The BEST fully weighted keyboard/piano imitation for under $1000

[kevinc]

I`ve got a friend who`s helping his mother look for a keyboard.

She`s been playing piano since she was about 3 apparently and she just wants a no frills keyboard that has good PIANO sounds and nothing else. No synths no horns not even any organs. Just Pianos or even just one particularly fantastic piano sound.

The 2 things she`s looking for is 1 a realistic piano sound and 2 a realistic feel from the keyboard. Nothing else and she`s got $1000 to spend.

Any ideas ?

[crna59]

Can't beat the Kurzweil SP-88x stage piano. Great feel and sounds. About $800. That's what I had before I got the PC2x.

Regards,
Bruce

[kevinc]

Thanks a lot Bruce.

That looks like it may be just the ticket. thumbsup

[Saucyjack]

I went thru this a few months ago...ended up with a Yamaha S80.Not too hard to find used for $750-1000.
Weighted keyboard,decent piano/organ and synth sounds.

[Jeroleen]

Although often overlooked, the Kawai MP9000, which then became the 9500 before I believe it was discontinued, is a great piano.

Originally priced at about $1,500 they are probably around used for much less and I am almost certain for under 1k.

Keyboard Magazine usually features someones rig in a phøto in the back of the mag. Sometime last year (I believe it was last year) they did a profile of a keyboardist who had a collection of vintage and modern keyboards that could make your heart stop. Everything from Minimoogs to Supter Jupiters, Tritons, Rolands, Yamhas, modulars, workstations, an Andromeda, rack mounts versions, you name it, it was there. In total there were over 80 keyboards.

This guy was quoted as s aying that he bought the Kawai MP9000 as a controller and piano because the keyboard was the best there is. The piano sounds are outstanding and, although there are not many sounds, the ones it does have are really fine.

If you can find one of these for about $750 - $800 it would be fantastic.

[jho]

Yamaha S90 if you can find a used one, fantastic feel and loads of great sounds. I got mine new at banjo center for $1400 and recently saw one there on sale for $1100...

[warhead]

Don't discount the Alesis QS8, selling for $1000. I've owned one for 5 years and it feels very realistic (even has hammer action) and the piano sounds are very real. Most people cannot tell that my recordings of it are not an acoustic piano. Very responsive board with aftertouch etc.

The extra onboard sounds would be a bonus I guess.

Worth checking out.

War

[jazzbutcher]

The Korg stage pianos are pretty good - got one for my dad and he loved it. Plays great - nice feel and sound. Picked up last year's model for $750 and thought it was a steal.

-dave

[DigitMus]

The Alesis isn't bad, but you'll have to buy used (they're up to the 8.2 now...) and it's got a lot of sounds & features that it sounds like you don't need. When I wanted just a decent sounding/feeling digital piano for the house (so I didn't have to run over to the studio every time I got an idea) I ended up with a Roland RD150, I think it has been supplanted by the RD170 by now, but I've always liked the action on the RD series, and the sounds keep getting better with each generation.

Scott

[kevinc]

The funny thing is I actually own a QS8 from when they first came out with them.

I allmost thought about selling it to them but it seems like it has an awful lot of stuff she`d never use.

I also figured something that was more focusing on getting the piano sound and feel right without the extra frills might be either cheaper or better for what she`s willing to spend.

Plus it took me so long to get that thing paid off 7 years or so ago that it feels weird just unloading it for a couple bucks. It does have a pretty good feel to it and if I ever get the big bunch of software organs and vintage keys together that I`ve been eyeing up it`d probably make a cool controller as well. It has some pretty usefull Rhodes and Wurlie sounds in it also.


Thanks for all the info guys. This will give her a good list of stuff to check out. thumbsup

[Robzo]

The Roland A-90 is a nice board. I just picked one up used for $750. Real nice action. Great piano sound. I've played piano for many years and this is my fave. Really got demo the thing though. Everyone has their prefs.

[keyboardman]

Your friend has to go play them. Its a personal thing. They all "feel" different. I think the Yamahas "feel" the best but then again, I've always played them so its self-perpetuating. None of the other weighted keyboards feel remotely like the "real thing" to me.

I think the Yamaha P80 or P90 (can't remember) might be a good one to look at. Decent pianos with a couple other keyboard sounds. Not a synth, not too complicated, very nice action.

[Gregg Sartiano]

Kurzweil K2500XS. I'm selling mine right now, actually.

Agreed on the Roland A-90 -- the keyboard action is "heavy" in a good way -- too heavy for me (piano is a second instrument for me).

[007]

There's a new 88 weighted key on the block, the PC1X. Same sound engine as the PC2 and the Orchestral ROM is uncluded. A tad more than what you were hoping to spend but not by much...$1199. I'm actually considering one for myself, but no one in NYC has one on display for me to hear!

[Xestenz]

Used Yamaha S80 or S90 are both good bets. The S80 has a very nice keyboard feel and better than decent (for ROM) sounds. The S90, while more expensive, has that much more a refined feel to the keys, better sounds, and an upgraded and simplified UI. (The S80 user interface is like trying to decipher hieroglyphics using a protractor...)

The new Kurzweil sounds interesting, but never liked their overall plasticy look (purple anyone?) I know, this has nothing to do with sound, but if I'm gonna have this thing sitting in my living room...

Regards,

David

[Paul.E]

As a happy S80 owner, I'd love to back it up as well. The keys are the best i've felt and it sounds amazing. However, the UI is a little complicated if you want to do some serious editing on it. For that though, you can use Sound Diver or Yamaha's own (crappy) sound editor.

[Ted Nightshade]

Originally posted by Jeroleen
Although often overlooked, the Kawai MP9000, which then became the 9500 before I believe it was discontinued, is a great piano.

Originally priced at about $1,500 they are probably around used for much less and I am almost certain for under 1k.

If you can find one of these for about $750 - $800 it would be fantastic.

Agreed! I have finally come to the understanding that when this is a true classic instrument- we won't be replacing ours with another "more advanced" keyboard, we will be buying up a couple used ones to have on hand as spares! This thing may well be the center of our keyboard sound for many, many years.

That said, we tend just to play piano on real pianos and use this for many of the other very nice tones. A fake piano will never be a real piano, but this MP9000 seems to know that, and has a classy approach to providing a "stage piano" sound that errs on the side of mellowness and listening comfort (nothing clanky here).

The keyboard is real wood, and very very heavy! Feels great, though more like a really sweet rhodes than a piano.

[Jason A]

I recently picked up a floor demo Technics SX-P50 for right around $1000. It was the best feel/sound combo I could find. Unfortunately, Panasonic has decided there isn't enough money in this market and has discontinued the line. You might still find one hanging around at some shops though. I think Caruso had some sound samples online at one time. You might cruise over to their site or give them a call.

JMO


Jason A.

[Jeroleen]

Just to prove that there are as many different opinions on this subject as there are players, my girlfriend has a Yamaha P120 and I have a Kawai MP9000. She prefers the feel of the Yamha, I prefer the Kawai. Interestingly, the feel on their weighted electonic keyboards is similar to their real pianos particularly in the differences between the company. Whereas Yamaha has a lighter feel in general, Kawai has a heavier feel.

Just goes to show you. By the way, most of the time the two keyboards are not in the same place, Usually the Kawai and the real piano are home in my home studio whereas the Yamha tends to travel to her Church gigis.

[Ted Nightshade]

Originally posted by Jeroleen
Just to prove that there are as many different opinions on this subject as there are players, my girlfriend has a Yamaha P120 and I have a Kawai MP9000. She prefers the feel of the Yamha, I prefer the Kawai. Interestingly, the feel on their weighted electonic keyboards is similar to their real pianos particularly in the differences between the company. Whereas Yamaha has a lighter feel in general, Kawai has a heavier feel.

Just goes to show you. By the way, most of the time the two keyboards are not in the same place, Usually the Kawai and the real piano are home in my home studio whereas the Yamaha tends to travel to her Church gigs.

But what about the sound? I'm thinkin' the Kawai stays home 'cause it's too damned heavy?

[Jeroleen]

Yup, the thing weighs a ton. Sound is great but, as you probably know, day by day the sounds for sampled acoustic instruments get better. There are some software pianos that are supposed to be pretty great. I don't like them because of latency. Even a miniscule drop is no good.

The answer for now might be something lilke the M-Audio 88 key weighted keyboard with the Muse box. Then you will have a portable keyboard, weighted, that updates as sound programs improve whether or not the company you bought it from keeps up with the curve.

However, I was only commenting on the feel of the keyboard which I like.

[007]

The M-Audio 88 was a real letdown when I finally got to try it. Feels nothing like a weighted hammer-action keyboard, it's got a very spongy feel to it, just a notch above synth-action, imo. It's a shame as I wanted to like it, I was expecting to leave GC with one, but alas....

It packs great features despite it's poor action, all the knobs and faders make it a worthy piece of kit to interact with just about any software program, but if one is looking for a piano feel, this isn't the one.

I'm going for the Kurzweil PC1X...