Best key action on portable-stage piano?

[honzaes]

Hello, just to make it clear - I am aware of the limits of digital. But in my type of job I need to move now and then, and big cabinets or acoustic pianos are not an option for me (in July I move around 5000km across Europe..).

My next piano does not need to be anytime-portable, but easily movable in car yes, so any stage or midi keyboards with foldable stands are fine.

I would like to have keyboard, stage piano or whatever you name it with key action as close as possible to acoustic/grand piano. Sound does not matter as I will definitely be using sampled and modeled softwares which I already have, through headphones or good audio system I have and which deals with rich sounds nicely. So ONLY key action matters.

Also I would like to know if you have some tips on really sturdy stand for such instrument.

Suggestions and personal experiences are welcome! I have some personal tips, I tried some keyboards and key actions, but I dont want to publish them right away as it would set up the direction of conversation from beginning:-)

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

[timothy42b]

The more sturdy the stand, the less mobile.

The most rugged stands I've ever seen have been for computers.  They are far more stable than any keyboard stand, X, Z, or whatever, I've ever seen. 

They're a bit bulky and you'd probably have to disassemble to fit in a car. 

They come with multiple levels so you could have several keyboards if you needed for gigging or simulating an organ.

[honzaes]

I know but I prefer sturdy, as on grand piano, the keybed is very stable. I really dont like the flexions and vibrations on lightweight stands.

As I said the only thing which matters is the key action. The point is that it is transportable and its no problem to disassemble stand once in a while into small volume. But what will be with me every day is the action.

[iansinclair]

Problem is with the portability.  It's possible to make a digital with a pretty decent key action -- top end Kawais aren't really that bad, for instance.  But to put it into a stage piano type case?  Another story.  Typically the stage pianos (and cheaper console type digitals!) have the keys pivoted at one end, and depend on springs for return and down weight.  There's no way -- in my not so humble opinion -- that they can ever really feel quite right.

I'd just suggest trying as many different makes and models as you can, and picking the one which is least annoying...

[pianoplunker]

Hello, just to make it clear - I am aware of the limits of digital. But in my type of job I need to move now and then, and big cabinets or acoustic pianos are not an option for me (in July I move around 5000km across Europe..).

My next piano does not need to be anytime-portable, but easily movable in car yes, so any stage or midi keyboards with foldable stands are fine.

I would like to have keyboard, stage piano or whatever you name it with key action as close as possible to acoustic/grand piano. Sound does not matter as I will definitely be using sampled and modeled softwares which I already have, through headphones or good audio system I have and which deals with rich sounds nicely. So ONLY key action matters.

Also I would like to know if you have some tips on really sturdy stand for such instrument.

Suggestions and personal experiences are welcome! I have some personal tips, I tried some keyboards and key actions, but I dont want to publish them right away as it would set up the direction of conversation from beginning:-)

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Dont know if you are looking for keyboard with a built-in stand but a stand-alone stand I use is double braced. It is foldable and also has a second fold out upper stand which I need since I sometimes play with two keyboards. However,the upper part of the stand can tucked away if only one keyboard. I also have a single braced stand but it wobbles way too much even with all the nuts and bolts tightened. The double -braced stand does not wobble at all even with two 50 pound keyboards on it at the same time. It does not have a brand name on it that I can find but there are probably plenty of choices. A bit heavier and requires slight wrestling to setup. As far as the key action, being that even acoustic pianos have different actions I cant really make a recommendation - what I think is good might not be what you think. The closest digital to acoustic I have found is the YAmaha Avant Grande series, but very expensive and 450lbs. 
 

[honzaes]

I know Yamaha Avant Grand is probably the best possible, but it does not meet the portability. But above mentionned Kawai were in my scope. I know 30 piano is questionnable if its portable, but still it fits the box and fits car. I was looking and Kawai VPC1 and MP11 with Grand Feel action II. I did not find anything close to this by Yamaha. Seems crazy idea digital controller with wooden key, but apparently Kawai found quite a market for that.

The stand - i prefer not integrated of course. Stand in case of moving across might also be easily replacable, not so with the actual piano.

[timothy42b]

I thought the Yamaha stage pianos had a graded hammer action, is that wrong?

I'm thinking the P100 series, now the CP series?

My Yamaha has an excellent action but it's a console style and definitely not portable.  Well, at 115 pounds it could be, if you had a roady. 

[iansinclair]

I know Yamaha Avant Grand is probably the best possible, but it does not meet the portability. But above mentionned Kawai were in my scope. I know 30 piano is questionnable if its portable, but still it fits the box and fits car. I was looking and Kawai VPC1 and MP11 with Grand Feel action II. I did not find anything close to this by Yamaha. Seems crazy idea digital controller with wooden key, but apparently Kawai found quite a market for that.

The stand - i prefer not integrated of course. Stand in case of moving across might also be easily replacable, not so with the actual piano.

Oops.  I wasn't aware that there was a portable with Grand Feel Action II.  That is reasonably acceptable, at least to my taste.  Go for it!

[honzaes]

What I had in my mind was Kawai MP 11 or quite beatiful Kawai VPC1 - plain keyboard with no bells and whistles, just keys on black box. The key action is different though. But I would like to know other options comparable to those, if somebody has experience. Any Yamaha or Roland comparable..?..

An my mistake, the Kawai MP 11 has Grand Feel action "one". The improvement of the GF II are just different surface of black keys and weights on keys as per Kawai website, so negligeable difference I guess.

[honzaes]

Just an update. I finally tried both of the mentioned Kawai instruments in the big piano store in Helsinki city center, and have chosen VPC1. The action may not be the more realistic out of the two, but all the lights and switches on MP-11 are too disturbing if you want just play. VPC1 did "connect" with me immediatelly (unlike MP11), so after trying I just took few days break to rationalize, and then ordered online (same shop).

Few days ago I got piano into my appartment, and it is amazing. With Galaxy instruments set of the 4 grands, or True keys Italian, you forget what you play on. I have also Pianoteq, but I really dont like its metallic and to my ears almost harsh sound (as well as I did not like sound of Roland pianos regardless the price tag...so I guess I just dont like modelling as it is now).

So to conclude, VPC1 with good sampled pianos is the right instrument for me. I am also convinced that its great instrument for practice unless you have access to the real grand.

If anybody is making decision, I may give my feedback when I get more time playing.