Recommendation for a digital piano that sounds somewhat close to upright

[uprightmikey]

I love to play my old upright piano at home, but want to be able to play gigs and stuff with friends. So I am looking at buying a digital piano... but the few I have played on just sounded so sterile compared to my upright. Is there anything out there which has a more wooden sound somehow? Thanks I appreciate any advice.

[higga]

Hello Mikey,
                Can I suggest you consider the Roland range of digital pianos. In my experience working in piano and keyboard sales in a music store, I have found that Roland Digital Pianos are of the highest quality, and produce the most realistic and as you put 'wooden' sound. Roland are quite expensive instruments, the top of the range above other well known brands such as Yamaha. My personal suggestion is the Roland FP-4, because you mentioned you want to play gigs with your band you will require something that is portable. Unfortunately many easily portable instruments lack a true piano sound, however I honestly believe that the Roland FP-4 is very desirable in tone, and at the same time extremely portable. It comes with the option to buy a stand designed specifically for the Roland FP range, however if you simply buy a collapsible double braced keyboard stand you would be fine (and a lot better of financially). The Roland FP-4 retails at around $2699 (Australian Dollars), which may seem expensive, but is definitely worth it!

                                  Good luck and I hope I was helpful, Michael

[uprightmikey]

Thank you Higga!
I appreciate the reply and I will definately check into the Roland machines. I am not quite a point where I can justify purchasing one of those, but at least you have me pointed in the right direction! Thanks again!
Mike

[oxy60]

My I suggest you take a good pair of earphones and go out and play the instruments that fall into your price range. Use the same earphone for each keyboard and play the same piece on each. Forget about the built in amp. You know you won't use it on the gigs. The sound from my built in amp was so distracting that for home use I went a little overboard and bought a pair of studio monitor active speakers that cost half as much as the keyboard!

[mezzo piano]

You have to be realistic about sound quality if you are going to gig with the piano. No PA or keyboard amp is ever going to sound as good as the headphones or studio monitors. And nothing will sound like your upright. But the question is what will the audience hear and how will that blend with the rest of the band, and much of that comes down to amplification.

The point here is don't go overboard on the keyboard if no one is going to notice. Studio use is different; that is when you go overboard.

Rolands are great. My personal preference is for Yamaha because they have done an outstanding job sampling pianos and organs and putting enough usable combinations in their boards so you can call up the right patch for any gig or situation. And when you plug the Yamaha into studio monitors the sound is nothing short of gorgeous. Try a MO6 or a MO8 or an XS8 if they are in your budget. You will love the Grand.

[oxy60]

I forgot to mention that I am pushing a Yamaha P-85 through those expensive speakers. They, like all those of that type, have some adjustments on the back to compensate for room and taste.

One tip, take your time making those adjustments. Let each click of change sink in to your ears for a few days.

[chopinatic]

It depends on your price range. If you check out my improvisations on the Improvisation board the piano i am using is a digital piano, and it sounds very realistic, it also feels not too far off on the fingers.

I have a yamaha clavinova clp230 or somthing like that and imho there amazing although quite expensive, it was about £2500 when i got it. i think you can pick on up for just over £1000 now.

You can get casio privias for about £3-400 second hand online or £500 new, and although there not really great there good on a budget and people who dont know much about pianos wont really tell the difference too much.

Youtube is good, type in digital piano review and you'll see and here some samples.

Hope this helps

[geno101]

No digital piano will be like playing an old upright, it won't have the vibes, the soul, the smell, the history....it's difficult to describe. But, for an economical portable piano, comes complete with stand and sustain pedal, I check out the Korg SP-250.