Buying a keyboard for college

[Mrvile]

Hey guys

College is right around the corner and I'll be leaving a lot of things behind. However, I do want to bring a keyboard with me to school because the piano is one musical ability I do not want to lose (I've been playing for nearly my entire life). I've never really had any experience with keyboards, I've always played on a real piano, so I would like some help purchasing a keyboard.

First, I want to stay within $800 if that's at all possible. The most important part is that it feels like a real piano, with all 88 keys and a simulated hammer action. Good sound would be nice but it's not too important (I could always plug it into my computer). And, of course, it has to have at least a sustain pedal. It doesn't have to have too many little features or anything, I just want it to be like a real piano.

Now I will be going over to my local Guitar Center to play around with a few keyboards to see if there's anything I like, but I'm wondering if there's anything I should know in advance, or any particular brands I should look at/stay away from, and what ATOT's general experience with keyboards are.

Or is bringing a keyboard to college just a bad idea?

Thanks in advance!

 

[KillerCharlie]

I just spent a LOT of time looking for one, but was in the $2000 range (my graduation present to myself... even though I graduated nearly a year ago). I went to the pianoworld.com forums and they were really helpful. I'd suggest going there, but they'll probably recommend the Casio PX110. Supposedly it's the best board hands-down in the $500 range, and I'm not sure you can get a better one for $300 more - I would ask them.

However, I would hold off bringing a keyboard to college. While it's otherwise be a great idea, there are two potential issues:

1) If you're living in dorms, there literally might not be enough room.

2) Where I went to school, all the music practice rooms with pianos in them were open to non-music majors (unless they had the room reserved). Every now and then I'd go and play for a while.

I'd say to hold off buying one until you've been at college a month.

I didn't play much at college (maybe 1 hour every 2 months), while I used to play about an hour a day for 11 years. Amazingly, I lost very little ability - I mostly left some chops, especially in the left hand. However, I think my ear is better and I have a better understanding of the feel and phrasing of music.

 

[TheShiz]

you should have no trouble finding a good quality one for $800 or less. i got a casio privia px110 for $300 used and it plays great. has hammer action and weighted keys. you should check craigslist, and definately play a bunch at guitar center, you will probably find something you like for a reasonable price.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: TheShiz
you should have no trouble finding a good quality one for $800 or less. i got a casio privia px110 for $300 used and it plays great. has hammer action and weighted keys. you should check craigslist, and definately play a bunch at guitar center, you will probably find something you like for a reasonable price.

See... another guy with a PX110! Apparently Casio rules the sub $1000 market. Actually with your budget you could probably get a Casio better than the 110.

First browse the pianoworld.com digital piano forums for old posts, then post one yourself. Like I said, they're really familiar with all the boards in the different price ranges.

 

[slpaulson]

Assuming you are living in a dorm, are you sure that your dorm doesn't already have a piano? Every dorm that I've been in at school has one in a common area.

 

[Mrvile]

Thanks for the replies.

As for the school I'm going to, I haven't personally seen inside the first-year dorm rooms yet (they didn't take us inside on the tour) but they are ~220sqft for a double and ~130sqft for a single. Does this sound big enough to squeeze a keyboard into? Also, since I'll be attending a fine arts school, there won't be any music classes or rooms, unfortunately, so without this I will have no other chances to play.

Guitar Center does have the PX110, so I will definitely take a look at that. I also saw the Yamaha P70 on their website and it is popular and looks quite nice, does anyone have any experience with it?

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: cRazYdood
Assuming you are living in a dorm, are you sure that your dorm doesn't already have a piano? Every dorm that I've been in at school has one in a common area.

And you might be lucky and come across some practice Steinways in the music hall.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: cRazYdood
Assuming you are living in a dorm, are you sure that your dorm doesn't already have a piano? Every dorm that I've been in at school has one in a common area.

I'm not sure about RISD yet, but all the other art schools I visited (MICA, SAIC, SVA) don't.

 

[wirelessenabled]

Love my Roland RD-700 SX but a bit more than $500.

The action on the Roland is hard to tell from a real grand as is the sound. I found the Casios action somewhat mushy.

Has all the rest of the electronic stuff which is rarely used.

 

[IrishBells86]

There's a piano (keyboard) lab at my school, filled with Korgs. It's a concert series, so they feel similar to a real piano. Keys are nicely weighted, more than I've seen on other keyboards, and they sound pretty convincing, too.
Good luck!

 

[mjrpes3]

I originally had the Yamaha P60 (think it cost me $700), after doing some research and reading reviews. It is, for the most part, a good keyboard. I could recommend it.

However, the cheaper keyboards in that price range aren't going to be a perfect replacement. What was most noticeable to me with the P60 is it didn't have a great dynamic range, and this especially showed when hooked up to my computer. I have now sold my P60 and recently purchased a Kawai MP8. It cost $2000 and weighs a ton, but the feel and sound is fantastic. It's like a real piano... which is what wanted in the first place.

 

[Auryg]

I've got a casio px-575r..it's great!

 

[Mrvile]

Yagghhh...keyboards can get expensive!

Anyway I guess if my most important aspect is the feel, the only way I can really pick out a good keyboard is to go and try a bunch. Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll keep an eye out for them while I'm there.

 

[DainBramaged]

I just picked up a Yamaha P-90 but that was $900 + Speaker.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Yagghhh...keyboards can get expensive!

Anyway I guess if my most important aspect is the feel, the only way I can really pick out a good keyboard is to go and try a bunch. Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll keep an eye out for them while I'm there.

I agree with the feel thing, which is why I purchased the Kawai MP8 over the RD700SX - the wooden keys are amazing.

For $800, you can get a decent action, but it's not going to be superb - it will still not feel completely like a real piano. Even my $2000 keyboard (which arguably has the best action of all digital pianos) falls short of a grand piano.

That's why I suggest you keep researching but not buy anything until after you've had a chance to see what your school has.