Beginner player needing some purchasing advice

[houghyjm]

Hi Piano Street forum!

I'm a beginner player who is just starting out playing piano for the first time, and am having a little trouble deciding between which two keyboards to buy. I don't have a whole lot of money to spend at this point, so I've narrowed it down to the following two:

Panasonic SX-KC211 - specs page at https://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/SX-KC211?t=specs

Technics KN1000 - Specs on very last page of this PDF - https://www.synthzone.com/midi/technics/kn1000/SX-KN1000.pdf

At the moment I'm leaning towards the Technics, purely because I couldn't find any user reviews or videos for the Panasonic, but from having a wee look around the Internet the sound quality of the Technics is apparently great (

for example).

If anyone would be kind enough to offer some expert input as to which one would be the better choice, I would be incredibly grateful! Thanks :-)

[lhorwinkle]

Those are toys.  Save your money for something better.  Money spent on either of those is money you could have spent on something better.

[houghyjm]

Although they may be "toys" as you so eloquently put it, it's about all my wife and I can afford right now, and I'd prefer to get started sooner so I can begin to learn chords and techniques to better my playing.

Can someone who's not quite so entitled have a go at answering my query please :-)

[j_menz]

As far as I can see, they're both pretty similar in terms of what they offer, and both should get you started on your journey OK. 

In your shoes, I'd go for the cheapest.

Neither will be sufficient for too long, and the money you save can start your savings for the next one.l

[houghyjm]

Great, thanks for your considered reply j_menz - I'll go with the cheapest one for now to get me started, and start saving for something a bit more professional!

[gyzzzmo]

Great, thanks for your considered reply j_menz - I'll go with the cheapest one for now to get me started, and start saving for something a bit more professional!

Maybe better start saving up right away, if you buy this keyboard it will be wasted money. Buy a digital piano instead.

[larrys]

If you're a total beginner then these sort of keyboards are a great way to start. Theyre certainly not 'toys'.
I cant afford a piano and have no room yet. My keyboard is similar to the panasonic in layout-its a Yamaha PSR225 which I bought new in 1999 solely for the great piano sound and touch sense. The minimum you should have on a keyboard is touch sense if you intend to learn piano. If you're still interested in years to come you can progress to a DP or an upright piano.
One thing missing from these keyboards however is the weighted keys. They are organ keys, merely on/off switches, compared to piano keys which are levers.

Theyre a great start though and there are loads for sale cheap on ebay!

[gyzzzmo]

If you're a total beginner then these sort of keyboards are a great way to start. Theyre certainly not 'toys'.
I cant afford a piano and have no room yet. My keyboard is similar to the panasonic in layout-its a Yamaha PSR225 which I bought new in 1999 solely for the great piano sound and touch sense. The minimum you should have on a keyboard is touch sense if you intend to learn piano. If you're still interested in years to come you can progress to a DP or an upright piano.
One thing missing from these keyboards however is the weighted keys. They are organ keys, merely on/off switches, compared to piano keys which are levers.

Theyre a great start though and there are loads for sale cheap on ebay!

Since theyre lacking weighted keys, they're not suitable for learning to play the piano and wich is why we call them 'toys'.

But if the poster wants to practise his rap skills and yo momma-timing, there are probably some very nice beats programmed on it.

[larrys]

I still don't see its right to call such keyboards toys. Some yes, not all. And if you can't afford or have room for a piano but need to play they fit the bill until your circumstances change!

[hfmadopter]

I still don't see its right to call such keyboards toys. Some yes, not all. And if you can't afford or have room for a piano but need to play they fit the bill until your circumstances change!

It will get you through scales and some rhythm work ans beginner songs. The second one is a synth, it will go great in a rock band or if you want to add instrumentation because it has an 8 channel/track sequencer. This isn't preparing someone to play serious piano though, so if that is the goal this will be outgrown quickly in that regard. Also, there are used digital pianos out there that would more reasonably fit the situation if the situation is one of learning to play piano in the classic sense of the word. Something like a used Korg SP170 for instance ( there are others as well), will get the poster perhaps three to four years down the road.

That Technics is usable though, as I said in a rock band or to entertain ones self, it's no toy. It doesn't fit the bill up front but is something one might add once they know what they are doing. The trouble with older synths and cheap keyboards alike is the keys just don't depress deep enough. It's not just the fact they aren't weighted and there aren't enough of them. The adjustment coming from one of these to a real piano or real digital piano even would be awkward at best. Yes, as I said you could learn some scales and things but it's not in good judgement to go this route, IMO.

Then hey, I started out with a piano that literally was going to the dump. I was driving to work and there was a piano sitting on the side of the road waiting to be collected. In fact it was starting to rain. I borrowed a truck, the owner was glad to take $75 for it instead of paying and I had myself an upright piano that actually played. The action was on the slow side but I got a couple of years out of it. That had to be back around 1978 thru 1980 ! I even started Fur Elise on that old piano before I got my grand. Full 88 keys, all in tact. The poor thing probably has been recycled by now. A lady bought it off of me for $125.

[gyzzzmo]

I still don't see its right to call such keyboards toys. Some yes, not all. And if you can't afford or have room for a piano but need to play they fit the bill until your circumstances change!

I didnt say all keyboards are toys. But especially starting piano players think that 'more expensive' equals 'better', wich is not the case for digital pianos or keyboards. More expensive usually means better speakers (wich arent important since people usually use headphones) and the extra rubbish like beats, samples, screen, dryer, kitchenmachine, microwave and dishwasher, toys that are not important for people who are interested in playing the piano and pianostreet.com (ok, i'll make an exeption for the dishwasher).

So get a cheap keyboard that has decent sound when you use a good headphone, a decent amount of keys wich are weighted and get pedals. That is (to my humble opinion) what your new keyboard should have at least, if you want to start learning the piano.

Gyzzzmo