Heading to college - need keyboard + advice

[DriverFriendly]

 Piano student of 12 years, finally heading off to college.  Unfortunately, I have severe doubts as to the chances of our beautiful Yamaha C7 fitting in my dorm room, so it looks like I'm going to need a digital piano of some sort.  I don't really know anything about digital pianos, but I'd like a pretty high quality one that at least somewhat satisfy my piano needs until I can afford (or inherit, whichever comes first) a real piano of my own.  My price range will probably be in the 1-2k area.

 While I do play classic piano pieces, the keyboard will probably be seeing some time on stage a la Ben Folds Five.  I'm not too interested in learning features or a huge variety of sounds - if it has a good grand piano sound, it'll probably stay on that for as long as I have it.  I've been thinking about a Yamaha P120, but I haven't gotten a chance to play any keyboards yet.  It definitely needs to be 88 keys, and since I *will* be living in a dorm, it'll have to be something that can fold up.....

Any help is much appreciated, since I've really never looked into digital pianos.  Once again, thanks for the help.

[Plaz]

I recently went looking at digitals with a friend who was in the market for one.  Try out the Yamaha PF500.  I thought it had the best sound/touch of the ones that we tried in his price range ($2k).  The speakers that come installed aren't fantastic, but try it out with some good headphones and it sounds great.

[chopiabin]

This is one of the main reasons I don't want to go to college. I'm thinking about asking for a nice upright for a graduation present so I can have a good piano until I inherit the Steinway.

[bernhard]

Here are some good protable digital pianos that will fit in the smallest space and are lightwieght enough for you to carry them around (I use one when travelling on long holidays to places where a piano will nto be available:

The ones below are for the budget challenged. I consider them "practice" pianos. All have 88 keys, good sound and good weighted keys.

Roland EP 760
Yamaha P60
Casio Ps 20

More sturdy than the ones above (in case you are a rock musician in need of a heavy use stage piano), but still relatively cheap:

Yamaha P120
Korg SP200 RS
Korg SP300 RS
Roland RD 170

If you have a bit more money, then you can get better quality sound, and better key action (although the ones above are fine - it depends how fussy you are - I am)

Roland RD 170
Roland FP 5 (this is an excellent portable digital piano)
Yamaha P120
Yamaha P250 (almost doubles the price of the P120, but if money is no object that is the one I would go for)

I would suggest that you go to a digital piano shwo room and try them out. This is really the only way to know if the piano will do it for you.

I have played in all of them, and my favourites are the Roland FP5 and the Yamaha P250. But I am not the one who is going to be playing. You are.

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[Josh B.]

Going to college is a difficult experience, no matter what.  Having to leave behind your piano would be depressing as hell.  The one good thing to think about is that the music school at whatever college you attend will have lots of piano practice rooms, where you can go play on an upright for hours at a time, without having to worry about keeping your roommates/neighbors awake by either the music from a keyboard/piano or the sound made by the keys when you are playing using headphones (i know it sounds weird, but that particular noise can get really annoying really fast).

Enjoy your freshman year . . .

And Chop - I want to inherit a steinway!  put me on the list, too.

[penelope]

I have Yamaha P120S and Its sound is very like a Yamaha Grand(I also playing Yamaha Grand in lessons). P120S has also hammer effect inside its keyboard. The other advantage ,in my opinion, P120S hasn't too many buttons over panel. I don't like too many buttons.


However, after playing real grand, a digital piano(not only P120S) gives no sense to you:(

[wes_56]

Hi,
I own a Yamaha Clavinova CVP 208 at US$3800. It is great but I will prefer an upright accoustic piano. Yamaha digital pianos are great, especially CLP 120. I have heard favourable reviews of it. It simulates the sound of a grand piano but can never beat the sound of a baby grand.

You can go to www.cvpug.com for more information.
Would you like to consider an accoustic upright? Is it too noisy for your neighbours?

Wes