beach to Miami to hear a couple.
Thanks again, we have a nice list of pianos, and it looks like if they sound good enough it'll be in the $600 range.
Casio CDP-135 88-Key Digital Piano with Wood Stand and Sustain Pedal Black Casio's CDP-135CS Digital Piano includes a wooden stand, and is an unbeatable value, delivering everything you need for authentic piano practice and performance. It features a scaled, weighted hammer action keyboard, built-in speakers and the stunning sound of a 9-foot concert grand piano. Affordable, compact and lightweight, the CDP-135 is perfect for any gig.
Incredible, Authentic Feel The keyboard action in the CDP-135 is provides the weight and resistance of an acoustic piano with accurate scaled weighting from the lowest key to the highest C.
Grand Sound The CDP-135 features a stereo recording of a 9-foot concert grand piano that was recorded at multiple dynamic levels to provide an expressive grand piano experience. This piano tone is complemented by nine other tones and as well as Casio’s Hall reverb effects.
Plug and Play The CDP-135 features class-compliant USB MIDI, meaning it can be used with your computer, tablet and other devices without the need to download drivers, making it the perfect 88-key MIDI controller for your home studio.
Something else you might want to consider is using a MIDI controller and a computer with a VSTi piano.
Know of anything decent sounding and free? As one who does not perform any more, free is my price point. If I were in a position to earn that expense back I would think differently.
On to Notes post though, my question is about looking ahead to 8-12 months from now. When the learning phase is over, is this a keyboard she will take out to play live? I have never bought a weighted key keyboard because I don't want to carry it, and if I am going to play synth keys on stage, I should practice on synth keys.
Also, opinionated mode on, anything like those Yamaha boards that have little speakers built in are just not good enough for me. I see them more in the toy or "lessons for a kid who may not stay with it" category. Again, just an opinion. If it costs a grand, pay a grand. Unless your goal is to be the richest corpse in the graveyard, you make it, spend it. Those Yamaha boards from Best Buy I spoke of are all over Craigslist for 50 bucks. A Kurzweil you can resell for decent dollars of she decides to not pursue it. However, on the other side of that balance sheet is that if it is just a learning tool, what difference does it make if it sounds good? Hanon scales are Hanon scales no matter what you play them on. Half the time when I played Hanon method stuff I didn't have sound on. I played them on a keyboard that was powered off. C, then G, then D, then A, and so forth. But that's just me and what I did. Irrelevant now with all this arthritis in my knuckles.
Those little Yamaha and Roland portables with built in speakers are under rated in my opinion. Plugged them into a PA system or powered speaker and they come to life in a surprising way. The built in speakers are great for practice, on stage monitoring and just to get you by when that's all you need. But, when you try them out in a store ask if you can connect them to a stereo PA or even a decent mono powered speaker. I think you'll be surprised. This opinion is presented by a guitar player/singer that does not play keyboards or pianos. I'm going by what I experience from listening.
The best-feeling upper-tier Yamaha models sometimes have the identical keyboard action in a lower model. I would call yamaha and ask for the 'families' of keyboards that have the same keyboard design, have her try out each family, and go with the lowest priced item in the family she likes - with MIDI control - the sounds don't matter much, unless you want it to be completely standalone - then you'll have to pay more, since the 2 big things in a keyboard, IMHO, are the keyboard feel and the sounds.
It's a big decision for her as it will be her learning instrument.
She plays guitar and a Buchla Thunder tactile MIDI controller now. So she has the theory in her head, it's about teaching it to her fingers.
I'm curious, how important is a keyboard with weighted keys for someone who is older and on her 3rd instrument? (of course this might complicate the decision making process).
Hi again I have followed this thread with interest and still say, I stand by my original recommendation in the 2nd post. The Yamaha DGX60 as I bought for my daughter. Nice keybed and good keys great piano sounds and all those other XGlite set of voices for a bit of fun, as well as the piano learning, plus all those built in styles for even a bit more fun if you get tired of hard piano practice. Add to that audio and midi on board recorder to usb, mic and aux inputs that get included in the recording should you want it, and integration to ipad by wifi (adapter req) for chord tracking a good deal. For $6 to 700 good bang for bucks Most of all have fun, as you learn. Mike
I'm curious, how important is a keyboard with weighted keys for someone who is older and on her 3rd instrument? (of course this might complicate the decision making process).
I will give you an answer from my perspective - which is - a lifetime guitar player (mainly acoustic, but some electric these days) - and a piano/keyboard "dabbler" off and on for a lot of those years, as well... I have hopes of one day dedicating more time to playing piano...
I have a synth from (about) 1990 (I bought it to use with BIAB when I first purchased it). It has the standard, non-weighted keys that synth come with (A Yamaha SY-55).
I did spend about 6 month (circa 2008?) REALLY practicing piano (learning Billy Joel, Elton, John, Carole King, Randy Newman stuff). It was difficult really "getting the feel" for playing that stuff using the synth - because of the lack of resistance from "real keys". I understood that when I sat down to an actual piano. A real AHA moment. That "weight" - and the feeling of "throwing" the hammer at the strings of the piano (that is how i think of it) was INCREDIBLY important (for me, at least).
I went out and bought a Yamaha P-85. A digital piano with weighted keys. Not EXACTLY like the feel of a REAL piano, but close enough to TRULY make a difference in "how it feels to play".
Floyd's advice is spot on depending on where you are coming from. If you play an acoustic piano the a non-weighted keyboard may be a problem. My wife plays acoustic piano and hates the non-weighted keyboard controllers and my 88 key Yamaha Portable Grand DGX-500.
If you have no experience playing acoustic pianos, like me, then getting a non-weighted keyboard may not cause a problem. But just remember that if you go to an acoustic piano you will immediately know the difference. I am not a pianist by any stretch of the imagination but I am much better on my keyboards that my wife's piano.
Floyd and Mario and others have all given great advice, and I will throw my 'weight' behind their comments also, if I may.
I'm following this thread with interest because I'm also looking for another keyboard sometime in the near future.
Whatever model you choose, do get a keyboard with a weighted action. They are just so much more pleasant to play.
As we all know, 'Piano' is an abbreviation for Pianoforte. Soft and Loud. You simply can't responsively/reliably do that with a synth keyboard. Well, none that I have ever played anyway.
The action is what makes it.
I've got a Roland RD-1000 88-key weighted action keyboard, (as well as a Yamaha Conservatorium Series C5 Grand). That Roland was very expensive but mine has certainly paid for itself many time over. There are much cheaper models available nowadays, but there's no substitute for a weighted action.
Whatever model you choose, do get a keyboard with a weighted action. They are just so much more pleasant to play.
I have to disagree with you on this one Track. As one who played synth keys and then bought a weighted keyboard, it was like lifting weights for me to play those heavy keys. You are a piano player. You know weighted keys. So to YOU, a pianoi player, playing those light touch synth keys doesn't feel right. Leilani isn't a piano player like you. She is going to be learning keyboards. And note that in my mind at least, "piano" and "keyboard" are not synonymous. A piano is a piano. A synth is a keyboard. I personally would never move an instrument to a gig that plays one sound when I can move one instrument that offers 128. Particularly in the duo situation that they are in. She may need organ, strings, brass.... Sitting at a piano playing Chopin is not the same animal as being at a live gig playing in a band. The subtleties of touch just don't come into play when the piano is not the solo instrument.
I bought an Ensoniq KS32 with weighted keys used from someone. I set it up, played it for a week, and hated it so bad I immediately sold it for a loss. My hands actually hurt from playing those heavy keys. And for ME to be willing to lose money.... you know it's serious.
Situations are different. Solo pianist on s stage or someone playing keyboards in a band where it is a supporting instrument. Horses for courses.
Notes, I'm cheap and I know you are too. It's called survival. I NEVER buy musical instruments/stage stuff new. Way too much stuff available used in perfect condition. Here's a few I just found on the South Florida Craigslist:
There are several more. This is just Craigslist, there's Offerup, the Guitar Center used lists, Sweetwater, Sam Ash, Reverbnation. GT btw has a website listing all their used stuff nationwide, the local store can have something shipped in from another store.
Just the way I roll, YMMV. The key to finding a truly great deal is patience. Be willing to wait a few weeks until it pops up, then go for it.
However, the title from the O/P's post indicates that they are looking for a Digital Piano, not a synth or a keyboard. My reply was made with that as a focal point.
Quote:
I personally would never move an instrument to a gig that plays one sound when I can move one instrument that offers 128
Also Digital Pianos can produce many more sounds than just a piano. Don't let the name fool you.
She's leaning against weighted keys in her brain right now, but until she gets her hands on weighted keys, she isn't really going to make the decision.
Her thoughts right now (I'll use synths for unweighted and pianos for weighted just to make the list easier to type).
1) Synths generally have more sounds, strings, drums, brass, etc. She uses these sounds on her Buchla Thunder but the Thunder is very old. She has two, they don't break often, but with Don gone, who knows how long she can get them fixed.
2) Synths should be easier on her hands, but pianos will strengthen her hands so if she finds herself in a room with a real piano, she will be comfortable with it.
I know how she feels, making a decision like that is tough. You want to make the best one first because it saves not only money, but time, and even though there is never enough of either, time is more precious. To spend a year to learn you made the wrong choice is a year you can't get back.
Since I have always played synths (Korg, Roland, Yamaha, etc.) and since I cut my keyboard 'teeth' on a Farfisa and then Hammond organs, I'm fine with the synth keys. I'm trying to guide her to think more about what she is going to use the keyboard for. Does she predominantly want to learn piano or does she think she will get more mileage out of a synth.
I can see the attraction of both.
Thank you all for your generous help and advice on both sides of this dilemma, it is much appreciated.
I would go with something synthesizer based because with a Rhodes or a Wurly you only have that one sound available. The EP 30, as it has aged and started to vanish from the landscape (They ARE from 1974, after all!) is likely to be overpriced because they are called "legacy" (I hate that word. They are OLD, not legacy.) Newer Roland pianos will treat you better as sound reproduction technology has improved so much in the 50 years since the RD 30 came out. And you won't have to pay "legacy" prices.
A lot depends on your application. Do you want a "piano" piano as if you had an upright in your living room or do you want the bells and whistles of a workstation, hundreds of sounds that come in a synth that also does piano well, etc... I have an old Kurzweil KP2500x (that weighs 72 pounds and is too big and heavy for anything but a platform stand) that sounds great, yet I also have a Nord Electro4 that not only has solid pianos but the best Hammond sounds short of lugging a 600 pound Hammond around. And the Roland FA-06 I just bought used for $800 at the Sweetwater campus in Fort Wayne is also great. The Roland though is a workstation with a lot of sequencer power, an assignable 16 button pad where you can create a "song set" of any 16 sounds of the hundreds of them and call them up on the fly from the keypad (I use that a lot), an SD card slot that you can bring songs into the board, load them into RAM and play them while you play along live...
Application should really be your first consideration. If you want that classic unique Rhodes sound, buy the Rhodes. The same for the unique Wurly sound. Workstation vs just a sound source. Remember that with a complex keyboard will come a large learning curve. If you just want to play piano with piano feel, Roland's velocity sensitivity is very lifelike. As I like to say, horses for courses.
Just remember that old doesn't mean good OR bad. I still have 2 Ensoniq keyboards (EQS-1 and EPS 16+ sampler) from the 80s that are great and I will likely keep them until I die. I don't even really play anymore. Yet I have 8 keyboards and 6 modular synths. I really kind of just buy them because I can. LOL!
Casio digital pianos are well respected at the lower cost end.
Yamaha and Kawai both make their own keybeds and both make their own quality acoustic pianos ... the skills transfer.
I believe Roland, Nord and Korg all buy in someone else's keybeds (mostly Fatar, I think, though Nord's grans uses a Kawai).
Just about every recent piano has a USB-MIDI interface. All weighted keyboards are heavy-ish ... if you're planning on moving it ofen, check the weight.
The usual advice is to try before you buy, but sometimes that's easier said then done.
FWIW, I use a Kawai MP6 stage piano, now superceded by the MP7 and MP7SE. I usually use the built-in sounds, but sometimes PianoTeq.
My brother chose Roland from which he preferred the sound. I prefer the Kawai's keys. YMMV.
Thoughts on how you plan to use it will help people narrow things down.
I've got a Casio Privia PX-S3000 (as well as a Roland RD-1000 and a Yamaha C5 Grand, but that's another story)
The PX-S3000 (might be PX-S3100 now) is very portable and has a full 88 key weighted action. It has 700 tones available (I generally only use Grand Piano, but there are Electric Pianos, Vibes, and many more).
It's noted to be the "Slimmest hammer-action digital piano in the world". Very portable, very good, and quite affordable considering what you get.
Just a note that this is reviving a thread that was five years old. I’m assuming Notes bought a keyboard long ago. If there is interest in this topic, it might be appropriate to start a new thread, along the lines of What Keyboard Would You Buy Now.
In my case as a winds player, I’ll never be able to tell a difference, but I would hope that Gary Curran would see the thread and weigh in.
This was revived by a newer user who may have thought this was the best way to ask the question. There's nothing "wrong" with this, but a fresh thread may have been a better option.
