Keyboard Buying advice

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mcmd

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Hi,

My son is starting piano lessons. The teacher recommends spending $200+. I don't play piano/keys, however I would like to get something that I could also use in my studio and add some ambiance to my guitar tracks - piano, Rhodes, strings etc. I can probably spend up to $500.

What do to recommend?

Thanks,

mcmd
 
In my opinion, the best thing to practice for piano lessons is a real acoustic piano. Second best would be an electronic piano with 88 keys and weighted "real piano" action.
dtb
 
mcmd said:
Hi,

My son is starting piano lessons. The teacher recommends spending $200+. I don't play piano/keys, however I would like to get something that I could also use in my studio and add some ambiance to my guitar tracks - piano, Rhodes, strings etc. I can probably spend up to $500.

What do to recommend?
Click to expand...


If at all possible, a grand piano, since that will offer the chance to learn the proper feel and dynamics from the get go. If starting on an upright, a student who continues to progress will, at some point, have to switch to a grand piano and will struggle for a while learning to play proper dynamics (if the student ever succeeds). Of course, it may be hard to make that kind of investment now.

Cheers,

Otto
 
While agreeing with the "real piano", trust me, I wished I had a baby grand 4k-5k, let alone a grand like 9k-15k.

So, We in the REAL WORLD, must settle for the next best thing. Which for in your price range, I'd have to say IMHO, a Yamaha S80. Can be found for $500-$700 these days. Had one, loved it, miss it. But I traded it in on my Fantom XR Rack.
 
DavidK said:
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

He said 500, not 50,000 :D ;)

$500 gets you a Yamaha, Casio or M-Audio Link I like Yamaha myself as a company.
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Sometimes there are important considerations that might cause a person to reconsider how much to spend. Understanding that if your child (or in my case, children) starts on a different instrument and ultimately wants to play piano at a level where touch matters and that starting on an instrument without that touch will cause problems down the road might be grounds to reconsider the choice made now. If it's a priority, some folks who have $500 to freely spend now might choose, instead, to borrow money (or plan to save) and buy a good piano. If not, there's no harm done in knowing what to expect later on.

Cheers,

Otto
 
ofajen said:
Sometimes there are important considerations that might cause a person to reconsider how much to spend. Understanding that if your child (or in my case, children) starts on a different instrument and ultimately wants to play piano at a level where touch matters and that starting on an instrument without that touch will cause problems down the road might be grounds to reconsider the choice made now. If it's a priority, some folks who have $500 to freely spend now might choose, instead, to borrow money (or plan to save) and buy a good piano. If not, there's no harm done in knowing what to expect later on.

Cheers,

Otto
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Perhaps, but 95% of kids and adults quit an instrument within one year. I didnt make that up, its a fact, if its not a school thing like band. To shell out any amount of significant money is a big risk.

Renting is certainly an option. I would agree that a piano would be the way to go, but $500 gets an out of tune hand-me down. When I was a teacher, I would only suggest to the parents of a motivated student to go and spend money. Violins cost a fortune and are hard to sell. I cant see anyone shelling out that kind of money unless they have a real commitment.
 
Thanks for all the input everyone....

ofajen: The grand would be nice, however not realistic. If my son started to show some real interest and promise then I would consider a better instrument at that time. For now I just want him to learn to read and play music formally. He has two brothers and lots of other distractions.


so that leaves....

pianokey88: an electric piano with weighted keys
anppilot: Yamaha S80
DavidK: Yamaha, Casio or M-Audio

I am going to guitar center this weekend to see what thay have to offer. I will probably look at Yamaha, Casio or M-Audio as DavidK has suggested.

Thanks,
mcmd
 
$500 can sometimes buy a decent upright console piano if you're lucky. Also remember that with the acoustic choice you will have the added expense of tuning it at a minimum of 1 time per year ... more often if the piano is subject to a lot of temperature and humidity fluctuations - could be approx. $80 - 100 for a simple tuning.

Of the electric piano manufacturers you referenced ... I would recommend Yamaha, as I believe they have a good reputation for getting a good acoustic piano sound.

None of the inexpensive weighted keyboards I have played felt "real" to me. But they are still a lot better to learn on verses a light touch spring-loaded keyboard.
dtb
 
Last edited:
pianokey88 said:
$500 can sometimes buy a decent upright console piano if you're lucky.dtb
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Perhaps. I agree about the tuning, and it might need to be tuned twice if it has been sitting around for years. Hopefully Lt. Bob will chime in, he is a piano tech when not tooting his sax. If its not in tip-top shape it will just collect dust.

Yamaha does have a very nice piano sound. They have also been very reliable, I have owned tons of Yamaha stuff and never had the slightest problem.
 
ya might look also for used kurzweils... ya might find a pc88 for around that... as a long time tech i can vouch for the kurz and yammmy quality... not a fan of casio personally... if you can find a s80 yam as david suggested it's a good machine a buddy has one i've played it extensively and can vouch for it as well...
 
Ok,

...so hear is what I looked at at GC today:

Yamaha P70 ($500+)

Casio Privia PX-110 88-Key Digital Piano ($400+)

Yamaha S03 (used = good price :) )

Here are my assessment:

The P70 is sweet, simple, and nice built quality.

The Casio Privia PX-110 has alot more sound modules, but I don't think it sounds as good as the P70.

The SO3 would suit my needs more than that of my sons, - I am tempted but I'll pass. Also it does not have a built in speaker as do the others.

I like the P70,....so P70 or PX-110?

Thanks,
mcmd
 
ofajen said:
If at all possible, a grand piano, since that will offer the chance to learn the proper feel and dynamics from the get go. If starting on an upright, a student who continues to progress will, at some point, have to switch to a grand piano and will struggle for a while learning to play proper dynamics (if the student ever succeeds). Of course, it may be hard to make that kind of investment now.

Cheers,

Otto
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I don't feel it's necessary to start with a grand. I learned on an upright and took lessons on an upright when I was 12. I then played digital synths (Yamaha', Rolands, Korgs, Kawai's, etc.), played more uprights through the years, and have been lucky to play a some grands as well (Yamaha at church for awhile). I didn't find it difficult to adapt to any of the variety of pianos/keyboards I've played - maybe that's just me?

Some may never get to experience playing a decent grand, and I don't think that will ruin any chances they have of playing dynamically. I think an important thing to have is passion. My passion for the instrument allows me to adapt to whatever is available to play, and I enjoy playing whatever I can get my hands on. :) I haven't been told I suck or that my music lacks "feeling", so something right must have happened along the way.


On that note, I'm gigging with a Yamaha S80 and love the board. Great feel - although it definitely isn't graded (harder on the lows, lighter towards the top end), but I'm playing some organ stuff, strings, and such so it works for that purpose. At church I'm playing a Yamaha YDP series now (it's what they have and it works) with graded hammer action, and I can tell the difference in feel between that and my S80 (I love both, but the YDP is certainly more piano like). I'm able to adapt to that and my playing is just as expressive.
 
mcmd said:
Ok,

...so hear is what I looked at at GC today:

Yamaha P70 ($500+)

Casio Privia PX-110 88-Key Digital Piano ($400+)

Yamaha S03 (used = good price :) )
Click to expand...

The S03 is a nice synth. Maybe daddy has to get his own toy too :D In general ( and I do mean general), Yamaha has better stuff than Casio, it might last longer. Its hard to make such a statement because Casio CAN build decent stuff. Both would work, I personally would go Yamaha based on my experience with their products. I have owned lots and continue to buy them, just bought an MM6 and may even get a motif rack. Good stuff.

The S03 wouldnt be good for learning piano, but I think you figured that out ;) It is fun though, synths are addictive.
 
mcmd said:
Ok,

...so hear is what I looked at at GC today:

Yamaha P70 ($500+)

Casio Privia PX-110 88-Key Digital Piano ($400+)

Yamaha S03 (used = good price :) )

Here are my assessment:

The P70 is sweet, simple, and nice built quality.

The Casio Privia PX-110 has alot more sound modules, but I don't think it sounds as good as the P70.

The SO3 would suit my needs more than that of my sons, - I am tempted but I'll pass. Also it does not have a built in speaker as do the others.

I like the P70,....so P70 or PX-110?

Thanks,
mcmd
Click to expand...

I think the P70 is a nice starter board. I took a friend of mine to get one for her son a couple years back, and it worked out well for them. I sat down and played it a couple times, and I enjoyed playing it. You've already experienced it, so I'll just throw in another recommendation for it!

The Casio Privia's started to get some good press around here. Might do a search for some postings as there were a couple (few) happy people with their newly purchased Casio. I'd still vote for Yamaha in regards to build quality. I have a S80 synth that has been gigged extensively in the last 6 years, and it's holding up like a champ. I won't replace it until it actually starts to disintegrate :D
 
Seems like you're hooked on a tabletop synth set up but I'd like to reamp what a couple people have already said. Consider looking in the paper at used pianos. Some real bargains to be found. I gave away an upright last year to a parent looking for a similar bargain. The kid came along and I just ended up letting them take it. I was glad to see a kid with interest.

Junior is now one of my students. :D


Anyways,
 
punkin said:
Seems like you're hooked on a tabletop synth set up but I'd like to reamp what a couple people have already said. Consider looking in the paper at used pianos. Some real bargains to be found. I gave away an upright last year to a parent looking for a similar bargain. The kid came along and I just ended up letting them take it. I was glad to see a kid with interest.

Junior is now one of my students. :D


Anyways,
Click to expand...

Yeah, ultimately you cant learn piano without a piano ;) My piano teacher friends wont accept students who dont own (or rent) a real piano. Personally I think thats a tad extreme, but I am not a piano teacher. :D The main trick is actually finding that good used piano in a sea of crap. Most pianos in the "free" or <$500 genre are just ways of getting YOU to move peoples junk and pay for it. :D I know firsthand, my father-in law passed a few years ago and we had to find someone to take his junky piano :eek: I have my own junky piano sitting 3 feet from me right now.

Sometimes music schools and colleges have liquidation sales, you might ask around if you consider the real piano route.
 
Good call, totally forgot how I picked up that last one. Bought it from the High School my daughter went to. Visually, a bit rough but still sounded great, the action was still nice. Replaced a few felts and that was about it.
 
The Casio has treated me well for starting to learn piano. It has a decent feel, and it isn't a HUGE leap moving over to an acoustic piano on the occassions I have to play one. But, if you have the space and can find a decent used acoustic, go for that instead.
 
Update...

.....I bought the Casio PX 310 at GC today...I spent some time this afternoon playing it (amature) and going through the features. I really like the weighted keys and the preset sounds are decent. My son is delighted. I will set it up in the recording studio.

I did consider a used acoustic piano and had been checking out my local Craigslist, and yes I too have seen free pianos (you move it). But the electric piano will always have a home in the studio wheras an acoustic would not.

Thanks everyone for all the comment and input. I believe that I made an informed purchase. All my family is excited and I think that my other sons and daughter might just want to tinkle the ivorys too!

Thanks everyone,

mcmd
 
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