Piano Forum

Topic: I think I need a new digital piano... advice please.  (Read 1848 times)

Offline getcool

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27
Currently, my digital piano is a Yamaha P120.  I've owned it for a couple of years, and it's served me well, but I'm starting to realize that I need something that feels more like an acoustic.

I'm still a relative beginner (only about a year and a half of serious playing), but I'm reaching the point in my skill level now where I can definitely feel the difference between an acoustic and my P120, and acoustics just feel better.  I seem to have greater control and expressiveness when I play a piece on an acoustic.

The problem is, my P120 is my main practice instrument and I have very limited access to acoustics.  I would buy an acoustic, but I can't at this point in my life because I cannot accommodate it.  The next best thing I figure would be to upgrade my digital, although I fully realize that no digital piano will be 100% like an acoustic.

If anyone has any ideas as to what might be a good next step, please let me know.  Thanks.

Offline ccr

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 26
Re: I think I need a new digital piano... advice please.
Reply #1 on: April 17, 2006, 04:50:23 PM
Currently, my digital piano is a Yamaha P120.  I've owned it for a couple of years, and it's served me well, but I'm starting to realize that I need something that feels more like an acoustic.

I'm still a relative beginner (only about a year and a half of serious playing), but I'm reaching the point in my skill level now where I can definitely feel the difference between an acoustic and my P120, and acoustics just feel better.  I seem to have greater control and expressiveness when I play a piece on an acoustic.

The problem is, my P120 is my main practice instrument and I have very limited access to acoustics.  I would buy an acoustic, but I can't at this point in my life because I cannot accommodate it.  The next best thing I figure would be to upgrade my digital, although I fully realize that no digital piano will be 100% like an acoustic.

If anyone has any ideas as to what might be a good next step, please let me know.  Thanks.

Hello,

  I've researched the clavinova line and maybe can ofer some advice in their range.

  There are 2 main lines, CVP and CLP.

  The CLP line is focused on the piano simulation and the CVP line is like the CLP line but with lots of bells and whistels, like big color screen, scores, lots of sounds, styles, etc.

  The main features that can help in choosing your ideal model are (in no particular order):

- Keyboard: the best is "Natural Wood Keyboard", followed by GH3 (Graded Hammer 3) and then GH. I think you should buy something with at least GH3, preferably with Natural Wood Keys which I have read many times is the closets to a real piano (I haven't tried it, but have tried GH3 and altough not bad it is clearly different from a real piano). So my advice is at least try a model with natural wood keyboard.

- Layers and sample banks. The best yamahas have 4 layers and 50 sample banks (that means that there are 50 keys sampled at four dynamic levels each and the rest of the sounds are generated from them). Next, you have 3 layers and 50 sample banks and 3 layers and 30 sample banks. Ideally you should go for 4 layers and 50 sample banks.

- There are many more features which are very important, like string resonance, keyoff sounds, etc but if you get a model up enough in the line they all have this things.

  The best model currently in both lines (from a piano simulation point of view) is the CLP280: Natural Wood Keyboard and piano sound with 4 layers and 50 sample banks.

  - Then you have the CLP270. This model is the same that the CLP280, but with GH3 keyboard. Still 4 layers and 50 keys sampled. Cheaper than CLP280

  Next, you have the CVP309, with the same CLP280 keyboard but with only 3 layers and 50 keys sampled. It's normally twice the cost of CLP280, so if you are mainly interested in piano the CLP is the best cost/performance by far.

- Down the line you have the older CLP170, which until the CLP2xx line appeared (this year) was the top of the line. It has GH3 and 3 layers and 50 sample banks.

- The CVP307 is the equivalent to the CLP170 in the CVP range (piano wise), but again it's much more expensive.

  There are many more models, but those are what I think should be your firsts options. My personal advice is CLP280.

  Hope it helps.  :)

Offline gyzzzmo

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2209
Re: I think I need a new digital piano... advice please.
Reply #2 on: April 18, 2006, 07:38:37 AM
look around in the forums. there are massive amounts of threads about buying digital pianos.
1+1=11
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert