Try Before You Buy Problem

[Ruro]

Heya people, sorry if this is in the wrong section, but it sorta seemed the right choice.

I live in the Buckinghamshire area (In England!), more specificaly the city of Milton Keynes. Since Chappells closed down in the City Centre, I am gutted, since there doesn't seem to be ANY other shops around here where I can go to try out an instrument before I buy it.

I'm currently in the process of picking one, except I wanna try before I buy! I think everyone would want to do that, but the only shop (okay, so there is one) I know of is Sound Control in the Xscape, which doesn't even have the digital piano I want to try-out!

Any other ideas? I tried Yellow Pages online, but frankly it churns out Acoustic Piano retailers :/ Maybe SOMEONE here in the forum knows of a store I can try some Digital Pianos out in.

And hey, I have nothing against Acoustics, but piano is a hobby for me, not a career move, and I have an ugly budget because of future plans ^_^;; Please don't take just one of those points about not buying an acoustic and debate/argue it, atleast take both



While I'm at it, a few minutes ago the Casio Privia PX700 caught my attention, something like: "Stereo sampled Tri-element ZPI sound" it has, presumably like what the P120/P140 has. Yeah, it doesn't mean the same great sound, but it's a start, and would like to try it out... not just hover over the Yamaha brand (which seems generally more expensive, maybe for good reason).

And further more, here are some samples you can download from there site, wondered what you think of it, I seldomly hear an Acoustic Live in front of me and not via CD's, so maybe drop some cents on your opinion of the quality of them ^_^;;

   Casio Privia PX-700:
https://www.privia-instruments.com/euro/files/PX-700_grand_piano_demo1.mp3 - Grand Piano Example 01
https://www.privia-instruments.com/euro/files/PX-700_grand_piano_demo2.mp3 - Grand Piano Example 02
https://www.privia-instruments.com/euro/files/PX-700_grand_piano_demo3.mp3 - Grand Piano Example 03
https://www.privia-instruments.com/euro/files/PX-700_grand_piano_demo4.mp3 - Grand Piano Example 04

Sadly nothing complicated performed to hear it under atleast some stress, which is a bit off putting O_o I guess Casio has no great pianists on there team ^_^;;

Thanks for your time!

EDIT: Did I mention the price for the Privia PX-700 is £560? I thoguht that's impressive considering it's features Still, I shan't get carried away, could always be pure bs when dealing with something like the "Calculator Brand"

[leahcim]

Since Chappells closed down in the City Centre, I am gutted, since there doesn't seem to be ANY other shops around here where I can go to try out an instrument before I buy it.

I take it you mean "try out a yamaha" since that is all they tried to sell?

Were you after a stage piano or furniture model?

Leighton Buzzard has a small shop that stocks yamaha clavinovas and I think they had a p60 in last time I went in. They've not got a huge range of them, but what you try there will tell you what you'll get with yamaha even if you get them to order a different one or buy elsewhere. Dunstable has a shop too, I've never been though, but they sell digitals.

Hooters in St. Albans and elsewhere [https://www.hootersmusicalinstruments.co.uk] stock Gem + Casio [ My advice go and try the gem ]. Although if you want a stage piano the Gems aren't out yet - supposedly should be mid December but if you try the RP700 and RP800 in the meantime, that's the same. On a budget the stage models are probably close to the casio price [at least in Rome and Milan they are - hopefully the UK won't pull the pound to euro 1:1 thing]

The shop you mention in Xscape stocks Roland IIRC and has Yamaha stage pianos [comment above applies if you try the p120 or p90 they have in stock you'll know what a Yamaha is like even if you want a different model - up to a point anyway]

Otherwise there are plethora of alternatives around. Yellow pages has some more.

If you fancy a drive, digital village [https://www.dv247.com]  [just drive a bit further south from St. Albans] has the advantage of internet prices, email them to see if they have stock though. They sell gem, roland, yamaha, korg and a casio model - I don't know what they stock and have available in store though.

I bought my P60 from the shop that was in Xscape before the current one, at a price that was as cheap as any internet retailer with a shop. Unfortunately, I only ever laughed when I walked into Chappels and saw the "MRRP" quoted and the "don't touch our acoustic pianos" stuff [obviously yamaha acoustics break if you touch them ] So, sorry, I didn't help keep them around

A low budget probably doesn't suit these small retailers around and about MK - and that's probably why Chappels disappeared. Although as you say, it makes sense to try first, plenty will have gone to the internet afterwards [and I imagine a lot more than you think buy without trying - they don't know one from the other and if you read any "what digital?" thread you'll see everyone else bought a yamaha so they do.

[Ruro]

Wah, forgot about this thread

Thanks alot for replying ^_^ But I must also apologize for this thread is now practically void, not that the informtion contained within isn't useful for the future

Just, I realised I was getting carried away, buying more then I needed feature wise, so I was just about to settle for the P60 at £550...

But recently my mum's friend is now selling her CLP 510 (if memory serves) for £450! It actually has all three pedals as well compared to your DSP, and still one track recorder and so forth!

I should be going to there house tomorow (if my mum finds the map she lost already ) to try it out, all I think I'm looking for tbh is touch of the keys and sound. If it all checks out, I will buy that sucka!

Again, sorry to have you waste your time on this Leahcim! Thankyou for offering it though, and your wealth of information!

So, sorry, I didn't help keep them around

Don't worry I only ever brought 2 products from them myself