Buying a piano/ keyboard

[connor_97]

Hi guys! I'm new to the forum and have been playing Piano now for around 3/4 years, I've only been at a low level as I have college and work etc. that focus mainly on. Obviously I want to buy a top of the range piano or half piano, but the fact of the matter is my budget is REEEAAALLY limited...so I was wondering if anyone knew any affordable keyboards/ pianos in the budget of £100-£300 please (The cheaper would be beneficial for me, as I'm not taking it up as a career but a loved hobby) Thank you for reading and hope to hear from some of you soon!!

[hfmadopter]

In that price range unfortunately, one is just about as junkie as the next. So if you see one you like you might as well buy it, though that isn't my true feeling on the matter so to speak.. Nothing I've played in that price range begins to simulate real piano action, they have keys that look like a piano but they don't play like a piano but more like an accordion.

My absolute bottom end piano I have suggested to people in the past is the Korg SP170 ( now superseded by the SP180) but I've upgraded that since the release of the Yamaha P105. The P105 has better sound and better features and slightly better ( perhaps) keys than the Korg. That to me is bottom end now, not a bad board for the money, not that I would want to own it personally but not a bad entry level offering either. I suggest you save up for a couple of months then consider what to buy.

If you take your piano practice at all serious that is.

[bronnestam]

I own an expensive digital with terrific action and feeling. However, I have just added the purchase of Pianoteq (virtual piano) to my digital and I think they work great together. The application is not that expensive and it works very well with rather cheap digitals too - but still you need decent action in the keyboard, and you have to enjoy the whole experience through headphones. (And you need a laptop of course.) On the other hand, you don't have to pay for good loudspeakers, that often add a lot to the cost.

But still, your budget is too small even for this kind of arrangement. So I would also advice you to save some more money first. Hopefully you can still get opportunities to practice somewhere, while you wait.

[indianajo]

Salvation Army has an upright that is labeled $100 but has been there so long you could probably talk them down to $50.  I needs 3 leather straps that have rotted, tuning, and 4 friends and a trailer to move it. 
I can't believe the fascination the young have with plastic toys that will be junk in 10 years.  Maybe it is the shopping experience; people enjoy buying the same thing over and over.  I watched a piano restorer on NHK world yesterday, Youogi of Japan.  He buys and imports old grands from the west into Japan, because they are made of woods that can't be bought in that quality anymore.  Then he restores them. I admire the guy.  I'm doing that with a 1941 Steinway console, I only had to rent a truck across the river to get it.  Needed tuning, 1 new string, and some veneer replacement.  Beautiful tone, much better than any speaker I have ever owned.  And my speakers now are $1000 (list) instruments of their own. 

[hfmadopter]

I can't believe the fascination the young have with plastic toys that will be junk in 10 years.  

I'm no spring chicken at 63 and I have to admit that I do love my digital even though I own the grand piano as well. I really bought the digital for when there is company in the house and I feel like practicing at 3:30 am but it's taken over way more than that role. However, the grand kids avoid the grand like the plague, go right for the digital, to which they also have one at home. The fact of the matter is, it's mostly what people know and common folks desire today, less complication with mechanics, no tuning etc. etc.

The $200 junk ones I have 0 desire for though, I get that part of your statement !

[bronnestam]

Well, yeah, these are the major reasons to why digitals are so popular in these days:
1. space
2. weight
3. the headphone jack and the volume button

To many, many of us, an acoustic is simply not an option in these days. Without a digital, I would not have been able to play at all. I spend hours every day with my so called plastic toy and I'm having fun.

BTW, this is how the toy sounds like in these days. The musical quality is what it is (this is a work in progress ...    ) but still, I like the sound. I can live with it, especially if my alternative is to buy myself a new house and divorce my family before I can practice again. 

https://soundcloud.com/christina-br-nnestam/theme-from-improptu-b-flat

[jjjessee]

The Casio CDP-120 is about $350US now. I find the action very satisfying -better than many old uprights I've played. It has a headphone jack and the built in speakers are adequate for practice and parlor playing. If I were saving pennies  to buy an acoustic, I'd save for a Steinway K-52 or Krakauer  studio restored.

[Bob]

A used one maybe?

[hfmadopter]

https://soundcloud.com/christina-br-nnestam/theme-from-improptu-b-flat

Sounding good !!