Roland digital pianos

[Derek]

Hi, anyone have a roland digital piano? I am moving out on my own soon and I'm thinking of getting a nice roland digital piano.  I would get a workstation synthesizer however I am not interested enough in arranging and using thousands of different voices and equalizer settings to do justice to such equipment;  therefore I think a digital piano which focuses on feeling as much and sounding as much like an acoustic grand as possible would be my best  choice.  Maybe I'll even go over to the dark side and play such an instrument the rest of my life. (can play when the wife and kids are asleep, for example! I don't have a wife or children yet, but I am working on that

Anyway, I tried a Roland HP 107 in the store the other day. I was very impressed with it. The touch was remarkably like an acoustic piano and you could adjust the apparent weight of the keys.  Also it sounds great too, it has some sort of 3D effect you can turn on which tricks your brain into thinking the thing is as deep, lengthwise, as a concert grand.

Only thing that gives me pause is I hope my piano teacher will still work with me even if I use a digital piano.  He HATES digital pianos. hahaha. he does't do house calls..I DO go and play on his bosendorfer 7'  during a lesson, but still...maybe I should like....NOT tell him I'm playing on this thing. hahaha.  if i get one.

[gyzzzmo]

Why Roland. Have you tried the yamaha clavinova series yet?

[Derek]

I haven't tried any new Clavinovas, but the ones I have tried do not have an action which feel anything like an acoustic piano. This is where the Roland I tried really stood out.

[nonfox]

I think Roland pianos is very good too. I don't have one myself but I often play on seneral.
Yamaha does also have some very good digital pianos - I think their baby grand digital pianos is the best digital pianos. And they are beuatiful as well.


And yes - Don't tell your teacher that you are playing on a digital! 

[pianowolfi]

I have a Roland HP 107 E and I like it very much. (Though during the day I prefer my Bechstein Grand.) Befor buying it I have tried some Yamaha Clavinova too but i liked the Roland much more. I would recommend it.

Edit: I just stated that i have difficulties with fast repeated notes on that piano. I noticed that when trying to practise Albéniz' Leyenda (Asturias). You need to be very very precise, otherwise you will miss the one or other note.

[quantum]

Have you tried the Yamaha P series stage pianos?

[baron_von_heimlich]

I have a Roland HP237 R  which I use at night and for composing, and its been fantastic to me.  It feels very much like the action of an acoustic piano and the sound is very convincing as well (combined with a few effects in Adobe Audition it sounds identical to an acoustic piano).  I would highly recommend a Roland, the Yamahas I have tried have a strange action feel to me.

[groggy]

I have a Roland HPi-7 that I love. It is basically a learning oriented HP-107 missing the extra speaker power but with lots of other goodies.

I tried the top end Clavinovas and I truly hated them. The key action made my fingers hurt.  Go try one and make sure you play for at least half an hour. Too much spring and a very hard bottom. The Rolands do not have springs (they are weighted like a grand). Do the same with the Roland, I play for hours without any problems.

As far a lessons go, the Roland HP107 has a keyboard that is like a grand piano. You are much better off with it than an upright as far as the key action goes.  A good piano salesman can explain it well and the amazing features of the HP107 like sympathetic resonence.