Yet another piano question

[Alphathree33]

I live in a relatively small-ish bachelor apartment in downtown Toronto.

I don't want this to hamper my aspirations to learn piano (classical style), but I also can't afford (nor do I have room for) a proper acoustic piano.

While I might eventually invest in a full-sized digital piano with three pedals, etc., I may have to settle for a portable digital piano that I can pack up to save room.

Most of the ones I've been looking at have 88 hammer-action weighted keys and a "sustain" pedal only... but they're small enough to pack up if I have to.

My question is: assuming I progress at an average rate starting from a beginner level, how long will it be before I need to upgrade to a full 3-pedal piano?

 

[2Xtreme21]

The other pedals aren't really useful, to be honest. The one just dampens the sound and the other you press it down after you press one key (or multiple keys) and it will sustain JUST what you've pressed down.

Edit to clear up confusion on 2nd pedal:

You play, let's say, middle C. Press the key then press that pedal down... it will sustain middle C, but won't sustain any subsequent key you press.

 

[KillerCharlie]

I'm in a similar situation but already know piano and am just looking to buy one.

No, you don't need 3 pedals; the sustain pedal is enough. Have you been looking only at "keyboard" models (just the keyboard--the stand comes separately) or also "console" models (the stands come built in)?

What models are you looking at? What's your price range?

 

[Alphathree33]

I like the console models, but they're too big to pack up. So I've been looking at the keyboard models.

e.g. Text

Keep in mind I'm in Canada and a lot of the U.S. music stores don't ship here. I can't seem to find any Canadian stores that sell Yamaha for some reason.

EDIT: Oh, and my price range is $1000-ish.

 

[irishScott]

Pedals aren't much of an issue until you get to the higher levels (other than the sustain pedal). There's definitely a large difference in the action while playing a keyboard vs a piano, but nothing you shouldn't be able to adapt to once you get to the higher levels (assuming you buy a decent keyboard).

 

[2Xtreme21]

You may want to check out a retail store like Walmart, honestly. You can get some high quality keyboards there for decent prices.

Edit: Here's one, albeit in USD

Edit2 in response to your post below this one: I read your post. Check the link... it's hammer-action and is not "just a toy."

 

[Alphathree33]

irishScott: Maybe you didn't read my post, but I'm looking at purchasing a digital piano in the $1,000-range (we're not talking a toy from futureshop here) that has hammer-action fully weighted keys that are supposed to replicate an acoustic piano feel.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
You may want to check out a retail store like Walmart, honestly. You can get some high quality keyboards there for decent prices.

Edit: Here's one, albeit in USD

Keys are not weighted

 

[KillerCharlie]

You're in a big city. There's bound to be stores that sell practically any brand you can think of. Most regular piano stores sell digital.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
You may want to check out a retail store like Walmart, honestly. You can get some high quality keyboards there for decent prices.

Edit: Here's one, albeit in USD

Keys are not weighted

Are you sure? I can't tell by looking at it... it says hammer-action though.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
irishScott: Maybe you didn't read my post, but I'm looking at purchasing a digital piano in the $1,000-range (we're not talking a toy from futureshop here) that has hammer-action fully weighted keys that are supposed to replicate an acoustic piano feel.

Yeah, figured that out on a second read and edited my post. Se above.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
You may want to check out a retail store like Walmart, honestly. You can get some high quality keyboards there for decent prices.

Edit: Here's one, albeit in USD

Edit2 in response to your post below this one: I read your post. Check the link... it's hammer-action and is not "just a toy."

In my research I've found that there's "hammer-action" and "weighted hammer-action". I'm not sure exactly what the difference.... only that the latter costs more and is supposedly more realistic. =)

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Pedals aren't much of an issue until you get to the higher levels (other than the sustain pedal). There's definitely a large difference in the action while playing a keyboard vs a piano, but nothing you shouldn't be able to adapt to once you get to the higher levels (assuming you buy a decent keyboard).

And the lessons I'm taking will be on a proper acoustic piano, so at least once a week I'll get to compare. =)

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
I live in a relatively small-ish bachelor apartment in downtown Toronto.

I don't want this to hamper my aspirations to learn piano (classical style), but I also can't afford (nor do I have room for) a proper acoustic piano.

While I might eventually invest in a full-sized digital piano with three pedals, etc., I may have to settle for a portable digital piano that I can pack up to save room.

Most of the ones I've been looking at have 88 hammer-action weighted keys and a "sustain" pedal only... but they're small enough to pack up if I have to.

My question is: assuming I progress at an average rate starting from a beginner level, how long will it be before I need to upgrade to a full 3-pedal piano?

I have an almost-never-used keyboard with sustain pedal if you are interested. I purchased it for $300 (plus $50 for the pedal) about 7 years ago when I lived in an apartment. I used it for about 1 month, and then we moved to a house and got an actual piano. I've used it maybe twice since then, and it is in perfect working condition.

PM me if you are interested.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: IntrinsicValue

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
I live in a relatively small-ish bachelor apartment in downtown Toronto.

I don't want this to hamper my aspirations to learn piano (classical style), but I also can't afford (nor do I have room for) a proper acoustic piano.

While I might eventually invest in a full-sized digital piano with three pedals, etc., I may have to settle for a portable digital piano that I can pack up to save room.

Most of the ones I've been looking at have 88 hammer-action weighted keys and a "sustain" pedal only... but they're small enough to pack up if I have to.

My question is: assuming I progress at an average rate starting from a beginner level, how long will it be before I need to upgrade to a full 3-pedal piano?

I have an almost-never-used keyboard with sustain pedal if you are interested. I purchased it for $300 (plus $50 for the pedal) about 7 years ago when I lived in an apartment. I used it for about 1 month, and then we moved to a house and got an actual piano. I've used it maybe twice since then, and it is in perfect working condition.

PM me if you are interested.

No thanks -- looking to buy new if only to get the latest technology.

 

[everman]

Make sure you know what a piano feels like before you purchase a keyboard, to me proper feel is very important. To me it needs to feels solid, not flimsy or flexible plastic.

 

[redgtxdi]

"weighted-hammer-action" is definitely necessary.

(These days I couldn't imagine one without).


And most of today's WHA keyboards are a steal considering that a buddy of mine used to have a Korg SG-1 that I thought was the end-all of WHA keyboards at the time (circa 1990) and I think he paid a few grand for it.

Now you can get nice ones for around $1K.

Whatever you do, try & sample whatever you buy. Key action and sound (to you) will be critical.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
"weighted-hammer-action" is definitely necessary.

(These days I couldn't imagine one without).


And most of today's WHA keyboards are a steal considering that a buddy of mine used to have a Korg SG-1 that I thought was the end-all of WHA keyboards at the time (circa 1990) and I think he paid a few grand for it.

Now you can get nice ones for around $1K.

Whatever you do, try & sample whatever you buy. Key action and sound (to you) will be critical.

I will definitely sample what I buy. Now if only I could play something more interesting than a major scale =)