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Digital pianos


mint

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Just wondering if anyone out there has bought a digital piano and been pleased with it.

I'm hoping to buy another property in the near future and keeping our present property for a couple of years.  Therefore, the piano can only be in one property at a time!

So, what do I do for a piano when I'm in the "other" property, that is to say, the one where the piano isn't?

I'm thinking that, for the sake of economy of both money and weight, a digital piano might be the   answer.

Anyone has any thoughts?  NormanH, you know about these things, so if you don't advise me, I shall never forgive you![:P]

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My daughter and SIL, both music teachers and performing musicians bought one and are very pleased with it, it's a Yamaha if memory serves.

She still has her upright piano but as it really does't fit in their present house it's out on indefinite loan.

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For what it's worth I have a Roland RD 600 which I believe is called a "stage piano" in that it doesn't have its own amp or speakers (although obviously you can plug headphones in direct or hook it up to a sound system)

However,   it is pretty good,  albeit an older model.

You need if possible though to try several in a specialist shop,   however good these things are there is an element of user-fatigue in all electronic musical instruments and the art is to find one that doesn't start to grate too quickly.

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A work colleague has a Yamaha 'Baby Grand' and he can really play (not suggesting you can't Sweets).  I have to admit I was very sceptical as to what it would sound like but I was stunned. Really beautiful sound with great depth.  Also, at the flick of a switch, he could go to concert grand/honky tonk/jazz or whatever.(and no re-tuning necessary), it was pleasing to the eye too, finished in white. Very nice indeed but not cheap (IIRC around €3000)
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Thanks for the info and advice, folks.

I think I will always prefer my own piano which is a Knight but, I don't think I want to go for long periods (of perhaps up to 6 months) without it whilst we're going to be betwixt and between houses.

The no-tuning is a big incentive, of course, as it's difficult where I live to find a good tuner; in fact, I haven't found one yet and I have a few keys that sound very flat.

Also, the light weight will mean that it will be easier to move around.

I don't think I want to spend as much as 3 grand, however, as money is going to be tighter than ever if the purchase of the second house goes through.

I was looking at the Clavinova on line and I must say it "sounds" (not that I have heard one!) very good for the price:  about £900.

One big reservation I have is that the digital ones seem to have much higher keyboards than convention pianos and I am only a small woman!

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Just saw this thread.

It depends on the use you wish to make of the instrument.

I hate digital pianos because it is impossible to reproduce the sound-changing effect of the sustaining pedal. It sustains, but as there are no strings there is no resonance from the overtones as produced on a real piano.

Try the experience of playing a low c. on a real piano. Hold down another C  and G an octave above without playing them.

The two notes will 'sing' ..and there are many others which do the same thing to a lesser extent (in principle those of the harmonic series see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_series_%28music%29)

On an electronic instrument these 'overtones' do not reverberate, so the sound is less rich and complex

The touch is also artificial, even though nowadays it is counterweighted and no longer the ultra- light  electric keyboard.

That said they do have the advantage of not needing to be tuned..

If all you need is something to give notes, to work at as a means of trying out musical ideas, or to tinkle then there are models by Yamaha or Korg.

Perhaps the best known is the Clavinova range

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/keyboards/digitalpianos/cvp_series_s/?mode=overview

If you want to really play and explore the sound world  there is no substitute for a real piano but it may be only you who notices.

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Thank you, Norman.

My own piano is lovely, the keys are a beautiful weight and the sound (though not necessarily when it is I playing it!) is superb.

I just want to have a second instrument so that I will have something to play in each house.  I have allowed at least 2 years to sell our present house and I can't bear the thought of flitting between 2 houses, one of which will have no piano!

However, in view of your comments, I will have another thought about a digital piano.  I like the thought of it's being light and easily moveable and not needing tuning.

The only accordeur that I have been able to find locally comes from miles away, charges me a fat fee and comes armed with his electronic tuning machine.  He does nothing like as good a job as my old tuner back in the UK who used to spend a couple of hours on the job with his tuning forks and then practically gives me a quarter of an hour's recital before leaving.

 

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Of course a digital piano is not the same as a real piano but I recommend the Roland FP9 which is superb.
(It has probably been replaced by a newer model by now.)

It has its own speakers too. As far as height goes, you can set it wherever you want - it goes on a stand.

If you can, go to a piano shop and try them all. You will soon feel and hear the differences between all the makes and models.

Danny

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Thanks, Danny; there're two of you now mentioned the Roland FP so I will definitely look out for that one.

I think I'll go to Bordeaux in order to be able to find a shop with a big enough range. 

As you say, it won't be like a traditional piano but it might well be the answer to what I want it for.  I suppose I can always sell it on at a later date when my piano and I will be staying in the one house fullt-time!

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I've had a Yamaha Clavinova for many years. Digital piano, wieghted full keyboard etc. My music teacher preferred to come  to my house for my lessons because she liked to use the payback facility to analyse my performance with me. I play to a reasonable level and took exams successfully, as far as grade 7. Of course it came to France in the back of a lorry with no ill effects and it has the huge advantage of being able to be used when other things are going on without disturbing anyone. I also love playing duets with myself! Can't recommend them highly enough.

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Thank you, Liz.  I will try one out and, if it's that or nothing, then I'd rather have a digital piano.

Hopefully, it will only be for a short time and I love the idea of playing duets with myself!  Better than playing with the OH and arguing about how to play it.

Even worse when he insists on accompanying me on the violin (cause I won't let him play the piano when it's MY turn!)[+o(]

Now, that's an idea; perhaps eventually, I'll get my piano all to myself and he can keep the digital one in another room?

You've no idea how we fight over it but I've told him that, when push comes to shove and there is a divorce, I get to keep the dog and the piano!

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We have a Clavinova in our house in Torreilles.

We intend to sell it when we get back there in May, since we are moving back to England permanently.

Can't tell you which of the models it is however (till I get back to France)

All I remember is that it is black and comes with a black piano stool.

Seem to remember we paid £1100 for it and that was quite a while ago. They have come down in price since then I think.

We bought it when our son was getting too good for our old upright piano and it served him very well when he was preparing for his Grade 8 exam.

Maybe we could sort something out if you decide this is the sort of piano you want to go for.
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Nah, can't play the violin and can just about identify the 4 different strings.

But, the Clavinova could be on.  When you find out model, etc, please PM or email and we'll have a think about it.

Have you had lots of interest in your house, Bubbles?

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Just came across this topic.

I have a Yamaha Clavinova Baby Grand.  I don't play well but some of my friends, who play at levels ranging from good to brilliant, so enjoy playing it that they bring their music with them when they come to stay.

One of these friends has just bought a Clavinova for himself, another already has a magnificent (real) grand piano of his own but seems to play my Clavinova far more than he plays his own.

Patrick   

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Nice, interesting post, Patrick.  Unfortunately, my house purchase is now not going to happen (the seller's decision, not mine) and so I am no longer looking for another piano.

Will bear in mind what you have told me though as these things are always useful to know.

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Sweet,

Sorry to hear about the house, this is the one you hoped to  pay for in sterling?  What a shame, after all your research, but it does sound as though it was all too complicated and if (as on the other thread) it didn't have mains drainage, it may well be for the best in the long run. Maybe the seller just didn't want anything complicated.   But there will be another house you like, you can be sure.

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I play the piano and I try to practise every day.

I had exactly the same problem, Sweet, with having more than one house and only one piano.  I left my piano in the UK because I dislike moving it around.  I do miss it but I managed to buy a second hand keyboard here. 

I have to say that I love the keyboard, even though it is not the same as a piano.  I like having the variations of sound.  I play a lot of church music and so the organ sounds are interesting.  You can also set the keyboard to play the bass or the treble or accompanying drums etc.  It is no substitute for a piano but it is light and easy to move and interesting to play.

I wish that mine had pedals though as the notes do not resonate, which is a nuisance, but you get used to it and use other techniques.  The otehr thing that I miss is the range - I have fewer octaves on the keyboard.  I have no idea if some of them have more octaves and if so, that is something I would change.

Sweet, I would buy one anyway and have it as well as piano.  You will have a lot of fun with it.

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Thank you, Judith.  It is very upsetting but then not nearly as upsetting as people having their houses swept away by a great big wave, so musn't see things out of proportion.

There's Jen having her beloved house burnt down and countless examples of people having to live where they don't want to but who haven't a choice.

So, I am really one of the fortunate ones, Judith.  Sure, I feel very dejected but it's necessary to feel dejected sometimes so that you know what it is like to feel high.

Thank you, all the same.  Your message is much appreciated and I hope that your own house move goes without a ripple![:D]

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Sorry to hear about your house purchase falling through, SW17 - how disappointing after all your efforts [:(]

If you start to search again in the future I was going to suggest looking on ebay.fr - there are lots of keyboards, pianos etc. I bought mine from ebay, someone in Bordeaux. I did go and check it out first.

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Thank you for your message of empathy, Pat.  It's good to have people post messages that make you feel a bit less let down.

Anyway, this evening, I have decided to move the piano into the hall so that it's at least away from the TV which is on at all hours (making it impossible to play the piano for most of the time) and away from the woodburner and the ash it spews forth.

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