need to buy a piano...
Discussion
Or not.. More like an electronic keyboard please.
I have no idea where to start!
My son is learning to tinkle the ivories, and I need to get a half decent, but not mega expensive, electronic keyboard doo-hickey that he can practise on at home.
Something with headphones please, and none of this toys r us casio s
te with light up keys and stuff!
No idea on budget really, would £200 do it? could spend more if needed, something with some vague resale value would be cool too (which I guess means spending a bit more), if/when he decides he wants to bin it off.
Dont mind buying second hand.
Thanks
Dave
I have no idea where to start!
My son is learning to tinkle the ivories, and I need to get a half decent, but not mega expensive, electronic keyboard doo-hickey that he can practise on at home.
Something with headphones please, and none of this toys r us casio s
te with light up keys and stuff!No idea on budget really, would £200 do it? could spend more if needed, something with some vague resale value would be cool too (which I guess means spending a bit more), if/when he decides he wants to bin it off.
Dont mind buying second hand.
Thanks
Dave
Casio CDP-100 is the cheapest fully weighted velocity sensitive 88 key, basic electronic piano I could find when looking for a beginner for my wife. It's very basic.
If you want a myriad of options you're better of going for a midi controller keyboard that you can plug in to a computer something like a M-Audio Keystation 88es which has no speakers and plays through a software package like GarageBand or the like.
If you want a myriad of options you're better of going for a midi controller keyboard that you can plug in to a computer something like a M-Audio Keystation 88es which has no speakers and plays through a software package like GarageBand or the like.
OneDs said:
Casio CDP-100 is the cheapest fully weighted velocity sensitive 88 key, basic electronic piano I could find when looking for a beginner for my wife. It's very basic.
If you want a myriad of options you're better of going for a midi controller keyboard that you can plug in to a computer something like a M-Audio Keystation 88es which has no speakers and plays through a software package like GarageBand or the like.
Casio looks along the right lines, but some extra "toys" on there would be nice for him.If you want a myriad of options you're better of going for a midi controller keyboard that you can plug in to a computer something like a M-Audio Keystation 88es which has no speakers and plays through a software package like GarageBand or the like.
Midi one sounds like a nice idea but no PC anywhere near where it will go (small house)
The Yamaha is waaay to big I'm afraid!
Any more suggestions gratefully received!
Do you want a keyboard or an electric piano?
The latter is one with all the noises and less keys
The former is similar to a normal piano whereby its has the same number of keys, they are weighted, and if you press them harder then they will make a louder sound.
If she just wants a 'toy' then a keyboard is the way forward. If this is to potentially learn to play the piano then the electric piano is the way forward.
The latter is one with all the noises and less keys
The former is similar to a normal piano whereby its has the same number of keys, they are weighted, and if you press them harder then they will make a louder sound.
If she just wants a 'toy' then a keyboard is the way forward. If this is to potentially learn to play the piano then the electric piano is the way forward.
If electric piano, somethinng like this would be good:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Piano-Technics-... although much cheaper could be had.
Incidentally is there a reason you don't want an actual piano? You can get old ones for peanuts in your local free-ads and whilst they don't sound perfect they are definitely fine for beginners
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Piano-Technics-... although much cheaper could be had.
Incidentally is there a reason you don't want an actual piano? You can get old ones for peanuts in your local free-ads and whilst they don't sound perfect they are definitely fine for beginners
blindswelledrat said:
If electric piano, somethinng like this would be good:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Piano-Technics-... although much cheaper could be had.
Incidentally is there a reason you don't want an actual piano? You can get old ones for peanuts in your local free-ads and whilst they don't sound perfect they are definitely fine for beginners
I would guess the idea of being able to use headphones is probably driving the need for a digital over a real!!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Piano-Technics-... although much cheaper could be had.
Incidentally is there a reason you don't want an actual piano? You can get old ones for peanuts in your local free-ads and whilst they don't sound perfect they are definitely fine for beginners
The important thing is to get one with properly weighted keys. If he's having proper lessons on a real piano he will struggle to get used to the difference between the different feel of the two types unless his one at home is also weighted. Hope that makes sense.
blindswelledrat said:
Do you want a keyboard or an electric piano?
The latter is one with all the noises and less keys
The former is similar to a normal piano whereby its has the same number of keys, they are weighted, and if you press them harder then they will make a louder sound.
Is it not the other way round?The latter is one with all the noises and less keys
The former is similar to a normal piano whereby its has the same number of keys, they are weighted, and if you press them harder then they will make a louder sound.
I've just this week taken delivery of, and started trying to re-learn to play (after about 45 years since learning as a kid), a Yamaha P95. Very pleased with it.
It's an 88-key jobby, 52 inches width left to right, 11 inches deep from front to back, and up to about 4 inches thick. Light enough to move around very easily. It isn't in any sense a 'piece of furniture', unlike a real piano. I bought a Z-shaped stand for it to sit on, but it would sit comfortably on a desk or table or whatever, provided the height was suitable.
The keys replicate the feel of a real piano, the sound is good, and it has other sounds available at the touch of a button, eg pipe organ and harpsichord. Also has earphones jack-plug.
Amazon, £432.67.
It's an 88-key jobby, 52 inches width left to right, 11 inches deep from front to back, and up to about 4 inches thick. Light enough to move around very easily. It isn't in any sense a 'piece of furniture', unlike a real piano. I bought a Z-shaped stand for it to sit on, but it would sit comfortably on a desk or table or whatever, provided the height was suitable.
The keys replicate the feel of a real piano, the sound is good, and it has other sounds available at the touch of a button, eg pipe organ and harpsichord. Also has earphones jack-plug.
Amazon, £432.67.
Thanks everyone, I will look into each of those,
Real piano is out as absolutely no space for one, quite a small house.
Not sure on the terminology but the an electric piano sounds right, not a "synthesiser" as I'd have called the ones with all the flashing lights and disco beats. I thought you could get one that does a bit of both? Probably barking up the wrong tree though.
Something that has a trestle stand and can be packed away under a bed, etc makes sense.
Will get googling and report back.
Real piano is out as absolutely no space for one, quite a small house.
Not sure on the terminology but the an electric piano sounds right, not a "synthesiser" as I'd have called the ones with all the flashing lights and disco beats. I thought you could get one that does a bit of both? Probably barking up the wrong tree though.
Something that has a trestle stand and can be packed away under a bed, etc makes sense.
Will get googling and report back.
Best advice would be to visit a music shop. I did this about 5 years ago and got really sensible advice from guys who knew what they were talking about and understood about kids' music lessons and real life budgets etc. After all it is always a risk that kids will get bored, give up after six months etc. and you're left trying to flog a couple of grand's worth of folly on ebay or such.
if you don't mind a bit of "furniture" then we went for a Kawai CL 25, which has been an excellent piece of kit for (then) £650. Both daughters still play, it sounds great, headphones are useful sometimes, and I can't really fault it, except it hasn't got a lid for the keys.
Some nice pictures on google images. Good luck with this.
if you don't mind a bit of "furniture" then we went for a Kawai CL 25, which has been an excellent piece of kit for (then) £650. Both daughters still play, it sounds great, headphones are useful sometimes, and I can't really fault it, except it hasn't got a lid for the keys.
Some nice pictures on google images. Good luck with this.
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