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

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

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

Hi Chris, I am happy that you like my website.

Out of the two digital pianos you mention, personally I prefer the sound and touch of the Yamaha CLP230 - but only slightly over the Roland HP103.

I think the Yamaha has a more positive down stroke on the key and feels more natural (like a real acoustic piano).  I find the Roland slightly too light a touch and they haven't quite got the key balance right. The sound of the Yamaha CLP230 is also clearer - especially the middle octave and the one above that.

I can recommend a website where you can get a very good deal on digital pianos and they will look after you if anything where to go wrong. Their name is Thomann. You can check out their website here.

Regards,
Graham Howard

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

Hello
 
Here's an easy one for you (I hope) - if money were no object, which digital piano would you buy:
 
1. in terms of performance
2. in terms of looks
3. as a compromise of both
 
Thanks
 
Alan Grimshaw, Cheshire.

Reply/ Hi Alan

Great question!

In terms of performance, I would buy the Yamaha CLP280:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-clp280.html

There is no question that the sound and touch is second to none.

In terms of looks, well, this really is a personal thing. But if
You’re asking me, then I like the look of the Classenti CDP2 PE:
http://classenti.co.uk/classenti-cdp2-pe-digital-piano.html

The cabinet is neat, compact; has beautiful rounded edges and
a high gloss finish.

Both pianos are in completely different price brackets, so it
is difficult to answer the last question.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard

Graham,

What is your opinion of Chase Pianos?

http://chasedirect.co.uk/PIANOS_&_KEYBOARDS.asp?Cat_Code=31&Subcat_Code=265&categoryname=PIANOS%20&%20KEYBOARDS%20DIGITAL%20PIANOS

Regards, David

Hi David

The Chase digital pianos are very cheap, which is usually an indication of poor quality - hence poor sound and awful touch.

I haven't tested these pianos out YET, but from my experience, they are not something I would recommend.

I recommend the following digital pianos:

Casio PX110 £358 http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/casio-px110.html

Good points: cheap.

Not so good points: The sound is a little on the thin side, and the touch is too light and spongy.

Classenti CDP1 £599 http://ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-cdp1.html

Good points: Excellent sound and touch; feels just like a real piano.

Not so good points: Doesn't have many additional instrument sounds or features.

Yamaha YDP131 £551 http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-ydp131.html

Good points: Good sound and realistic touch.

Not so good points: The speakers are quite small and the sound is not as full as the more expensive Yamahas.

Regards,
Graham Howard

More comments/

Graham,

Many thanks for you quick reply.

The piano would be for my wife, who has no musical experience. However, we would like to get a decent instrument, possibly with a few ‘bells and whistles’ to have some fun with. I have requested some brochures from Yamaha, as I’m not clear on the difference between the CLP and CVP ranges.

I need to do a bit more homework.

Best regards,

David

Reply/ Hi David

The CLP has a better sound and a more realistic piano feel than the CVP range.

The CVP range offers a lot more ‘bells and whistles’.

These are the main differences.

Regards,
Graham Howard

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