Any piano/keyboard players in here? I need a recommendation

[StrangeRanger]

Hi all,

Well, the wife has been dropping hints for a long time that she'd like to start playing piano again. We've talked and agreed that we can't afford or fit a real piano at this stage in life, but a decent keyboard might be an option. So Santa is thinking ....

But I have no clue what to look for in a keyboard. Can someone w/ any experience give me some pointers or recommendations please? She doesn't really know what to look for or not in one either and I'd prefer to have Santa bring it and surprise her. Help please?

Thanks,
j

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Price range?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Hi all,

Well, the wife has been dropping hints for a long time that she'd like to start playing piano again. We've talked and agreed that we can't afford or fit a real piano at this stage in life, but a decent keyboard might be an option. So Santa is thinking ....

But I have no clue what to look for in a keyboard. Can someone w/ any experience give me some pointers or recommendations please? She doesn't really know what to look for or not in one either and I'd prefer to have Santa bring it and surprise her. Help please?

Thanks,
j

If you're looking for something to properly model a real piano (i.e. not necessarily do a bunch of synthesizer stuff), I would simply make sure the keyboard has all 88 keys, that the keys are weighted to mimic a real piano, and that the keys are "velocity sensitive." Generally, if the manufacturer has made the effort to weight the keys properly, it will be a given that the keys are velocity sensitive.

"Velocity sensitive" just means that the keys can tell how hard you're hitting them and adjust the volume of the note to correspond. It allows for expressiveness.

Also you want to make sure that it actually sounds like a real piano.

You'll also wanna make sure that it either comes with the pedals or that it has a place to connect pedals which you may have to buy separately.

 

[polarmystery]

I am in the same boat. Any recommendations for a keyboard <$300 that has 88 keys and all of the above mentioned things?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Yamaha N100 digital grand piano - sounds and plays fabulous

they sell for around $2300-$2500

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I am in the same boat. Any recommendations for a keyboard <$300 that has 88 keys and all of the above mentioned things?

LOL, sorry didn't mean to laugh but you aren't going to find anything less than $300 that sounds remotely like a real piano

 

[ahurtt]

A good quality electric/electronic piano will cost you more than a used upright piano that is of good enough quality to start on. Granted it will take up less room.

Anyway, do a google for Yamaha Clavinova.
http://yamahaclavinova.com/lineup/index.html

Not that I'm advocating Yamaha but it's the first thing that came to mind and this page has lots of pictures of the kind of thing you probably want. Other companies make similar products.

Something like this is what you should be looking at if you really want a substitute for a piano as opposed to just "a keyboard." You'll not it has weighted velocity sensitive keys, full compliment of 88 keys, foot pedals, and a music stand to place your music book on like a real piano would.

Stay away from anything with plastic spring loaded keys. Go to a piano store and find a real piano that has a touch that is appealing to you and try to match that as closely as you can when picking an electric piano. (I'm not calling it a "keyboard" because there's a difference.)

 

[StrangeRanger]

Thanks for the info. I have done a little research and probably should have mentioned a price range. I'm really hopping to be < $4-$500.
I've come to realize a lot of the features mentioned above are not in my price range and that is ok. She isn't looking for amazingly piano-like and isn't too concerned w/ it sounding just like or behaving just like a piano. It's really something for her to start learning on again. And if she decides she really still likes it and wants to stick w/ it we'll consider something nice, or preferably a real piano when space and $$ allow it.
So I guess I'm looking in the < 88 key, non-velocity sensitive arena eh? Maybe a nice unit in the 76 key range? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
j

 

[DrPizza]

You can get a used old piano dirt cheap these days. But, you have to educate yourself on what's a good piano that can be tuned, and what's a piece of garbage. Many sellers don't have a clue what they're getting rid of. They just know that it's heavy & nobody wants them, so they sell them cheap. There are also some common problems that you have to watch out for with older pianos. i.e. felt, wood that's swollen/shrunken due to humidity problems, etc.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Look around at used ones. The Yamaha YPC-625 or 635 are weighted 88 key models that sell for less than $1000 new, you can probably find one in mint condition for $300-$400

These would be good learning keyboards as they have the proper weighting and feel, they just lack the quality sound output of the N100 that I mentioned earlier

 

[biggestmuff]

An 88-key digital piano with weighted keys.

 

[QueBert]

you can get a weighted keys keyboard for about $500, add in Reason and the Piano Refil set you have something that will sound as good as any piano for right around $900'ish. Propellerhead did a FANTASTIC job with Piano 2.0. Their instrument Refills are amazing. I heard the Abby Roads ones demoed at a Guitar Center and was blown away. I'd put that set up against any digital piano in any price range. Will be much much cheaper too.