Acoustic versus Digital

[florentin]

I already know that all pianists would prefer an acoustic piano over a digital one. That is clear! But when considering a few factors, such as:
- price
- space
- neighbors

a digital piano might be an option for an amateur pianist, right?

[gstormcrow]

Yes
Yes
Yes

 

[andyd]

I had a digital Korg for 15 years...the only reasons I'd buy digital are

1.  The family/neighbours demand you can play silently (practice pedals are only so effective on acoustics)
2.  You move flat often or play gigs and portability is essential.
3.  You want/need all the different electronic sounds and effects.

Digitals take up effectively the same amount of space.  They only appear less bulky.
Digitals vary in price but are comparable - a cheap used acoustical is about the same as a cheap new digital.  I prefer the acoustic.  Digitals that sound like pianos and have actions feeling like pianos are not cheap.
Digitals don't need tuning twice/thrice yearly.
Acoustics generally last longer - the plastic levers in digitals harden and can snap after only a few years depending on environmental conditions.


I tried a nice digital a few weeks back called the Yamaha 'grantouch', a clavinova in a baby grand cabinet with a real wooden piano action, and a real grand-piano-price.  They have a website at
www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/

Andy

[Ruro]

www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/ = Expensive O_o

The second retail store closed down recently here in Milton Keynes, and now as I understand it, the only one left is in London O_o Only thing I'm missing it for is the piano scores ^_^;;

https://www.soundsmusical.com/ = These on the other hand are the cheapest I can find, besides some other site roughly the same price, but there site is incredibly more takky, and sometimes Postage and Packaging is something you have to pay for. If your in the UK, SoundsMusical will send it free I plan to get the Yamaha P140 from there, which is to no suprise the lowest price I can find on the net

Atleast, that's my opinion And for the record, my piano is going in the conservatory, and I think the acoustic would warp outta shape over night Hell am I spending money on Humidifiers and all that rubbish!

[florentin]

Well, I play a Suzuki digital.

I know, I know... it is NOT a great instrument. Well, it works for me.

It cost me $450 - I got a factory deal. It retails at $1100.

it looks something like this

[ada]

I play a digi for reasons of space, cost and convenience. Of course it's never going to be as good as an accoustic but I agree with all the above reasons for getting one.

Because I generally only play very early in the morning or very late at night the headphones are invaluable. You can also put it on harpsichord for Bach, which makes practising inventions a bit more interesting!

The downside is that although the keys are weighted they're still lighter to the touch than an accoustic and the pedal is crap, which means you can get into bad habits. And you're never going to get away from that electronic sound. But then again, they're not as sensitive to movement, humidity etc.

This is why I never play that well for my teacher but what the hell, I'm never going to be a concert pianist so my digital works just fine for me. If I didn't have one I wouldn't be able to play at all.

If you can get an accoustic, get it, if not, a digital isn't too bad for second best.
Of course the ideal option is to have one of each.....

[gilad]

it's 4:20am here and i've just left my digital piano. *yawns*
no one in my house has a clue, not even the cricket behind my bookshelf*yawns*
i play on my digital because the acoustic here is around 90 years old and i get complaints, especially because i've only been playing for 6 months and before i got my dig(5 months ago). i was banging out john thompsons book 1 .
i can transfer to an acoustic with no problem at all.
i owe my progress to technology which has given me unlimited time and hours to play around.

[florentin]

Yes, I relate...

This summer break, I played my way through both my college class piano courses, at night. I only woke people up on two occasions. Not bad, huh?