Should I get rid of my digital piano?

[kilini]

I've been learning piano on a digital. Recently, I changed teachers, and the new one suggested that I switch to an acoustic because on digital pianos, there is no tone variance. So when I played on my teacher's Steinway grand, I produced weird tones, my playing was uneven, etc. Would getting an acoustic fix this? And if so, what do you recommend in the 2000$ price range?

[catherinel]

I agree with your piano teacher. I don't know what digital piano you presently own, but I have played many and the one thing they all have in common is the inconsistency between keys for producing sound. They also cannot replicate the action of a piano, therefore you are not using your body they way you need to to produce music - phrasing, subtleties etc. There is a lot that goes into making music on a piano.

Regarding what piano to get in the $2000 range - I have not looked at uprights in a while. You probably could get a very good pre-owned piano. Check out "The Piano Book" by Larry Fine. It will help to guide you. Your piano teacher might be able to help as well. Good Luck!

[kilini]

Phrasing? So that's why I was having trouble with Invention no.1. I have a Clavinova CLP-120/130 (forgot ), and it should be a fairly good one. But I suppose it's no substitute for a real one and that it's a good time to get an acoustic.

Thanks. I'll be going to my local music store to see if they have anything.

[Toivot]

A long time I used a clavinova clp 300 (quite old) and the learning process was very very slow. Even when I could play a piece perfectly on my digital piano, it always sounded wierd on my teachers acoustic piano.
Since I bought an upright everything got better.

I think when you really want to learn to play the piano you have to use an acoustic piano because you'll never be able to play a piece perfectly on an acoustic when you're used to play on a digital.

[barganax]

I played piano in junior high/high school, stopped for 25 yrs, and came back about 2 years ago. During that time my home pianos have been digital pianos. I own a Roland F100 and a Kawai MP9500. I have no problem moving between digitals and acoustics (i.e. I don't play a piece badly on an acoustic having learned it on a digital). And I have played many acoustics recently since I have spent a lot of time searching for a grand. FYI I am an intermediate classical pianist. I play, for example, Clair de Lune and Arabesque #1 by Debussy.

Personally I think a good digital is a great choice for a beginning pianist. I think the actions are very good, certainly in the ballpark of decent upright acoustics. Recently someone over on pianoworld commented that the Roland HP107 action reminded him of a grand with a light action. (Your experience/impression may vary).

If someone is facing this choice, I would simply say to go to a piano store, play the upright acoustics and digitals in your price range, and let your ears and fingers guide you.

[kilini]

Gee. Sorry I haven't responded for so long! I can have such horrible memory sometimes.

My teacher has a Steinway and playing hers feels like playing my Clavinova CLP-130. Except it's better, of course. But pieces I play decently on the Steinway and Clavinova don't fare so well on uprights. I find it difficult to play pianissimo on uprights, while incredibly easy on the Steinway and Clavinova. I don't know if it's because the uprights I played were bad ones, or if they are simply different from grands and emulation grands.

Anyway, I'm again pretty happy with my Clavinova. My only complaint is that there seems no change of tone and sound, etc. If I play with different finger positions (e.g. flat and curled) on the Steinway, the sound quality changes. But they all sound the same on the Calvinova. Oh well.

[sarab]

Kilini -
I am feeling the same way. I bought a Clavinova (CLP-120) early this year - I played piano at a younger age and wanted to start back up. At first, it was great. But now I am frustrated with the lack of tonal differences as well. I also don't like the way that pedaling works. I haven't started up lessons yet (will be soon), but think that buying an acoustic by the end of the year is what I will be looking at. Whether or not I will keep the Clavinova is another question (don't know about resale).

[beach]

Yes, you should get rid of your digital.  I have a Clavinova CLP 120 as well.  I really liked it.  When my daughter took a liking to playing I decided to give it to her and upgrade to an acoustic.  After playing my baby grand a couple of weeks I played on the Clavinova and I couldn't believe how "bad" it sounded.  The keys didn't feel right either.  When I was shopping for an acoustic I was comaring everything to how the Clavinova felt and sounded and wasn't that happy.  Now, after playing on the acoustic baby grand I wouldn't have it any other way.
For $2000 you may be able to find a nice Yamaha U1...I've seen some advertised for that price in the paper.  I would have a piano tech check out anything you buy from a private party.  Good luck and ditch the digital 

[Baohui]

Regarding 'tone', the only factor you control is dynamics - the speed at which the hammer hits the string. Don't get obsessed by the concept of 'good tone'. Eveness (and phrasing) is achievable on a decent digital.

[jeremyjchilds]

Yes..you should buy an acoustic. My students who play on digital pianos have a variety of tone-production deficiencies that include a generally "lighter" touch, and lack of understanding of "sympathetic" string vibration of unmuted strings, which creates pedalling woes...

If you want a good piano, for cheap, check out an older large upright piano... not all are good, but the good examples are really good sounding if well maintained. The ones to look for are genereally pre-war... 1905-1915 and have been regularily maintained..  Remember, that american spinets produced after the 2nd world war can be among the worst pianos ever made.. steer clear.

things to look for in the old big  pianos
1) owned in a consistent climate
2) Make sure that it has not had a poor re-keytopping job. if the tech was careless, the keys were probably not surfaced properly, and the thicker plastic tops will make the keys too tall (check for proper key dip, black keys should not dip below white keys)
3)Strike the low octave firmly. A wooly muffled sould indicates tired old strings (you do not want to pay for a re-stringing)
4) run your hands over the tops of the hammers with light pressure, feel for any side to side play which indicates loose center pins.
5) If possible, look for cracks in the  pinblock (very serious)
6) play a high reble note repeatedly (40-60X) quickly to check for pin bushings that swell with friction heat (repitition will be compromised)
7) Have a tech come with you if the piano has passed all of these tests, for a finaltest to check for regulation progblems

Now, if you want to spend some real money...

I just bought a Seiler Upright and love it, the bass and treble sections are "exciting", not lifeless, I must agree that japanese pianos must be large in order to really have the power needed for high-level playing.

As a technician, I cannot argue the overall reliability of yamaha, as long as it is not a brand new small upright (not made in Japan)
Yamaha uprights are the "toyota" of pianos they will get you there safely, and uneventfully, and you will get good resale, but it is no mercedes.

Chinese pianos are genereally bad...especially for heavy use applications. I have repaired far too many actions on 10 year old pianos from that neck of the woods. hope this helps

[jamie0168]

My only experience in comparing digitals to grands has been recent. I have a clavinova at home and leave every fall to college where there's nothing to play  but grands. The downside of digitals is that it can really make your fingers weak. My first semester, I found myself only practicing at maybe 30 minutes at a time because my fingers were not used to the heavier keys.

[jazz_man]

If I were you,  I would ditch it.

I myself have a digital,  not even as good as a clavinova,  without weighted keys.  When I play on my piano teachers upright,  I find it akward and unusual, especially with scales.  I'm working hard to find the funds for an upright right now.  I found it even more difficult to play at a competition where I had to play a grand that I'd never used before.

[ail]

I have a CLP 120. I don't know accoustics, but I can get variations on my piano. If I hit the key with the finger on the vertical (short clips, I guess), and if I bend the finger slightly, I usually get very different sounds.

Ail