Can you help?

I am looking into buying a digital paino - but I don't play (yet...). I'm finding it really hard to find the right thing. I really want it as an incentive to learn and to help with my singing.

I was looking at the Clavinova CLP130, and went into the local music shop and he suggested that I ought to consider the Roland HP-3. Anone play one of these? I must admit, I prefer the tone to the Clavinova, but I feel such an idiot spending such a lot of money on something I can't even try out properly....

Please, some advice. The man is offering it to me for sale prices (so he says) but only if i'm quick, but I don't want to be ripped off!

Hi,

I wrote you a reply here in viva piano. Don't know much about the Rolands though (except that I tried one in the shop and didn't feel that the action was as good as that on the Yamaha's, that's just my personal opinion though...).

The sale prices if you're quick sounds like a pushy salesman technique to try to get you to buy from him quickly without considering; don't let him rush you!

QUOTE (AnotherPianist @ Sep 1 2004, 04:18 PM)

The sale prices if you're quick sounds like a pushy salesman technique to try to get you to buy from him quickly without considering; don't let him rush you!

That's what I thougt too! I'm not going to rush it - if I miss tha boat, I'll wait for another sale if I decide that's what I want.

I wasn't really that impressed with him - when I asked him to play them, he just pressed the demo button....

I read somewhere too, that Roland's are a bit overpriced? The dealer in town didn't have any Technics - I'll have to go further afield I think. Thanks for your help!

Emma, I'm selling a Clavinoval CLP-970 (top of their last range - there was a 990, but that came out after I bought mine). I've been very pleased with it but want a hybrid acoustic/silent piano, as I need to develop my touch and tone more. The 970 has a floppy disk drive as well as a 16 track recorder and it's been good for recording my performance & playing back (well, my performance hasn't been that good...!!!). I had the same dilemma when buying it, as I was going to buy a Roland, but in the end the voices were better and the general feel of the keyboard was more realistic I think. I presume the latest Yamaha range is even better, so I'd choose one of those, if I were buying a new one now.

Jen

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I have heard that the Organist at the Cathedral here has a digital piano in his office - I am waiting to hear what that is. I'm certian he would not put up with any old thing.

I'll let you know what it is when I get the email.

I have accompanied quite a few pupils when they have bought pianos - digital and acoustic. I thought I would mention that I have always managed to bargain quite successfully. So far I have always managed to get some sort of discount for them. This is especially the case with digital pianos. One pupil found a digital piano she liked. We took down the name and model number etc and then phoned other shops to ask if they stocked this model and if so how much. We found another shop (miles away) who was selling it about £100 cheaper! We went straight back into the shop and told them this and they promptly reduced it by £150!! You do have to be confident though!

It is surprising. Most of the sites on the internet indicate a discount from the recommentded price, but it can vary enormously. Even on the web prices can differ by £300 for more. I think you have got to be prepared to shop around.

The cheapest clavinovas I found were on www.buyabargain.com (or was it .co.uk?). They also sell other instruments too. I also heard that by phoning them you could get the same price and they were very helpful re delivery times / options, too, so if anyone is looking to buy a clavinova it might be worth checking out.

I had a digital (Yamaha CLP970) until earlier this year, managed to get it very cheaply on the internet at musicalinstrumentwarehouse. Finally living in my own house and not a flat was the key behind finally moving onto an acoustic.

I'd tried it out at Chappell's, who said they'd price match anyone I found lower, but that they wouldn't price match internet stores. The one thing they did offer that the internet guys didn't was a full delivery service. A 970 weighs around 90kg and though the top portion comes off it isn't that easy to move round - the box it's delivered in is about 6 foot long so if you do go down that route make sure you've got a couple of strong mates to help you set it up.

A digital's an excellent choice if you aren't quite sure on how much you'll use it - it's nice to be able to duet with yourself for example. I agree with Jen W that once you get to the point of developing a good touch it's probably time to move to an acoustic model, but most of Yamaha's reasonable model's now come with a reasonable gradation of samples at each note giving you some control (my first digital had three samples per note, the 970 I had had five). It even manages clever things like the resonance when you depress a set of notes silently then play over the top.

Good luck!

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Sep 1 2004, 07:37 PM)

The only pain is that none of these instruments has castors on its base so moving it round the house is going to be fitness training.

[QUOTE]

Yes, the 970 is definitely one of the heaviest Yamaha has produced! When the man from the music shop delivered it however, he tucked it under his arm (minus the stand, of course) and marched upstairs with it!!! (I can drag it a small distance across the floor when it's in one piece.)

Jen

I would research what it's like getting these things fixed if they go Pete Tong, if I were you. As far as I can see there is one guy in the whole of Scotland who fixes digital pianos and he seems to be as easy to get hold of on the phone as the Pope is. I shouldn't think his invoices are that small either.

Hi..

I have a Technics PX 664 and i love it to pieces!! I tried various digial pianos i the shop when i bought mine and i found the Technics to have a better sound than the Roland and Yamahas. Just go to the shop and try all the ones in your price range and pick the one you feel most comfortable playing and like the most because it will be you playing the piano in the end and not the salesman!!!

Lots of luv

Teabag

xxx

P.S..Have fun piano shopping!!

I bought a Yamaha P120 from the web, and it was about £300 cheaper than in shops. It is excellent, and I'd definitely recommend it - the piano sounds are amazing. The key action is probably not the best in its class, but it's certainly good enough.