Advice re which DIGITAL PIANO to buy anyone?

[mysticmark]

Hi, with sales on I'm looking to buy a digital (electronic) piano, particularly for children to learn on; anyone have any advice on makes, models and where to buy? Have around ?1k to spend.

Thanks

[sallyfran]

Yamaha Clavinovas are good but I don't know whether there is one that falls within your price range. They sometimes come up for sale second-hand. The really important thing is to get a model that is touch sensitive, ie is louder or softer depending on how forcefully you depress the keys. That way, children can learn to play much more musically and can more readily make the switch to any kind of piano if they were to have lessons with a piano teacher.

[Burbage]

Although Clavinovas are a bit out of price-range, Yamaha has a more competitive range that they've chosen to call Arius. The obvious difference between them is that the latter look less like a piano and more like a keyboard on a chipboard stand (which is what they all are, really). The similarity is that they have the 88 full-size, touch-sensitive, weighted keys and a set of pedals which is probably your minimum set of requirements. As well as the woodwork, there may be other differences - a few minor refinements tone-wise, and speakers mightn't sound as good (though headphones are, I gather, compulsory up to grade 7) - but the workings are likely to be as similar as to make little practical difference.

I don't have either myself. I've a Casio PX-830, and very happy with it. But I don't know where you could try one out, whereas the Yamaha shop in town (Chappells of Bond Street as was, not that it was in Bond Street) has the Yamahas on display for brass-necked shoppers to pound at (alongside the irritatingly proficient, but don't mind them), and I'd strongly advise a trip (though ring first and ask, in case they've shut again or something). In the meantime, the pianoworld forums, though US-based, have a buyer's guide, threads about most models available in the UK, and might be a good, if confusing, starting point for narrowing things down, deciding what is and isn't important and getting used to the terminology, if you've not done that already.

[ultraburner]

If I had 1k to spend I'd look at a Mac with Logic and a weighted keyboard (from gumtree) plugged into a hi-fi.

Far better sound quality and many more options if your son/daughter wants to go further.

[hpsaucey]

UK Pianos really good - helpful website and shop in Enfield. See: http://www.ukpianos.co.uk

[mysticmark]

Hey, thank you all so much for taking time out to share some great advice. I'll follow all up and see where ut gets me. Just hope I dont do the usual when confronted with too many options and sheleve the plan!

There are a lot of makes and it's hard to judge if famous names like Yamaha are truly out in front or largely a big name.

Impressed with the feedback from this forum.

Merry Musical New Year to all ;p

[Otta]

I think the most important things are weighted keys, and touch sensitivity. Those are the two things that will best help the kids learn. Sound quality is obviously desirable, but perhaps that will be more important down the line if they persist with it.

[Jeremy]

Yeah true... but all digital pianos will have weighted keys and touch sensitivity, otherwise they wouldn't be able to call it a digital piano!

(even childrens home keyboards have touch response once you get to around the ?150 mark)

[Otta]

Yeah, but there's good touch sensitivity and crap touch sensitivity.

[mysticmark]

Any particular makes / models in the 600 - just over a grand category that have very good touch sensitivity?

[Otta]

I see you've started this thread in the family section, and that Lorraine has responded to you. Take her advise would be my advise.

[bodsier]

I am also looking so this ties in with what I found on the net so far. Who's Lorraine anyway?

[Carrie]

Lorraine is a fantastic local piano teacher!

[lorraineliyanage]

Thanks for the recommendations, Carrie and otta!

If anyone is thinking of buying a digital piano, I have a discount code with a few online retailers that you are welcome to use. Just get in touch. [email protected]