How to buy a good second hand keyboard?

[minilifecrisis]

We need to get a keyboard, no room for a piano. I have been looking at second hand ones locally and on eBay but have no idea what is s good price and if they are good quality.

Does anyone have any tips? Thank you

Is it for a child, or a parent? What sort of music do you hope to play? How much can you afford?

As you say 'good' keyboard, I assume you want to learn a bit about music properly.

What is your previous music experience?

Answer these queries, and I'll try and give more information tomorrow:

uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/keyboards/piaggero/index.html

uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/p_series/p-45/index.html

These links give an idea of what's available.

It's for my dd (12) She sings and can read music so wants to teach herself to play piano - she basically wants to do musical theatre stuff so she can sing to it. I am happy to pay for lessons. She has music lessons (just timetable class ones) at school and has been learning some keyboard through this. I would love a proper piano but assume they are £££ and it's where we'd put it? I thought a keyboard would be a good starting point. I keep seeing loads for sale locally at a variety of prices but have no idea what I'm looking at.

Hi again -

You probably need to start by deciding what you can afford to pay.

The Piaggero np32 is around £220, and has 76 keys, and ten different sounds, mostly piano, organ, harpsichord variety. The keys go some way towards the "feel" of a piano, but are not fully 'weighted'. Other Keyboards can have hundreds of sounds, and automatic backings, more suited to 'pop' music.

It can be possible to learn a lot from good tutor books, IF she is prepared to concentrate and work at it. It will also record and play back, so she can monitor her progress, and also 'sing along'.