Choosing a digital over an acoustic?

[lexlees]

I moved to the UK several months ago. I had a beautiful baby grand for 20 years which I sold for peanuts as NOONE was buying it and it had ivory keys so I couldn't bring it. In the last 7 months I have only had a 20 year old keyboard on which to play and on which to teach my son to play piano on (I know - two taboos - teaching piano on a keyboard and teaching your own child!).

I simply could not afford to buy any instrument (digital or acoustic) but I am about to get a bonus which will give me about £1000 to spend on an instrument. Money being tight is why I teach my son as well - we just can't afford lessons for now.

We have neighbours on either side and considering we can hear their tv when its loud, I cannot imagine what an acoustic will sound like. We also have underfloor heating which I know is not good. My wife gets completely paranoid about upsetting the neighbours (especially as our landlord lives next door) - we don't even have the tv on very loud!

I want a silent piano but I just can't afford it. I am in two minds whether to get a high quality digital piano or an acoustic with a practice pedal. I can afford a very cheap second hand acoustic or quality digital.

The primary goal is for my son - he is on about grade 3/4. I am diploma level (but really out of practice and won't so play much). I doubt my son will get past Grade 8. He doesn't have the same passion for piano I had but he still wants to learn.

Am I crazy to consider digital? I know the 'feel' of a real piano is beyond comparison, but will a cheap acoustic feel much better than a good digital? I love the vibrations from a real piano and I wonder if I will grow to hate the digital.

I am worried I will instantly regret whatever I buy!  I am worried if I buy a cheap acoustic, that I can't afford to get it tuned, or it will get ruined by the underfloor heating or it won't be played 'because of the neighbours' or it will take up half the room. I am worried if  I buy a digital that I will grow to hate it, or my son won't learn proper technique or learn to enjoy piano so much, or it won't work after a while.
 
Has anyone been through this and what did you choose?

[pianoman1233]

Am I crazy to consider digital?

Not at all. There are a lot of keyboards with a good hammer action and touch.

[bronnestam]

Get a digital of good quality and try to find occasions for practicing on an acoustic from time to time, and you will be just fine. First time I went from my digital to an acoustic piano it took a while for me to adapt, but now I just do it. Back and forth, no problems.

The difference between my digital and a grand is less than between an acoustic upright and a grand, IMO.

On the other hand, I do not advise you to buy a cheap digital with a plastic feeling and not the right action. You will probably lose your patience with it quite soon. The better models are of course "a bit" more expensive but keep in mind that the most expensive part are the loudspeakers, and if you plan to play quietly or with headphones you can go for a model with modest loudspeakers, that will bring down the price a bit.

   

[hfmadopter]

The MP 11 is awesome even if out of the budget, still awesome !

[handz]

Anything acceptable will cost 2-3x more than a decent old upright. Cheap digitals are, well cheap. Bad keyboard and horrible sound. But for your son maybe it will not be such problem to start with some basic model  and you can always upgrade later if he get more serious.