Digital Pianos

"Excellent service! You were kind enough to telephone on the Monday, the piano arrived at nine o'clock the following morning, as promised. End result? Happy and impressed customer."   David Stevens, Canterbury, UK

New Arrival

'Probably' the most popular pianos for beginners. Read more 

New Models

               Yamaha P85  --- Yamaha P85S

Roland RD-300GX   

Roland RD-700GX

"Thanks once again. We need more people like you in this world."   "Hi Graham: Thank you very much for sharing your opinion on the best piano brand to buy. I wish I knew you a long time ago before I bought mine. After looking at the different brands, I ended up choosing Casio.   I thought it was better than Yamaha because it had a screen that beginners can see which finger is being placed on each note as a song is played from the song bank. Although I have not chosen the better brand, I think that I have made a wise choice (for a beginner).   However, I must assure you that if I happen to migrate I will have to buy another piano because this one is a bit too big to travel with. Then, I will choose Yamaha. Thanks once again. We need more people like you in this world." Patricia

Questions and Comments

Question Of The Month Graham, Your web site has been very helpful. I wondered if you could please offer some further advice. Our daughter is 7 and enjoys playing on an old keyboard we have. We are looking to purchase her one of her own. We need something compact as her bedroom is tight on space, possibly something on a collapsible stand but we are looking for a proper piano "feel" not a childs toy. We have no knowledge and would really appreciate any pointers you could offer. Thanks, Kind regards, Nicola Bond Reply/ Hi Nicola Thank you for an excellent question. There are many parents that are in a similar situation to you... Space is always an issue. I have yet to see a decent digital piano that comes with a collapsible stand. To get something with a decent enough sound usually requires a separate amplifier. This is clearly not suitable for what you need. The Yamaha YDP131 or Classenti CDP1 are the pianos you should consider. They are both compact (but come with a fixed, not collapsible, stand)... The Classenti has a slightly heavier touch than the Yamaha, which is a good thing. Young fingers need to be strengthened from early on and your child will find it much easier to play on an acoustic piano later in life. The sound is excellent on both instruments. You can view more details about them here: http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-ydp131.html http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-cdp1.html If you would like any more help, you can call me on 020 8367 2080. Yours pianistically, Graham Howard, UK Pianos

I'm looking at digital pianos right now, so any comments on those
would be appreciated, best ones for beginners etc., and those that have good key action.

Thank you!

Patricia Drury

Reply/ Hi Patirica

The digital pianos I recommend for beginners are:
Yamaha YDP131, CLP220, Roland RP101, Classenti CDP1,
CDP2.

If price is not an issue then go for the Yamaha CLP220.

If this is too much to pay, the YDP131 or the Classenti
CDP2 will do.

Check out all of these pianos here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/digital-pianos.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Hi there
 
Have just found your wonderful website and found the advice on Digital Pianos excellent.  However, I have very little space so wanted to buy a portable piano that I could pack away relatively easily.
 
Not interested in all the fancy bells and whistles - I just want a full 88 keys and an instrument that plays (as much as possible) like a "normal" piano.
 
Do you have any recommendations please?
 
Thank you.
 
Haze

Reply/ Hi Hazel

Thanks for your nice comments about the website.

The best (affordable) portable piano around today is the Yamaha
P85.

The sound is good and the touch is very realistic.

You can check it out here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-p85.html
 

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

With Roland you tend to get more bang for your buck with sampled sounds and different instruments, play along bands and orchestras, "live drummer", features, durability, and quality, as well as good aesthetics and decor.

With Yamaha you get many more popular hit songs built in, and also a big set of different rich features.

The Strings and Violins on the Roland KR series is almost like having an orchestra right there beside ya!

Cheers!  Josh Tamil

Hi Graham,

Saw your website because I'm thinking of upgrading my old Technics
digital piano, which has horrid plastic keys and only one voice.

I played my friend's Kawai CA51 last night and was very impressed. I
liked the feel of the ivory-effect keys (much, much better than my
plastic ones!) and the touch was lovely - weighted very well.

I'm going to buy a new digital piano, but am not sure which to buy. I
don't want all the 'bells and whistles' of 50+ voices, but would like a
good 10 or so: Concert Grand, harpsichord, electric piano, maybe some
strings and choir. But my central need is for a good feel to the keys
(ie, not plastic) and the quality of the touch, as well as the richness
of sound.

Having browsed your site, it strikes me that the Yamaha CLP220 might be
the best to get? No frills, focus on sound and touch quality. Would you
agree? I'm not a serious pianist, but I do play regularly enough to want
luxury without all the fancy gizmos (recording devices, etc) which I'd
never use anyway.

Best -

Dr Gary Fry
Research Fellow
School of Sociology and Social Policy
University of Leeds

Reply/ Hi Gary

The Kawai CA51 is very popular at the moment.

I like the sound and touch of the Yamaha more than the Kawai.

This is a personal opinion.

I recommend you try them both out and pick the one you feel
more comfortable with... This really is the best way to decide
between two very good digital pianos.

Just to throw one more piano into the equation. The Classenti
CDP2 is also worth considering.

This has an excellent touch and sound, has limited instrumental
voices and ivory-feel keys.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-cdp2.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Further comments/

Thanks for the advice.
 
Just one more thing, as Colombo used to say: are the keys on the CLP220 plastic or are they ivory feel? I suspect the latter, but just thought I'd check.
 
Gary

Reply/

The keys on the CLP220 are a plastic feel.

Regards
Graham Howard

Thanks.

Further comments/

One final point: I do intend to go try some digi pianos out, but in the meanwhile do you think a CLP220 would offer a considerably greater playing experience than the 12 year-old Technics SX-PC8 model I have?

My friend's Kawai CA51 was far superior, and I'm after a model which offers that level of difference.

Thanks for all your advice.

Gary

Reply/ Digital pianos have advanced a lot in 12 years.

You are better off buying a new CLP220 or CA51.

Graham Howard

Please, Could you tell me the pros and cons of Casio Privia PX-720, Yamaha clavinova CLP 220 and Yamaha YDP 131. I want to buy one of them and I don't know what to do.  Thank-you very much in advance.

maria savarisa

Reply/ Hi Maria

The CLP220 has the very best sound and touch (that goes
without saying). It is also the most expensive.

If you can afford the price, then there is no question of
even looking at the YDP131 or PX720.

The PX720 has only one advantage. That's the space it
takes up in your room. It is a real space-saver!

The YDP131 has most the features of the CLP220.
The sound and touch are not quite as good though.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Hi Graham:
 
I saw your website and decided to drop you an email to get some valuable advice from you.
 
12 years ago, I was at Piano Grade 7. However, I stopped completely due to many reasons.
 
I wanted to pick up piano again and decided to get a digital one.
 
May I know which digital one you will recommend, for someone who has a Grade 7 skills (but that was 12 years ago). Should consider myself a beginner/intermediate or advanced.
 
Thanks for your advice.
 
Cheers,
Alice

Reply/ Hi Alice

Grade 7 is a good standard so you need a decent
digital piano with a realistic touch.

The three models to consider are the Yamaha CLP220,
the Classenti CDP2 and the Roland RP101.

The more expensive pianos offer mostly additional
instrumental voices, rhythms and various functions. So,
if all you want is a good sounding piano with as realistic
a touch as possible, then you don't need to go beyond
these three.

Here is my view on the above digital pianos:

1) Yamaha CLP220
This is (without doubt) the most popular digital piano
amongst intermediate to advanced players. The sound
and touch are superb and you can pick one up for under
£800. Check it out here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-clp220.html

2) Classenti CDP2
There is slightly more weight to the touch than the
Yamaha and the Roland. The sound is incredibly real
and the touch feels like you are in complete control.
Check it out here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-cdp2.html

3) Roland RP101
Nice, compact piano with a light touch. The Roland
has its own unique piano sound (you either love it
or hate it -- like Marmite.) Its worth trying one out
if you get the chance. The price is about £720.
Check it out here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/roland-rp101.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Hi Graham
 
I had previously read your article on buying digital pianos on your website, and can see that Yamaha and Roland are favoured over other brands. However, we have a friend who is a school music teacher and also teaches piano part time. She purchased a Technics digital piano about 10 years ago, her selection based on feel and sound compared to upright pianos.
 
I searched on e-Bay, and found several good models for sale. I eventually purchased a Technics SX-PR900 digital ensemble for about £400 (in immaculate condition), and I have to say I am delighted with it. Whilst it is more complex than simply learning piano, my 10 year old son (who has been learning keyboard) has loads of fun exprimenting on it. I know you would probably recommend purchase via a reputable dealer instead, the nearest on cost I found was a same model of almost £1000 at Whitley Bay Organs!!!! The e-Bay risk was worth it.

Reply/ Hi Trevor

Technics always were very nice digital pianos.

They stopped making them around 3 years ago. Technics, which is owned by Panasonic, decided that the digital piano/keyboard market was too small for them and decided to stop making Technics instruments so they could concentrate on the their main electronics business.

I wish you and your family success with your piano playing.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

HI there,

Our piano is on the brink of collapsing, so I'm looking to buy a digital piano. I've always recorded with our upright at home and if I buy a portable piano, I can finally take it with me to gigs instead of only being able to gig at places that have a piano. I've never used/bought one before so I'm a "newbie" to this sort of thing. My budget is anything up to £550. It would need to be compatible with recording on GarageBand on an Apple Mac. The biggest problem I have, apart from my budget, is my girlfriend. She is a purist and refuses to play anything that doesn't feel and sound right and I am yet to impress her with anything. I don't think I ever will, but you will know more than I do. If there's something with a drawbar function on it, that would be great but not essential!! I have tried the Casio PX 700 and PX 420r. I like the sound of the 700, but it isn't portable/stage worthy. I understand Roland are the best stage make? Can you help me??

Cheers

Rhys Bethell

Reply/ Hi Rhys

Great question!

Firstly, let me say that the Casio - even if it was portable - doesn't
have a full enough sound or positive enough feel for what your
needs are.

The Yamaha stage pianos have a very nice touch but the sound
is weak if played through their internal speakers...

Connecting them to a decent keyboard amp solves the problem
right away. Check out the new model (Yamaha P85); which is
already sold out -- this shows how good it is.

You can view it here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-p85.html

I recommend the new Roland RD-700GX. It's pricey but WELL
worth it. The best stage piano on the planet right now!

You can read more about it here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/roland-rd-700gx.html

Rhys, can I post your question and my answer along with your
name on the ukpianos.co.uk website? It is a good question and
other users would really appreciate the advice given in my reply.
Of course I won't publish your email address on the site.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Good morning, Graham:

First of all, excuse me for my bad english, please. I have just found
and read your first piano lesson. It's very useful. I am very
grateful.

I intend to buy a digital piano. Sound and touch is the best important
thing for me. Would you recomend me someone above Kawai CL 30 or Casio
Privia PX 800? I like Kawai CN 31 too, despite its higher price.

Many thanks for your help!

Maria

Reply/ Hi Maria

Thank you for your kind comments about my piano course.
I'm glad you found it of help.

If sound and touch are the most important things for you then
I would consider one of these three pianos:

1) Classenti CDP2
Here: http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-cdp2.html

2) Yamaha YDP131
Here: http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-ydp131.html

3) Roland RP101
Here: http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/roland-rp101.html

The Classenti has the edge on sound and touch, while the
Roland has more instrumental voices. The Yamaha comes
complete with stool and headphones and is a nice 'value
for money' package.

You can also read my article about choosing a digital piano here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/digital-pianos-which-brand-should-i-buy.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Hi Graham,

Came across you while browsing for a digital piano and your article on how to buy describes me perfectly. I had narrrowed it down to kawai and was only looking to decide between the CA51 and the CA 91. Both a touch expensive for a novice 13 year old and his mother who is keen to renew her skills from teenage years but my mother always said buy cheap buy twice. Anyway you threw a 'Yamaha' spanner in my works and were generally recommending pianos a lot cheaper than the above. So get me out of this one! Am I over egging the purchase,spending too much and what about kawai versus yamaha.

Yours in a strop

Mary sharp

P.s. well you did point out that anger was natural in the advanced stages of digital piano purchase

P.p.s I am normally a very nice person and would really appreciate your advice

Reply/ Hi Mary

In my opinion, the Yamaha has a far more realistic sound and touch.

I really don't like Kawai digital pianos at all.

If you want a digital piano with a realistic sound and touch, the
Yamaha CLP220 is the best (and most popular) digital piano
out there.

Check it out here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-clp220.html

Not wanting to add confusion to your digital piano choice,
there is a new piano now out called Classenti.
The CDP2 model is very impressive.

It comes out less than the Yamaha and might be something
for you also to consider.

Check it out here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-cdp2.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Further comments/
Thanks very much for the advice and for such a prompt response. I'm feeling much calmer now. Thanks again. I think i'll go with the Yamaha.
 
Mary sharp

Thanks a million Howard. Kudos to all your effort and your website. I want to buy a piano asap, but I am a bit apprehensive of buying a second-hand one. Are there any pitfalls? For example, I don't like buying 2nd hand computer parts as you never know the usage hours, but i never tried a piano second-hand. What is your opinion on this? New or second hand?

Thanks, Catalin

If you're buying an upright piano then any well known brand name that's less than 30 years old, should be fine. Anything older than that, or not so well known should
be checked out by a qualified piano tuner/technician.

Digital pianos, in my opinion, should only be purchased new.

I've seen far too many second-hand digital pianos that are in need of extensive and VERY costly repair.

Here are the digital pianos I recommend, according to how much you are willing (or able) to spend:

Price range (£500 - £600)
Classenti CDP1

Price range (£500 - £600)
Yamaha YDP131

Price range (£600 - £800)
Yamaha CLP220
Roland RP-101

Regards,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

I like your website and have found it very interesting reading. Could you possibly find the time to advise me on a digital piano, please?

I learnt to play the piano when young but, for many years, have had to "make do" with a Roland D20 (61 key touch sensitive synth) and have always missed the sound and feel (and keys!) of a real piano. I'm about to buy a piano and I think it will have to be digital (cost/size). The £1000 I have to spend seems to put the Yamaha CLP230 and Roland HP103 within reach but I can't seem to find any to try locally so I was
wondering what you thought about these two (or any other suggestions).

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

Best regards, Chris Partington