In the market for a digital piano

[itsgoodmetal]

I started playing the piano about three months ago when I purchased a Casio WK-200 (was $95 refurbished.) I fell in love with the instrument, and am now looking for something more authentic with weighted keys and the like. My budget's no more than $600 US. I hear that Yamaha is good, but keep in mind that I'm not too concerned about features and sounds, recording, and all the other bells and whistles - I just want to play the piano. Any suggestions?

[gvfarns]

Yamaha has some nice keyboards in that range--not sure I'd call them digital pianos.  Also Casio...something like the PX-130.

Though there's a very significant jump in quality when you reach $1000 and get a Yamaha P155.  That's what I suggest, even if it means saving up.  It's so worth it.  If you really, really can't swing that, then either the lower end Yamahas (with a GHS action, not graded soft touch) or the Casio would work.

[itsgoodmetal]

This isn't the first time I've heard great things about the P-155 - the only thing that's stopping me from picking one up is the price. But the more I think about it, the more I'm considering just waiting until I have $ saved up to afford it. Thanks for the advice.

[jimbo320]

I would wait and save up more too. Because when i comes to a digital, you do get what you pay for....

[gvfarns]

Not sure I'd go so far as to say you get what you pay for.  Pricing is nowhere near that reasonable.  Instead I tend to group pianos by action.

In Yamahas you have GHS, GH, and GH3 actions, in ascending order of quality.  All GH pianos are better than all GHS pianos, and all GH3 pianos are probably better than all GH pianos.

I don't see a lot of difference between pianos having a particular action, though their prices vary a lot within each group.  The P155 has the same GH action as is in the better Arius pianos and is the cheapest piano with that action (along with the CP33).  It's nice and piano-like.  The lower-end GHS action feels quite inferior, and is in all Yamahas that are cheaper.  The GH3 action found in the better clavinovas is mechanically the same as GH so it feels identical, but it has a third sensor, which helps in certain circumstances.  The third sensor isn't a huge deal, though.  This puts the P155 at the sweet point for price/quality.  You get almost all the quality of a clavinova for a small fraction of the price.  Just below the P155 is the P95, which has only the quality of the lower-end pianos (both in sound and touch) but at a price somewhat close to that of the P155.  It's nowhere near the piano that the P155 is.

Another example: the P155 is a far better piano than the YDP 141, which costs more.

To sum it up, it's not that the P155 is great, it's just that there are just a few levels of piano and little difference in quality within each level.  The P155 is the cheapest in its level and therefore a great buy.  The cheapest GH3 piano is the CLP 330, I think.  So that piano is likely to be a good buy as well.

There is also the high-end NW and NW-stage actions, but from what I've seen they are nothing special.  If GH3 is not good enough, the next step is the AvantGrand, which is the best money can buy.

To sum up my advice on Yamaha: only the P155 (or CP33), CLP330, and AvantGrands really make sense from a price/quality point of view.

If you gig, then maybe include the CP50, CP5, and CP1 as well.  Alternatively, if you MUST have a console-style piano but don't want to shell out for a clavinova, then the YDP 161 is reasonable.

[jimbo320]

I think you've supported my argument without realizing it. I have a C5 as part of my gear. It is my choice when it comes to which digital to get but it's on the high end. Probably due to the internal mechanics and craftsmanship that create the quality of action and sound. Like I was saying, you get what you pay for....

[gvfarns]

Sorry to pick nits.  You are right that saving up is a good idea.   However, saying "you get what you pay for" implies that digital piano pricing makes sense relative to their value as instruments (playability and sounds) and overall I don't think that's correct.  The fact that the YDP141 is generally more expensive than the P155 is evidence that the pricing is not as rational as we might expect.
 

[jimbo320]

Not always but most of the time....

[digitalpianofan]

I appreciate all the input on this thread.  I too, am thinking of buying a digital piano.  There are so many options, but for me I am mostly concerned with how authentic it sounds and feels.  And a pretty design wouldn't hurt either       So far, I am deciding between the Casio Privia models and a Suzuki digital baby grand.

[nystul]

Sorry to pick nits.  You are right that saving up is a good idea.   However, saying "you get what you pay for" implies that digital piano pricing makes sense relative to their value as instruments (playability and sounds) and overall I don't think that's correct.  The fact that the YDP141 is generally more expensive than the P155 is evidence that the pricing is not as rational as we might expect.
 

141 is a dubious choice because of the GHS action.  However, comparing a slab to a console price-wise isn't entirely fair.  Right off the bat you have to pay an extra 50-100 bucks for a stable stand to use the P155.  And instead of a 3 pedal unit that is part of the instrument, you have one pedal that is going to slide away from your foot at the first opportunity. 

[jimbo320]

To fix the pedal sliding problem just put a monitor amp underneath and fasten the pedal to it....