Digital Pianos
“Which digital piano do you recommend for children ranging in age from 12 – 21?”
Q/ Thank you for your kind advice Graham – is it really Graham, or a stand-in? I find it hard to imagine that the real deal has got time to answer all these simpletons, and at such a quick turn-around too! – which I shall abide by and ask you for a quote on Classenti and Yamaha electric pianos, in the price-range £500 – £1600. Can I ask what you’d recommend for a trio of children ranging in age from 12 – 21, plus possibly the two parents getting into the swing?
And do you deliver to Manchester?
Many thanks,
Cheng
A/ Hi Cheng
It’s alright… no offence taken.
I didn’t reply to your earlier email because
I was out on the bike… such lovely weather
(for a change).
Now back to work.
I would be glad to quote you on a digital piano.
I see your budget is quite wide… so you really
have three choices
1) Buy a cheapish piano for now, then part-
exchange it for a much better one when your
kids (and you, of course) have progressed to
a more advanced level. The piano I recommend
is the Broadway B1
2) Buy a mid-priced piano that will take your
children to about grade 7 (this could take
5-10 years). The one I recommend is the
Classenti CDP1.
3) Go all out from the start at and get a piano
that’s good for now and also good right up to
the highest grade. In other words, buy a piano
that you won’t need to change. The one I
recommend is the Yamaha CLP645.
Yes, we do free delivery to Manchester.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
“Which digital piano to buy? Your advice would be greatly appreciated!”
Dear Graham
I’ve been researching digital pianos over the last few weeks and your straightforward reviews have been a breath of fresh air….yet I’m still confused! So I wanted to ask your recommendation, if that’s ok?
A brief history: I’m 42 and haven’t played regularly for over 12 years. I started organ lessons at 9 years old but moved to keyboard quickly then piano. I used to own a Korg o1/w as I’d played in bands in my teens/at Uni and had an OK upright. In my flat. Aptitude wise I could confidently play piano arrangements from most of Evita when I was 18/19, and continued to learn and play whatever took my fancy and I enjoyed. I now listen mostly to piano-led jazz spanning the 50’s to now, and have a soft spot for the likes of Monty Alexander, Oscar Peterson.
I’d like to get back into playing, and go back to basics on technique, then build back up. I’d need a digital piano (likely mostly on headphones in the evening) to do that as we’re in a terrace, the walls are a brick thick and I have young kids. I have space in my study which is about 3.5m x 2.5m, but we have a large living room and separate kitchen/living space that the piano could be relocated to post lock-down so some power for then would be ideal.
Great feel and sound are super important to me, and I would like the flexibility to link the piano to my Mac laptop to record.
I’ve found your recommendations of the Gewa Pianos interesting – I’d initially been looking at some Roland models around the £800 – 900 mark, but the apparent value of Gewa caught my eye. Reading the comments you make to customers, it sounds like there’s a sweet spot at the DP 300, then a jump up in keyboard quality at the DP 340 and again at the DP 380 model mark (the latter too £ for me) but would that matter for me? I simply don’t know.
Your advice would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks, and apologies for the length.
Kind regards
Nick
Reply/ Hi Nick
All Gewa models are sampled on a Steinway
grand piano. You can hear the deep, warm,
rounded tone throughout its range.
If you want the most realistic key feel then
the UP380G, UP380GWK and UP400G offer
an ultra-responsive key mechanism that
reacts in the same way as a real piano.
There’s a step up in key response between
the DP340 and UP360. You get an extra dynamic
level on the UP360 and above. Also a graded
hammer action. The extra dynamic level allows
you to play with more expression in your music
without any limitation.
Personally I’d be happy playing on the UP360G.
It’s good enough easily up to grade 8 level.
Piano teachers have bought this model because
of the sound, feel and value for money against
other brands.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Yours pianistically
Graham Howard
“What are your thoughts about the Thomann DP32?”
Good morning Graham
Many thanks for the information that you have sent through to me.
I am very much a beginner although I did take piano lessons some 15 years ago for 1 year but I fear all will now be largely forgotten! I still have all my music books so am hoping (with currently much time on hand) to try to re-teach myself. I really only require a basic digital piano at this stage without all the extra buttons and bows and money is a factor I am afraid for me. I have been searching various names and was hoping to see the Thomann DP32B amongst your score list. This seems an all round good digital piano which I also understand is somewhat slightly slimmer than most which would fit perfectly in our room.
I wonder what your thoughts are on this model and whether you might have a comparison?
Thank you once again.
Best wishes
Sheena
Reply/ Hi Sheena
The Thomann DP32B has only weighted keys.
So the key touch is lighter than a real piano, and
closer to a keyboard.
I always advise to learn on a piano that has
fully-weighted keys so it resembles a real piano
and will strengthen your fingers.
There’s two pianos I would like to recommend for
you: Hadley D10 and Broadway EZ-102. They both
have 88 fully-weighted keys, which is the most
important thing.
The Hadley D10 has a nice sound. And its keys are
responsive enough for beginners up to intermediate
level. It’s also one of the best learner’s pianos.
The Broadway EZ-102 has a slightly warmer piano tone.
It sounds more natural and resonant than the Hadley.
This is the reason it scores higher in the
Howard Score Piano Rating.
What’s more, the Broadway has a more responsive
key touch with superior repetition – you can play notes
quicker making it more suitable for an intermediate
or advanced level.
I’d be happy to recommend either of them for you
to learn and progress on.
I suspect that the Broadway would be more suitable
for you size-wise. It is less deep than the Hadley.
Yours pianistically
Graham Howard
“I am keen to get a digital piano that is as close as possible to an acoustic piano within the budget”
Dear Graham,
Thank you so much for your advice.
I’m not familiar with either of the brands you mentioned but they seem to be manufactured in South Korea and that’s great as my partner is from South Korea!
I have a couple of questions.
Since the piano is for my son, I’d like to get a height adjustable stool as he is small…I noticed that both of them would come with a matching stool. Would that be possible to upgrade? If so how does the price change?
For the M110, polyphony is given differently to others and it says 88 voice. Could you explain a little bit about this?
I am keen to get a digital piano that is as close as possible to an acoustic piano within the budget. So M110 seems like a good option but maybe slightly above the budget…
Also, if we ordered now, when do we get the piano? We live in London (NW3).
Thank you again for your kind assistance.
Kind Regards,
Mariko
Reply/ Hi Mariko
We do offer an upgrade to an adjustable stool.
The adjustable stool is £70 more than the one
that comes with the piano, so you’d just need
to pay the price difference.
64 polyphony and above is more than you’d ever
need, so I wouldn’t worry too much about this.
We might be able to deliver in the next 2-3 days.
Which colour are you considering?
Kind regards
Graham Howard
“I am looking to rent with a view to buy”
Hi Graham,
Q/ Have read through whole of website and your book about buying digital pianos.
I am a pianist of some 40 years experience and regularly do concerts, accompanying, recording, CDs etc. I have also been teaching for 28 years in schools as a Head of Music and Peripatetic piano tutor. I have recently separated from my wife and now live in a flat. Having got by with an Oberheim master KB connected to PC for Cubase and Sibelius, this has finally died and, in any case was not expressive enough. Whilst I have access to many Steinways and Bluthners to rehearse on, I need something here at the flat for note learning and enjoyment, teaching probably only up to grade 8 here as well as computer recording. Having been a Head of Music I have experienced (stepped in ?) most of the makes over the years – all the Yamahas, Rolands, Technics (very good at one time now dead I understand) and shock horror a Casio Celviano!
OK – so I am looking to rent with a view to buy and have read all the blurb about that. Putting aside the fact that you may not rent all the pianos I am looking at, I need your expert unbiased opinion – your knowledge looks incredible on the following models:
Kawai CA67 – I have tried this in a shop and was quite impressed apart from bass
Kawai CA97 – sadly not in the store although they said they had it – but am told its sonic ‘largeness’ is far superior
Classenti UD1 – looks incredible (too good to be true ?)
I live in Surrey and it is not out of the question to come to Enfield and try out the Classenti.
Ultimately, I want a brilliant full piano sound, with maximum feel and acoustic behaviours.
Sorry for the dull email – probably like many you receive !!!
All best
Gareth
A/ Hi Gareth
The digital pianos I recommend for you are:
1) Yamaha CLP675
2) Kawai CA97
3) Roland HP605
The Roland has a lighter key touch and a round
sound throughout. The sound is particularly nice
and warm in the centre of the keyboard.
If you prefer more firmness to the keys then the
Yamaha or Kawai would be better for you.
My preference is the Yamaha’s solid feel,
especially at the bottom of the key’s downstroke.
The Yamaha’s sound is also richer.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
“Can you recommend a good quality digital piano?”
Q/ What I am trying to achieve here is to get a good quality piano for my son, who is five and about to start piano lessons with an excellent teacher.
She has recommended, among other makes, Roland, Yamaha, and Kawai.
The models I am currently attracted to are
Yamaha YDP 163
Kawai CN37
Roland RP501r
I have set an upper budget of £1,000.
Any ideas?
Dermot.
A/ Hi Dermot
The Roland RP501r is the best digital piano from
your short list…
It has the warmest, most realistic piano tone.
Its key touch is also more responsive. This
responsiveness won’t be of use for your son
right now, but it will be a real benefit as
he progresses to the higher piano grades.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
“We want something reliable, robust, have a long warranty, and a natural tone”
Hello Graham,
It’s been a while but our interest in a new digital piano has revived.
We are a small rural church in Staffordshire. The church is Victorian, of standard stone and brick construction, and can hold about 120 people, most of them on wooden pews. We have a well-maintained and regularly used pipe organ but additionally regularly use a piano to accompany hymns and songs and to play solo pieces. We have used two old digital pianos over the last five years; one failed and could not be repaired economically and the other is on the brink of failure, with several faults that are damaging worship for the congregation. The piano needs some amplification and currently is connected into the church PA system, which is itself about to be replaced by a modern audio-visual system with high fidelity sound via digital equipment and purpose-built loudspeakers. Incidentally, the church has wood panelling and pews of a medium-to-dark oak colour and the pianos seem to blend in best with a rosewood colour.
The question is which digital piano to buy to use now and in the future with the new AV system. We wish something that will be reliable, robust, have a long warranty, have a natural tone rather than be too bright and that will be a pleasure for our pianists to play. Our budget will be in the realm of £1000 to £2000 and “bells and whistles” are not as important to us as the above criteria, given the setting. We have been thinking of either a Yamaha or Roland. For information, my wife and I have a Yamaha CLP-535.
We would welcome your advice and information on price and availability.
Regards,
Alan
Reply/ Hi Alan
The best type of digital piano for a church is one
that has powerful speakers, a large sturdy cabinet
and several inputs/outputs for speakers, PA systems,
computer and other electronic devices.
The most popular pianos churches buy are the Yamaha
Kurzweil CUP320, Gewa UP380G, and Yamaha CLP645.
The Yamaha and Kurzweil are both of similar quality
and suitable for small to medium sized churches
or church halls.
You can read more about the CLP645 here
And the CUP320 here
You can see the Gewa here
The Kurzweil CUP320 is one of the newest models.
It has a superb piano tone and large volume
range making it ideal for a church or large hall.
What’s more, the CUP320 has additional speaker outlets
facing up from behind the keys. Roland and Yamaha
don’t have this…
The additional speakers project sound up, as well as
forward and up.
So the tone is crystal clear and full of harmonics.
Your whole congregation will hear the piano more clearly.
The Gewa UP380G is completely made in Germany
by the German instrument manufacturer, Gewa.
This as a full, Steinway concert grand piano sound.
It has the warmest sound of all three pianos.
I’ve not heard a more realistic sounding digital piano
for under £2,000. It also comes with a 5 year warranty.
All three pianos can be connected to your PA system.
This is the order I rate them in:
1) Gewa UP380G
2) Kurzweil CUP320
3) Yamaha CLP645
Delivery is free to Staffordshire.
Let me know if you have any questions or need more advice.
Yours pianistically
Graham Howard
“Comparing Yamaha and Kawai”
Hi Graham,
Q/ I used to play at a reasonable grade 7/8 standard but haven’t touched a piano
in about 8 years and am keen to get back to playing. I’ve tried a couple of digital pianos
and the decision comes down to a Yamaha CLP 645 or Kawai CA67.
Do you have any thoughts on comparison of these two digital pianos?
Kind regards
Ben
A/ Hi Ben
They both have a good piano sound and a
touch that feels close to an acoustic
piano…
The CLP645 does have a slightly richer
tone… and the sound is a little more
mellow, especially in the central treble
region.
Another thing the Yamaha wins on is the
firmer key touch…
Although both digital pianos have an accurate
key weighting on the way down and on the
key’s return, the Yamaha has a firmer
(harder) feel when the key reaches its
lowest point.
This gives you the feeling of having more
control under your fingers. More exactness.
And it enables you to put more feeling
into the piece you are playing.
There’s little to choose between the two.
Go with the one that feels right for you.
I appreciate it’s difficult to find a
shop that stocks both.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
“In terms of budget I’m looking in the £800-1000 range”
Graham,
Q/ Firstly, thank you very much for the digital piano guide.
It is easy to download; and as many of your reviewers have already testified, I found it well written, very helpful and informative.
I’m in the market for a digital piano which both myself and my 8 year old daughter can learn to play together (from absolute beginner). I’m after a machine with good touch, which will give us the option to transition to an upright acoustic, with minimum difficulty. In terms of budget I’m looking in the £800-1000 range.
Assuming you think the budget will allow us to buy a good quality, realistic, relatively future-proof machine, and with the help of your guide I wrote out a shortlist below. Then, visited a couple of local stockists to see/hear them in the flesh.
Casio AP650 – Cheapest to buy, but looks, feels, and sounds exactly that (not a contender).
Yamaha YDP163 – Didn’t sound as nice as the Kawai or Roland to my (untrained) ear. Action felt softer than the other 2 below, but at the same time more responsive. I know its the electronics that count, but it seemed smaller and not as well constructed as the 2 below.
Kawai CN27 – Liked this one, well built, nice sound, best speakers, and good feel on the keys, maybe doesn’t have as many gadgets/functions as the Roland.
Roland RP501r – Best sounding piano, well built, nice action on the keys, but seemed to suffer if being played quickly, know it’s a gimmick but I really liked the ivory touch keys.
I’ve put some comments by each, but as a complete novice, I’d really appreciate your view. I’m leaning towards Kawai with Roland a close second. Not quite sure if this is because I found the Kawai dealer more persuasive (something you mention in the guide).
Thanks in advance,
Phil,
N. Yorks
A/ Hi Phil
I would say it’s a close call between YDP163, RP501r and CN27
This is the order I put them in:
1) RP501r
2) YDP163
3) CN27
The Roland certainly has the most realistic tone.
It has more warmth and depth to it.
Roland digital pianos feel more responsive under the fingers,
although a tad lighter than the Yamaha and Kawai.
You would get used to this fairly quickly though.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
“Please recommend digital pianos for grade 5 to grade 8”
Q/ Hi Graham, we looking for digital pianos to buy, which are you recommend to us. My daughter currently grade 5 but she will go up to grade 8. Can you let me know which piano, which brand etc. I don’t have any knowledge. Pls help me. Thanks.
A/ Hi Kathir
Well, it really depends on how much you
want to spend.
The best digital pianos for grade 5 and
above are the Yamaha Clavinovas or
Roland HP series.
The first model in the Yamaha range is the
CLP625. This has a fully-weighted key touch
and a very nice piano tone. It’s recommended
up to at least grade 7.
The CLP635 would be ideal. This has firmer
and more sensitive keys than the CLP625.
So it’s better for grade 8 standard.
Also look at the Roland HP603. The tone
quality is a bit warmer than the Yamahas,
which you might prefer.
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard