Pianists, Need Some Help!

Once again, I find myself taking a quick look at the articles and find you guys at EquipBoard HQ made a great article on digital pianos. Anyways, I've been thinking about doing piano lessons since I have an open slot on Saturdays to do an extra instrument for free! Might be a good use of my time. So, if possible, some help with more options would be greatly appreciated.

Basically, I'm approaching piano as I would an amplifier (or guitar). Basic essentials, maybe a few features. All I needs is the following:

• 76 or 88 keys (weighted or hammer-action)
• Phone output and/or output jack (both MUST be 1/4" output jack)
• Speakers... good ones
• Sounds. All I'm interested is a standard piano sound. An extra 10 sounds like strings or organ are welcome, but that's all.
• Effects optional. One with just a reverb would be great, but again, optional
• Portability, sort of. I don't mind lugging heavy weight
• Metronome is a bonus
• Polyphony is not worrying to me

I've been looking at the Korg SP-170s, but that only has an 1/8" phone output. I saw the Yamaha P-45, which has one output jack that's a 1/4". I'm sure this should suffice. Finally, the Kawai ES100 which is very pricey, but still noted. Finally, the Yamaha NP-32 which has everything I need, but is Graded Soft Touch. I'm not sure this will be too much of a hindrance to me, but I'm no piano expert.

Anyways, thanks, guys!

88 keys if you are taking lessons on it... there are some knockout options by Kawai and Kurzweil, but if you just want an affordable simulated piano and little else, Yamaha offers best in class feel and great sound from the Piano1 mode. The electric pianos don't slouch either covering a warm 70s wurli/fender sound as well as a hard, 80s digital DX7 sound. I have a P-85 and it serves me as a primary MIDI controller for every electronic instrument I use as well as being my primary songwriting instrument (including my guitars). The Yamaha action is very realistic, but on the stiff side so it really builds your hand strength and coordination. The Yamis are fun to play.

The downside is that the output doubles as a headphone amp and the volume fader is finicky when interfacing with studio gear or tube amps, but its best as a controller anyway... oh and its big and heavy, but all the decent digital pianos are.

Sounds good... P-85 doesn't seem to be very different from the 45, plus I can snag a floor model for $390. Still, the Piaggero series of Yamaha pianos are there as well. The NP-32 goes for $280 brand new. Also, like I said, not worried about lugging and it's only ever going to be used in an actual live setting with a single speaker.

Thank you for the input, Jim.

I don't recall the difference between the 45 and 85, probably the sampling...

Hey narcist!

Ah man that guide was fun to put together, I loved testing those (and many more). Piano was my very first instrument, I'm formally trained in it so I guess it's my "best" instrument :)

Jim's pretty spot on, it sounds like the Yamaha P-45 would fit the bill. It's just such a great value and is just a solid "cant go wrong" digital piano.

The Kawai ES100 is downright impressive but as you noted it's quite pricey, and also harder to get from local retailers. I'm not too familiar w the Korg SP-170 but I believe the Korg B1 replaced it. I wouldn't get the NP-32 since it only has 76 keys. 88 fully-weighed/hammer action all the way for proper piano playing!

Yeah, Yamaha P-45 all the way - 88 keys, great feel, great grand piano voice, a single stereo 1/4" output jack, pretty decent speakers (hard to find a digital piano with built-in speakers that are stellar), some decent non-piano sounds you can work with, it's light (25 lbs), has a metronome, and adequate polyphony. Ah man actually I don't think it has effects if memory serves me right.

To Jim's point, you can also use it as a MIDI controller since it has USB, and then if you get bored of its built-in piano sound, use a piano VST! Another really fun test we did was to find the best piano VST. The easiest one to get into was absolutely XLN Audio Addictive Keys Studio Grand, it's also pretty cheap and sounds awesome. Demo version on their website :)

Good to know about VST's, I'll keep that in mind. Anyways, it looks like I've had a stroke of good luck! A shop called Unique Squared was selling mint condition P-45's, but I wanted to know if they were floor models or previously owned or what.

Turns out they ran out of mint versions and forgot to change the listing. Because of this, they're willing to honor the listing by selling me a brand new P-45 with the $60 discount. That means I need to save and fairly quickly!

Hey, thanks for the help, guys.

my P85 has a handful of non-piano voices (that mostly suck), but no effects... doesn't need 'em when used as a piano as the samples aren't overly dry in piano1 mode.