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Digital piano recommendations

15 replies

Bumblenut · 08/06/2019 11:18

Could anyone recommend a digital piano for my daughter to start learning on?

I really I’d prefer to get a proper upright piano but I’m a bit tight for space do want something I could move around the house more easily to begin with.

OP posts:
LoafofSellotape · 08/06/2019 11:28

I can't have a real one as it needs to go in a conservatory and also I have neighbours I really like!

I did loads of research and decided on a Yamaha P95 (I think) as from reviews it's what piano teachers use for lessons and also I read an article by a professional pianist who said he used digital pianos when staying in hotels on tour.

It was about £350 but probably cheaper now as this was 6 years ago.

It's got weighted keys and I don't have any issues playing on a real one after practising on mine.

LoafofSellotape · 08/06/2019 11:29

**And I love it because I can play late at night without disturbing anyone Smile

orangeshoebox · 08/06/2019 11:46

another vote for the yamaha.
transition between that and a real piano is easy as it feels similar.
plus you don't need to get it tunes, no annoying neighbours...

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Bumblenut · 11/06/2019 10:42

Thanks for this! It looks like the 95 is now unavailable. I’m not sure if it’s been replaced by the 45 or the 125 - can anyone help on that?

OP posts:
orangeshoebox · 11/06/2019 10:59

have a look at the p35

Glitterfisher · 11/06/2019 11:04

Yamaha ones are great. Make sure the keys are full size and fully weighted. There is a huge difference from a real piano otherwise. My DS age 13 is a performer and can easily go from the digital to any piano and says it feels very similar but when we had the partially weighted version he struggled.

He has a portable one (full size but a but lighter to lug around) and we also have an portable one at home on a proper stand so it looks like a normal piano then.

LoafofSellotape · 11/06/2019 12:21

The P35 looks like my P95 from a quick Google.

Glitterfisher · 11/06/2019 12:44

I have the 125. It's really nice. I would always recommend learning on something as close to a real piano as possible.

FrancisCrawford · 11/06/2019 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onemouseplace · 11/06/2019 13:16

We've got the P45 and I've been really pleased with it. It's really good to be able to move it around for DD's lessons. I think with stand and stool it came to around £380.

Floralnomad · 11/06/2019 13:19

I have a Yamaha clavinova , it’s full size and has weighted keys however it’s very heavy and frankly not easy to move .

Bumblenut · 11/06/2019 16:15

Thank you for all the replies!

OP posts:
MitziK · 11/06/2019 17:23

Definitely Yamaha.

We have Clavs at work and they are far nicer to play than the other makes - still not quite the same as a grand in feel (also a Yamaha), but, apart from being a git to move about (stick them on a rug if you have hard floors, as you'll be able to move them without scratching anything), they feel right and can be repaired far more easily than modern ones. It should be possible to fit appliance rollers - that lock - to one that doesn't have castors if you are likely to need to move it frequently. As long as you never grab the keyboard section and drag or lift, though - even the clavs hate that, just less than the cheaper ones that can and do disintegrate, being made of cheap chipboard and that crap that goes on the back of bookcases.

Be careful of the cable that goes from the pedal assembly to the clav (tape it up so it doesn't get caught) and don't stomp on the pedals; they're the most delicate parts. The clav pedal assembly is easy to fix, though, compared to the flimsy plastic bits inside cheaper ones, the cable connectors don't require specialist tools and you aren't stuck with a tiny, hair's thickness cable that's snapped off but is encased in resin, so can't be replaced.

OK, you'll need a power supply, but at least they don't need regular tuning and aren't vulnerable to temperature or humidity changes. And the headphone socket is great for home use.

I do adore old pianos - the wood, the feel of the keys, running my fingers across the strings, but that's an emotional response to the aesthetics, not a musical one.

See if you can bargain for a proper, height adjustable and sturdy piano stool, though - the ones that come as part of the deal are often too flimsy to cope with adult weights or fidgeting children that weigh above 5 stone. And you'll benefit from having a good LED anglepoise lamp, as reading in normal domestic lighting is less than ideal.

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