Thinking of getting a digital piano

[Horace]

It sounds great. I had never been much impressed with Kawais before today, but the ones I played had exceptional tones.

[Jolly]

They're nice pianos. Especially in the verticals, I prefer their tone to Yamaha.

All personal preference, though.

I'm also one of the dimwits that liked the old Baldwins...

[Horace]

I borrowed a piano stencil from the Kawai gallery. How serious is the rule about not putting a piano next to a window? This gets direct sunlight for a couple hours in the morning, but is shaded the majority of the day. Also there's a door to the outside there right behind it. This is the only place in the acoustically advantaged living room. Otherwise it'd go into my office.

[LuFins Dad]

Are the windows UV treated? I would also consider purchasing a hydrometer that measures AND RECORDS the temp and humidity and put it on a table smack in the middle and see how much variation you see over the course of the day.

[jon-nyc]

Get an electric awning for outside the window and lower it in the mornings. They’re compact and not very visible when rolled up.

[Horace]

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

Are the windows UV treated? I would also consider purchasing a hydrometer that measures AND RECORDS the temp and humidity and put it on a table smack in the middle and see how much variation you see over the course of the day.

They aren't UV treated. Will do about the hydrometer.

[Horace]

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

Get an electric awning for outside the window and lower it in the mornings. They’re compact and not very visible when rolled up.

There's a covered porch there already. The direct sun I'm talking about is the near-horizontal kind. It's an east-facing window.

[LuFins Dad]

My biggest concern is refraction. If the light is hitting the windows in a manner that causes it to be focused in a particular area, that could be bad. Since the windows aren’t UV treated, I would consider getting film for them.

[Copper]

https://www.serenashades.com/products/#smart-wood-blinds

Smart Wood Blinds

Link to video

[Jolly]

I'm in Copper's camp. Some blinds will look nice and not be too expensive.

[George K]

@Jolly said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Some blinds will look nice and not be too expensive.

The blinds that Copper recommended are about $1050 per window in my living room.

[Jolly]

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

@Jolly said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Some blinds will look nice and not be too expensive.

The blinds that Copper recommended are about $1050 per window in my living room.

Yeah, but Copper has enough money to burn a wet mule on a windy day.

You can get the same look much cheaper.

[Horace]

Well I have blinds. Just a shame to use them. Good sun and view is the whole point of those windows.

[Jolly]

That oak Kawai ain't a bad view in and of itself...

[Rainman]

Horace, you could always use that oak Kawai for firewood if necessary, like a really cold day. I think oak is good firewood. Maybe ask Jolly.

[LuFins Dad]

@Rainman said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Horace, you could always use that oak Kawai for firewood if necessary, like a really cold day. I think oak is good firewood. Maybe ask Jolly.

Well, it’s only a veneer. The rim is Matoa, a whole lot of glue, and a third wood lamination, likely luan mahogany.

[Rainman]

My first grand was a Kawai 5'8". It was a nice instrument, had a split in the rim you could only see from underneath, and Kawai, through the dealership of course, immediately replaced the piano. No excuses, no spin, no "would you take cash back" or other nonsense. Always have liked the brand, even though I may say stupid stuff along the way. I even had to teach class piano years ago, and it was on a Kawai setup. Pretty cool setup, can't imagine how far they've come since those days. I suppose they still have class piano at the college/university level. Helps pay the bills.

[George K]

Digital vs Acoustic.

I love my Roland digital. It does everything I want and more. The action's great. I find that I forget that I have Pianoteq installed, and I just "get used" to the sound it makes. For quiet and silent practice, you really can't beat it - especially at 6 AM when Mrs George is asleep and I'm in the guest room with the Roland.

But...

I experimented with something new today.

I cranked the volume on the Roland WAY up. I tried to make it as loud as my Bohemia for "equivalent" touch.

Was it room-filling? Yeah, considering the room is small.

Did it sound like a "real" piano? Yeah, kinda-sorta. I never, ever, lost the feeling that I was playing a computer - a very good computer - but it just didn't sound 100% like a "piano."

Granted, with headphones - even cheap headphones - it's better. But it's not the same. Not the same.

I love, LOVE, my Roland, and I find myself playing and practicing on it at least 80% of the time. I have no regrets getting it. It more than suits my needs.

But...it's not my grand, and never will be.

[Horace]

I will use headphones 100% of the time I use the digital.

I have two offers out at $800 for Kawai kdp120s on Facebook marketplace. Thanks LD for the suggestion. Neither wants to accept, but I don’t think they will get as much as they are asking from anybody else.

[George K]

@Horace , you have a Bohemia upright, iirc?