#1044966 - 03/07/01 09:12 PM
Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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Jrock444
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Registered: 03/07/01
Posts: 19
Loc: ,VA,UNITED STATES
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Hi I'm trying to get some opinions on what make and model of keyboard I should buy. I don't want a synth with 150 different sounds, I just want something that sounds as close to an acoustic piano as I can get. I need something I can use headphones on (I live in an apartment) and 88 wieghted keys. I've checked out some full size digital pianos by Yamaha and Casio, and they sounded and played pretty good, but were about a grand apiece. Does anyone know of anything in the 300 - 600 price range that sounds good? Or maybe a place where I could buy a used digital piano. So far it seems like nothing compares to an old upright 200 dollar piano, but I can't be bangin' away on it in my apartment like I could one with headphones and volume control. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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#1044967 - 03/09/01 06:33 PM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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B3GOD
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Registered: 03/02/01
Posts: 9
Loc: Lake Geneva,WI,UNITED STATES
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88 keys for 300 to 600 bucks? You're dreaming...
The only way you'll find them for that is to check out used Yamaha Clavinovas and some older Roland digital pianos....Not far over the $1000 mark is Generalmusic, which is distributed through Peavey....Cheap, user-friendly, and a fantastic piano sound....If you want 88 keys, you usually end up paying at least $1000 just for that...
Good Luck!
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#1044968 - 03/09/01 06:48 PM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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KidCharlemagne
Senior Member
Registered: 01/31/01
Posts: 122
Loc: charlestown,MA,UNITED STATES
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the b3deity speaks the truth. it costs what it costs. less than high 900s is just not doable for what you want. i recommend the yamaha series, put down 600 and finance the rest. do a credit card transfer and pay it off in three months interest free. live on macaroni for three months and enjoy for years. and what are you talking about, $200 upright piano? what are ye, deeef? jk. 
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#1044969 - 03/10/01 01:31 AM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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musicman1@ovation.net
Senior Member
Registered: 12/06/00
Posts: 167
Loc: Duncanville,TX,UNITED STATES
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I've seen the Yamaha P-80 for $889.00. It's over $600.00, but a really quite nice and very much fits your requirements. It doesn't have built-in speakers, but you can use stereo (if it has inputs), guitar amp, or headphones. The action and sounds are VERY nice for the price... even for much more. Few sounds, no bells, no whistles... but it's the real deal. They've also got the P-200 for QUITE a bit more, but I think the P-80 gives it a run for its money.
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#1044970 - 03/11/01 12:23 PM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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Steve44
Senior Member
Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 375
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Your price range is a bit low for new units. Your best bet is the Roland EP90C - it comes with speakers and a stand, sounds great and is something like $700. Its keys are pretty light, but it's a great unit, you can even plug other stuff into its sound system. There's also the Korg SP-100 which goes for about 700 but has no stand, and the Kurzweil SP series: the SP88 is about $750 and the SP88X (with hammer action) can be found for $8-900. The Kurzweils sound great once you lose the reverb, but like the Korg doesn't come with a stand or speakers.
In the range of around $1000 there's the SP88X, the Roland RD100, RD150 and the new RS-9 which does have tons of sounds but it's got 88 keys and it's cheap. There's also the Yamaha P80 and YDP101.
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#1044971 - 03/13/01 12:49 AM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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Dave Bryce
Moderator
10k Club
Registered: 09/24/00
Posts: 13155
Loc: Thousand Oaks,CA,UNITED STATES
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Another thought is to go with a 76 key machine...realistically , the five semitones on the top and the seven semitones on the bottom that you're missing are kinda easy to live without in many applications - plus, you can transpose up or down if you really need to get to them.
The reason that I mention this is because last time I looked, the Kurzweil SP76 was in the price range that you specified, and it will do the job nicely if you can live without those 12 keys.
dB
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#1044972 - 03/13/01 12:25 PM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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good morning
Senior Member
Registered: 06/22/00
Posts: 205
Loc: Arlington,VA,UNITED STATES
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KidCharlemagne speaks a sad truth. Good piano sounds cost. In time your ears will hear better and you'll likely get dismayed over the cheaper sounds of a new $900 keyboard. Shaving keys will save some money, but the best piano sounds are on 88-key machines. Plus, there are times I hit some notes all the way at the bottom with my left hand, and I'd really miss not being able to do that. The growl down there is fantastic!
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#1044973 - 03/13/01 01:11 PM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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good morning
Senior Member
Registered: 06/22/00
Posts: 205
Loc: Arlington,VA,UNITED STATES
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Sorry about that. B3god said the sad truth, but Kidcharlemagne found a solution. Jrock, there IS hope!
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#1044974 - 03/14/01 04:48 AM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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jimtheswede
Senior Member
Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 90
Loc: Overland Park,KS,UNITED STATES
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I just bought a Kurzweil SP76 and really like it for what it is, and for what it cost ($500). Good sound (strings sound nice also), good action (semi-weighted), great portability, decent basic midi controller, and excellent value. I just wanted a basic board (or module) to replace the weak QS6 piano sound and I found just what I needed in the SP76. It is a fun keyboard to play, seems built with quality construction, and perfectly suits the need I had. The 88 key fully-weighted is more expensive ($900), and I don't see paying the extra $$ for it.
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#1044975 - 03/14/01 09:29 PM
Re: Need help buying keyboard/ dig. piano
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Jrock444
Member
Registered: 03/07/01
Posts: 19
Loc: ,VA,UNITED STATES
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Hey people. Thanks for the feedback. Well, after a little shopping around, it looks like I'm gonna have to drop around a grand for what I want. I could skimp and get something that would work for now, but wouldn't last more than a year or two. Soooo I might as well buy quality and have it last. I've seen some cheaper 76 key models, but that leaves a lot to be desired for someone that plays that low, so I'll stick with the 88's. The best I've played so far has been a technics px-251 on closeout for $1999. Beautiful sound sampled from a steinway grand and played great. Also a Kurzweil sp88 for $1200 which sounded pretty good.
However, I saw a used Technics px-201 online for $990 dollars in mint condition. Is this a good price for that model? I think its about 5 years old, but Technics are supposed to be solid pianos from what I've heard. Coincidentally, the seller only lives about 10 minutes from me so I could go check it out. Once again thanks for the advice.
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