Looking for a keyboard/digital piano

[Simpo Two]

I'm just a 'dabbler' but would like to get a decent quality second-hand keyboard or digital piano (not entirely sure of the difference but would like weighted keys, and preferably 88 of them though I could lose a few). There doesn't seem to be much on eBay so just wondered if any PHers had one for sale. I had a Roland FP-8 but it was too heavy to lift and wouldn't fit in the cupboard!

[Simpo Two]

Thanks all - I had hoped to find something serviceable second hand for around £200 - is this unrealistic? Can go one size smaller if it helps.

[Simpo Two]

I'd like something that sounds and feels like a piano. But it must be liftable and cupboard-friendly!

The Casio CDP-120 seems to keep cropping up - but to me 'Casio' make toys not instruments.

[Simpo Two]

Hoofy said:

Try it!

Do you have experience of one?

I suppose I could always cover up the name with a Bosendorfer logo

[Simpo Two]

As an update, I found a 'used' Yamaha P105 at Amazon Warehouse for £380 - a saving of about £100 - so I bought it. Externally it looked brand new but unfortunately some of the voices turned into a stylophone after 15 secs so it had to go back, and of course they can't supply another one at the same price, damn.

I thought it sounded and felt 'OK' but a bit plasticky and you could tell the keys weren't weighted quite right. Hence I'm considering going up a notch to the £500-£700 bracket. Unfortunately the next model in the Yamaha range seems to be the P255 which is £1113 everywhere (a black chipboard 'piano' shape is not an option as it has to be stored in a cupboard).

So... top brand preferred, new preferred, looking for best piano sound and feel, a decent selection of nice voices would be fun but apart from that I don't need any electronic trickery. How about the Roland F-20 at £639? It is not going to get used a great deal, but when I do use it, or guests have a go, I would like it to be a nice one.

ETA: After a little more surfing the likely candidates are the Roland F-20, though it is heavy at 20kg and the voice selection could be annoying, the Kawai ES100 (as kindly mentioned by 'theboss' but an equal shortage of voice buttons), and perhaps the Casio PX350 although it looks rather gadgety.

What does the panel make of these reviews?

Roland: http://azpianonews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/Roland-F...

Kawai: http://azpianonews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/Kawai-ES...

Casio: http://azpianonews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/review-c...

Off for some air!

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 25th July 12:05

[Simpo Two]

Thanks for the idea, but I don't have a laptop, and wouldn't really want one hanging off the back if I did. Just want a piano really, and 6-10 good voices with a button each so I can select them

If I had the space I'd have a pianola!

[Simpo Two]

It's a good question and frankly I was putting that off as I can't just sit down and rip off a tune. However tomorrow I shall be close to Manns in Colchester with a friend who can play loads of stuff including this rather fun piece http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5ZXiJor2E . So he can play and I'll pay

[Simpo Two]

Well by way of a follow-up, and following a thorough audition, the Kawai ES100 (thanks 'theboss') beat the equivalent Casio decisively, but they didn't have the other contender, the Roland F20. Kawai and Roland seem to put the money into a good piano sound and feel, with minimal frills, whilst the Casio seemed like an over-buttoned toy in comparison. The next Yamaha up after the P105 is over £1,000+ so they're out.

The nice shop has got an F20 in so tomorrow is the showdown!

[Simpo Two]

theboss said:

Which way did your decision go in the end?

Well they ordered in a Roland F20, and frankly I was disappointed. Visually it was clad in cheap-looking boxy black wood-effect plastic, and I didn't think the sound was as realsistic as the Kawai. This may have been because the in-built speakers are not as good, but that is how I'm going to hear it so that is important! Both keyboards were lacking in the buttons department so they were equal on that score. But no matter what was played, I liked the sound of the Kawai better. It also feels better as the Roland has 'ivory effect' keys - which actually means matt plastic instead of gloss. It just felt wrong, and sounded rather fake. Perhaps it is technically better inside, but the speakers prevented it from being apparent. And it's interesting to note that the price of the F20 has crashed over the last month from about £630 to £480.

The Kawai will do me just fine. Smart looks, great sound, light enough to put in a cupboard. My test pilot, who plays a church organ every week, said the organ sound was very good, and I agree. Just a slight pain toggling through the 3 voice buttons. There's also a whole load of other clutter in there which I'll never need, and the amusingly named 'lessons' which just play music at you!