Digital Pianos

“Can you advise on a digital piano for my wife?”

Q/ I am looking for a digital piano for my wife who wants to learn to play. She has never played before so this will be her first piano. We need something that is fairly portable so it can be moved between rooms as required. I was looking at 3 models:
Roland fp30
Yamaha p-115
Broadway b1

I was leaning towards the Broadway but can see this is less portable so may not be an option.
Please can you recommend ?

Thanks

Ashley

A/ Hi Ashley

Although the Broadway B1 isn’t designed to be a
portable instrument, it is lighter than most digital
pianos and easy enough to move around (but you
might need two people to move it from room to
room.
The Broadway would be my first recommendation
as far as getting your wife the most realistic piano
for the price.

The FP30 would be a good second choice.
It has a weightier, more responsive key touch than
the P115. It also has a deeper, more resonant tone.
What’s more, its cabinet looks so much nicer than
the P115.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

 

“Please recommend a piano between £1000 and £1400”

Q/ I’ve read the Howard Score document about which piano to choose very carefully. I received it last June and I’ve not gone further with buying a piano as yet but now circumstances could be changing all that!
Budget wise I’m looking around £1000 to £1400 absolute max, and I’m hoping to include stool, headphones, and insurance or warranty with that which is what I’ve found to be possible from looking at your recommended online sites.

Any advice, gratefully received
Jo

A/ Hi Jo

There’s two digital pianos I recommend for you:
Yamaha CLP635 and Roland HP504.

Both digital pianos are good enough to take you up
to about grade 7. This is a fairly high level.

Sound wise the Roland HP504 is slightly warmer
and more mellow in the central area of the
keyboard. The Yamaha tone is richer and
more vibrant. Both equally good really.

As far as the key touch goes, the Yamaha feels
closer to a real piano. It has more resistance, and
feels smoother under the fingers. This probably
wouldn’t matter so much for you now, but it
would certainly be important as you progress
to a more advanced level.

Both digital pianos come with a long ‘At-Home’
Service Warranty that includes all parts and
labour. We send a technician to your home
if it needs fixing.

You also get a free stool and headphones.
Delivery is also included.

I realise that they cost a little over your
intended budget, but the pianos that cost less
than these are a big jump down in quality.

Would you still like some recommendations
for pianos between £1,000 and £1,400?

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

 

“Can you point me in the right direction?”

Hi Graham,

Q/ Firstly I would like to commend you on your fantastic website….which is just crammed with lots of advice, info and more!!

Your book has also been a godsend and I will be sending feedback re that too.

Now, I have a question, so here is a little background info…..

I have a very old Collard & Collard grand piano, but it needs restrung which I cannot afford to do, and have also been advised that its not worth doing anyway!
My 16yr old son plays. He is at grade 6, but is just getting better and better, and the grand is really letting him down now.
I am looking to buy a digital piano for him, as that is what he plays at school, but it’s not knowing which to buy!
I have looked at your book and see that Yamaha seems to be top for quality, sound etc…, but his music teacher has said not to buy a Yamaha as they are unreliable and cannot be repaired easily!
We are not looking for lots of super-duper extras, like those you have pointed out in your book…just something that mimics as much as possible the real thing!
I do have a limited budget….up to £800, so I appreciate that the Yamaha might be out of my price-range, but would really appreciate if you could point me in the right direction?!

Thank you so very much,

Kind regards,

Annette

A/ Hi Annette

For £800 you really don’t have a lot of choice
if you want something that will be good for
grade 6 and above.

There’s only the Broadway B1 really.

If you could stretch to £900 – £1000 then
the Roland RP501r or Kurzweil M110 would
be worth a look.

Ideally it would be best to push the
budget up to around £1400 – £1500.
You can then get digital pianos that are
more suitable for up to grade 8.

The Roland HP603 or Yamaha CLP645.
would be good options at that price point.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

 

“New or old digital pianos. What’s best?”

Hi Graham

Q/ Would you say that new digital pianos are superior over old digital pianos? And if so, for a beginner, what would you recommend. I notice that you seem to like the Cassenti? Would you go so far as to say that this is the best in terms of quality and value for money? Also which model would you recommend as being the best. Everywhere I look people are recommending Yamaha but I can’t help but think that this is pure marketing power? I would prefer a warm sounding piano and I’ve also read that Yamaha can be a bit bright, is that true of Kawai too?

Your advice would be gratefully received.

Regards, Dawn

A/ Hi Dawn

Questions I often get are:

Should I buy a cheap digital piano then upgrade it later
if I really take to it?

Should I spend a bit more so I won’t need to
upgrade later?

Should I really splash out and get the very best
digital piano there is right away?

For a beginner I recommend keeping your budget
fairly low. The £600 – £900 price range gives you
quite a few decent digital pianos to choose from…

Broadway B1
Yamaha YDP163
Classenti CDP2
Roland RP501r

You’re right about the brightness of Yamaha
and Kawai digital pianos.

If you prefer a warmer tone you’ be better off
with either a Classenti or Roland.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

 

> Read more digital piano questions

 

Customer Comments…

“Your team where extremely helpful and I received my digital piano within days”

Dear Graham

UK Pianos are a great company to buy from, they are prompt, friendly and efficient. Despite Paypal errors from my side, their team where extremely helpful and I received my digital piano within days. I have received the headphones this morning to my current address. Many thanks for all your help, it is much appreciated.

Kerry Lynn – Hull

 

“Competent, passionate about pianos, friendly, UK Pianos should be your first choice!”

Well, you can see for them is not only their job, it’s their passion as well ! They know their stuff, they give you good advice, even their little digital piano buyer’s guide for free, and they are always willing to try helping out. And in some cases, they can even arrange for you to pay by monthly instalments, so it’s more affordable, and if you are in UK, a rent-to-buy scheme – basically, they can cover any kind of need. And if they give you advice, it’s not about trying to sell you always the most expensive solution – if they think it’s better for you, they will propose you a cheaper solution, even if it’s not in their financial interest.

Allesandro Al

 

“I’d like to thank you for the brilliant idea of putting this web together and for all your good work”

Hi Graham,

I haven´t had a chance to fully read your book yet but what I have read has been extremely helpful. Buying digital pianos is very tricky especially when you´re pretty much a beginner and you don´t have a clue about the jargon or what you should be looking for. Also you don´t want to make an expensive mistake as the budget is usually limited. But I actually bought my digital piano yesterday, and that was possible thanks to your info.

But I was only able to arrive at this conclusion thanks to your advice and to the comments of people in your web page, so I´m very happy about that. It helped me work through the maze! So I´d like to thank you for the brilliant idea of putting this web together and for all your good work and thoroughness. It´s very valuable for all of us out there who are racking our brains wondering what´s the best digital piano for us.

Thank you very much!

Best regards, Rosa, Glasgow

 

“The keyboard is now in full working order”

Hi David,

UK Pianos sent someone out this morning to repair a fault with the keyboard on our electronic piano as arranged with your office. My wife has just informed me that the repair has been carried out at our home and that the keyboard is now in full working order.

I wish to thank you and your staff for this excellent service, please feel free to pass on this appraisal to potential customers or welcome them to contact me for reference.

Regards,
Gary Braybrook, Solihull, Birmingham

 

“I would recommend to anyone starting out on the road”

I did 6-8 weeks ago to read your guide, read the reviews from genuine users – not the manufacturers sales pitch and gather the information that will assist you in making an informed judgement.

For anyone “not sure” your rent to buy options makes perfect sense.

In the meantime, once again, thank you so much for the help and assistance you have provided.

John Clarke, Sutton, Surrey, UK

 

“We need more people like you in this world”

Hi Graham:

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion on the best digital piano brands 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 liked it 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

 

“Your website is a land of treasure”

A lot of useful information and good deals.

Sincerely, Lizi

 

“The best service I’ve seen in any shop or online”

Hi Graham

Thank you so much for your quick and helpful reply. I have to say, your website and customer care is by far, the best I’ve seen from any online service or shop.

Louise

 

“I recommend Graham’s expertise”

Graham Howard was very helpful in trying to find out my needs, and offer the best match. When my choice was not available, he gave me an alternative which I would not have thought about, complete with extras. I recommend his expertise in all areas of purchasing your digital piano.

Annick Adjo

 

“Thank you, I have learnt so much”

Dear Graham,

Thank you so much for your invaluable advice. I have learnt so much and am grateful for the time you have freely given to help me understand the jargon and possible options. Excellent customer service.

Janet North

 

“I admire your service and helpfulness”

I would like to say that I really have enjoyed reading all the helpful information you have provided on your website. The level of service and helpfulness you provide for your customers is very admiring to see.

Kind Regards, Kali, Manchester, UK

 

“Good advice before buying”

As usual, UK Pianos offered a caring service with good advice before the purchase, and delivery happened exactly when planned.

John Chandler, Colchester, UK

 

“Excellent service!”

You were kind enough to telephone on the Monday, my digital piano arrived at nine o’clock the following morning, as promised.

End result? Happy and impressed customer.

David Stevens, Canterbury, UK

 

“Friendly and professional service”

A very helpful, friendly and professional service. The manager drove me to the station which saved me the trouble of carrying it! My order was dealt with very efficiently.

I will definitely use UK Pianos again.

Edward Fordyce, Twickenham, SW London, UK

 

“Super support. Wow!”

Dear Howard.

Thank you for your awesome service. I have never experienced a shop with a better support!

Julian Von Klier, Bristol, UK

 

Hi Graham,

Thank you for your message (below). A few weeks ago, I have undertaken to look for a quality digital piano to replace the cheap Casio piano that I currently have and would certainly seriously consider dealing with UK Pianos for the next steps in my exploration of the digital piano ‘world’ if it weren’t for the fact that I live more than 5300 km away from Enfield (in the province of Quebec, Canada). I actually feel somewhat ‘guilty’ of tapping into your website and newsletter resources.

Thank you for providing freely so much useful information on digital pianos, it is much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Louise Dumouchel
Gatineau, QC, Canada

Reply/

You are welcome to take advantage of my free information.
Just let me know if you need advice any time.

Kind regards
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

—

I still haven’t purchased my digital piano… still trying to decide
between the Yamaha CLP785, the Roland LX706 and LX708 and the Kawai
CA901 and CA49.
I must return to the stores (in Ottawa, Canada) to try them out.

Louise
Gatineau, QC