Help with buying a digital piano

[sajber]

Hey,

First time poster here, and I'm looking for some help with buying a digital piano for my apartment. Some background on me first, though. I've played the guitar for more than 14 years and taught it for 3, so there's quite a bit of musical knowledge there. I've always liked the piano, as it is such a harmonically powerful instrument compared to the guitar, and thus I've thought about learning it for quite some time. I'm active in the local church and tend to wander there whenever I feel like playing, and have done so for the past three years or so, and now I feel I'm ready to actually go out and buy something for myself.

I'm a bit at a loss as to what to buy, though. All I really know is that I want it to be touch sensitive (if that's the correct term in english) and somewhere in the price range of 600 - 1000 $. I don't need all that many knobs and buttons on it, just a good sound with a couple of different variations.

(I was at two local dealers today, and one of them suggested the Casio Privia PX-130, which I'd get for 830$. The second dealer didn't have their piano-guy in today, so not much help there.)

Any advice is much appreciated!
Erik

[oxy60]

We've got tons of threads with good advice on this very subject. Just run a search.

[jimbo320]

Hey Erik,
Welcome to the forum.
My suggestion to you would be a Yamaha P95 or a DGX 640. Although the Priva series are good as well. But being big on Yamaha that's what I know. I play for bands from time to time and the P95 is part of my equipment. Easy to haul around, plays and sounds good. But do your shopping and find the piano that fits...

[javier432]

Kurzweil are the best, but it's more expensive... i think that yamaha p95 is a good solution
Regards

[ionian_tinnear]

Kurzweil are the best, but it's more expensive...

I don't agree, with the 'best' part, 'expensive' part, totally agree.  I've got a Kurzweil 2600 and a Yamaha S90.  The Yamaha makes the Kurzweil look crude.  The piano sound is more natural, and the touch is much better.  The dynamic range is the issue.  Kurzweils don't have much for dynamics especially in post PC88 keyboards.  Yamaha does.  I've had Rolands too, better dynamic touch that Kurzweil..

Kurzweil's are more rugged, and will wear out much slower.

They all sound like a recording of a piano, because they are!  They all sound fine if you're playing in a band or orchestra.

[javier432]

The best digital piano, in my opinion, is Kawai Mp-5 and Mp-8 (with wood keys...it's awesome)...price is the problem...1.800$ more or less...

[nagelonkeys]

I would agree that the Yamaha P95 would be a good digital piano for the home. For around $600. it's hard to beat. I use mine for playing out too; very light weight and blends well with other instruments. I've been through a few Kurzweils and they are nice but they're expensive and heavy.

[oxy60]

I'll second the vote for the Yamaha. You'll like it better through good earphones.

[jimbo320]

Kurzweil has an awesome synth but digital piano, ahhhh not so much...