Thinking of getting a digital piano

[kluurs]

George reminds of me of my digital piano sojourn. I had never had a digital piano and have a grand in the living room. I liked the idea of something I could play at night and so bought the proverbial $1000 digital as a "proof of concept" sort of thing. It didn't take long for me to determine that I liked the ability to play without anyone else being involved in listening - BUT I also wasn't terribly impressed with the piano. Consequently, I then went in search of a decent instrument. You can certainly follow that path, but given your level and my experience, I'd say buy the piano that appeals to you and skip the step of trying out the concept. It saves time and money - and most importantly, will bring you more pleasure with less hassle (i.e. it's not fun having 3 pianos in one's living room.).

[Horace]

It makes sense for me not to spend much money on this digital, and the Roland allegedly has a pretty good action. I guess that's all I really care about. The cabinet style stand should make it stable enough. When I lived in an apartment, I did all my practicing on a Yamaha P-80, so this'll be a step up from that. I'm mostly just concerned about huge red flags that might make me want to stay away from this. There's a retailer in Houston, maybe I'll stop by.

[jon-nyc]

Sell covered calls on your AAPL and get the nice one.

[Horace]

@jon-nyc said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Sell covered calls on your AAPL and get the nice one.

It's more a matter of principle and precedent. Rhetorical arguments about whether to spend amounts that matter, become more difficult to have, if certain principles haven't been followed on the smaller things.

[George K]

These guys (admittedly, they're salesman) go into some good depth on digitals.

https://azpianonews.blogspot.com

Here's what they say about the FP30X

https://azpianonews.blogspot.com/2021/04/roland-fp30x-review-digital-piano.html

[Jolly]

Digitals are like acoustics in that it's all a personal decision. Have some fun. Do a little shopping in person. Compare and contrast what you need with what you want and wish to spend.

[Copper]

@jon-nyc said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Yep. That was me with a Yamaha P120 back in 2002

Hey! I had a Yamaha P120 in 2002.

I traded it in after a few years for a Yamaha P250.

[Horace]

@George-K said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

These guys (admittedly, they're salesman) go into some good depth on digitals.

https://azpianonews.blogspot.com

Here's what they say about the FP30X

https://azpianonews.blogspot.com/2021/04/roland-fp30x-review-digital-piano.html

Thanks George. Those drawbacks are meaningless to me.

I guess I should go to the store to try them out, because the shape and feel of the keyboard, especially space between black keys, is different piano to piano, and could be a deal breaker.

[LuFins Dad]

But a used Clavinova or Roland HP over an FP30.

Number 1 issue with inexpensive digitals is stand instability. When you are hitting the keys of the instrument to play mf (that’s mezzo forte), you are hitting with more force than you think, and that motion is not a straight 90 degrees. There is a fair amount of side to side. After a few months of playing, those FP30 stands will give you a lot of sway. When that starts happening, you get tension and instability in other parts of even the electronic components. Get something that has a full panel and feet that extend out a bit. Preferably, something that also has front legs coming down from keybed to the feet for even more solid construction.

$700 is too much money to spend on something you won’t like.

[LuFins Dad]

https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1392063511653093/?ref=search

Message them and tell them you can buy a CLP735 new for $2399 and offer them $1,000

[Horace]

@LuFins-Dad said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

But a used Clavinova or Roland HP over an FP30.

Number 1 issue with inexpensive digitals is stand instability. When you are hitting the keys of the instrument to play mf (that’s mezzo forte), you are hitting with more force than you think, and that motion is not a straight 90 degrees. There is a fair amount of side to side. After a few months of playing, those FP30 stands will give you a lot of sway. When that starts happening, you get tension and instability in other parts of even the electronic components. Get something that has a full panel and feet that extend out a bit. Preferably, something that also has front legs coming down from keybed to the feet for even more solid construction.

$700 is too much money to spend on something you won’t like.

Thanks LD. I had that issue with my yamaha p-80, but after I got the cabinet style stand, it was fine. I think the stand in the link should be ok.

A close by guitar center sells these Rolands, which are actually too cheap for the acoustic shop that carries Rolands. They only carry the more expensive models. Good thing for me, 30 minutes less driving.

[Horace]

@LuFins-Dad said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1392063511653093/?ref=search

Message them and tell them you can buy a CLP735 new for $2399 and offer them $1,000

That's a good idea. I should watch the used market. I'm in no hurry.

[kluurs]

Having played the 635, I think you'd like it a whole lot more.

[Rainman]

I do wonder if the wars between manufacturers are as intense as they appeared to be years ago. I am also trying to convince myself to buy a digital, as I've migrated away from my grand to my Arturia MKII which was for DAW, but now I use it daily for piano.
Unlike some, I hate going to any piano store to play the various instruments. Guitar World? I may be too much of a snob (tongue in cheek). Anyway, don't want to hijack this thread, but I do encourage the conversation. There may be a lot of people that drop in for the hands-on advice this forum provides.

[Horace]

@Rainman said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

There may be a lot of people that drop in for the hands-on advice this forum provides.

People come here mostly to educate themselves about the various ways in which Democrats are dumb, but I hope piano chat can also provide some educational value.

[Rainman]

Horace, I could have sworn you said people come here because you are so incredibly handsome and slovenly beautifulyesque. I'd ask the ladies if that's true, but. . .

[Horace]

@Rainman said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Horace, I could have sworn you said people come here because you are so incredibly handsome and slovenly beautifulyesque. I'd ask the ladies if that's true, but. . .

They are so inFATuated with me.

[Horace]

Today I learned that the space between the black keys in the groups of 2 is slightly more than the space between the keys in the groups of 3.

[Copper]

Interesting

https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2757797/black-keys-not-equally-distant-from-neighboring-white-keys.html#:~:text=Looking more at that the,one of three black keys.

[jon-nyc]

@Horace said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Today I learned that the space between the black keys in the groups of 2 is slightly more than the space between the keys in the groups of 3.

Racist.