Opinions of Korg digital pianos?

[nozerider]

Hello everyone, first time poster here. A little back story before I get on with the questions. I'm a college student who played piano for about six years when I was younger. After a few moves, I ended up shelving piano for a while, and now I'm looking to get back in after a few year hiatus, so I'm going to need a piano.

My first choice would be to get a reasonably OK acoustic piano, but fiscally, it can't happen. The ones on craig's list in my area in my price range (>$1000) are usually extremely old, beaten up, or both.

Then I thought about getting a digital piano, which honestly, I'm not too excited about. They just don't have the same feeling to me.

After a while searching, and talking, I found out a friend of a friend has a Korg 520c he never plays. This guy is your stereotypical college slacker who's parents pay for everything. They bought it for him for Christmas. He has no use for a piano.

My good friend said this guy would most likely be willing to part with it, and at a really cheap price, around $400.



So the question is, what does everyone hear think of Korg, or that piano in particular? Here's the Korg page.

https://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=C720&category_id=1


Ideally I'd go an play one, but there aren't any dealers in my area, so I need your opinions.

[spaciiey]

Go play the one he has. I personally dont mind Korgs... but I like Yamahas better if I *have* to use a digital piano. Although... a Yamaha is pretty dear. But I can't really fault Korg.

[rich_galassini]

Temple University has bought 26 Korg digital pianos. I agree that the Yamies have more flair and are better packaged and perform nicely, but check out the korg 520. It is just a darn nice piano sound and touch, IMHO.

https://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?A_PROD_NO=C520

[nozerider]

Nevermind, apparently the guy doesn't want to sell anymore.

So now I'll be buying new, with a budget of around $1,200.


Would everyone recommend a digital without speakers built in? If so, I'd probably go for the Kurzweil SP2, it has good specs, and I could get it in my price range.
https://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/products.html?Id=1864

Otherwise, I could get a digital with speakers and a console. A local shop in town sells the Yamaha YDP323 for $1200 as well. I like the looks of it, but I wasn't overly impressed with the sound.
https://tinyurl.com/2ky3uu

[coca cola veins]

I would recommend a Korg SP 250. Really great sound and nice, realistic feel to it. And it's cheap. 

Some reviews: https://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Keyboard+And+MIDI/product/Korg/SP-250/10/1

[john90]

Nevermind, apparently the guy doesn't want to sell anymore.

So now I'll be buying new, with a budget of around $1,200.

I think this could be a mistake, as after 3 years, the digital might only be worth $400.
I paid $300 for a 15 year old Midi weighted Roland stage piano off an auction site. I think I could sell it for that if I wanted, 3 years on. All I was interested in was the touch, which is not bad. I use a laptop with Midi, and as laptops improve, so does my sound quality. I use desktop speakers with the laptop. I have never heard built in speakers that sound this good, but it is still not as good as an acoustic. I practice with my son on this setup. His course book comes with a CD, and I occasionally use itunes to play the ripped CD through the same speakers, and the piano used in the course almost matches our Midi sampled Steinway.

So I would say anything Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Kawa with Midi will do. Even a non weighted velocity sensitive Yamaha will get you a long way if you have access to music rooms in college.

I think 1 hour a week on a decent acoustic, plus a cheapo Midi digital, is better than only playing on a $2000 digital.

[jimbo320]

If you're going digital and want to look around, check out a Yamaha P95. A keyboardist I play with has one and I find it to be rather nice.

Good hunting, Jimbo

[okforall]

I like the Korgs....

Ok