| Ok, you want to buy a digital piano. You have visited | | | | performance falls short of the Yamaha, Roland and |
| lots of music shops and tried lots of digital pianos out. | | | | Casio digital pianos. |
| You have been given lots of conflicting advice and | | | | Rating: 4 out of 10. |
| don't know what to do! | | | | Advice: Wouldn't really consider a Korg digital piano, but |
| This is sadly what many shoppers experience when | | | | some people like their sound. |
| they want to buy a digital piano and they go to | | | | Price: Basic models start from RRP £999. You |
| theirlocal piano shop armed with a few print outs from | | | | should be able to buy a Korg digital piano on the web |
| the internet but not enough knowledge or the right | | | | at around 30-35% off. |
| advice to make an informed decision. | | | | Kawai digital pianos |
| Go Shopping for digital pianos | | | | Hugely hyped up digital pianos! Kawai proclaim to have |
| You enter your local piano shop and are confronted | | | | produced the perfect piano action and piano sound by |
| with lots of digital pianos, different styles, colours, | | | | some wizardry potion that no other company can |
| shapes. Some digital pianos have a few buttons, some | | | | obtain - complete hogwash! |
| hundreds of buttons and flashing lights - HELP!!! | | | | I have tried and tested these digital pianos out and find |
| You want some advice but unfortunately the advice | | | | that the keys are too light and spongy and the sound |
| you will get from the salesman will always favour the | | | | is very bright, harsh and electronic. |
| shops' profit over yourself. | | | | Rating: 3 out of 10. |
| You visit one piano shop and they recommend the | | | | Advice: Wouldn't really consider a Kawai digital piano, |
| Roland digital piano - "it is the best digital piano around | | | | unless you are fond of the Kawai piano sound. |
| by far, amazing sounds and it plays and feels just like | | | | Price: Basic model starts from RRP £999. You |
| a real piano" they say. | | | | should be able to buy a basic Kawai digital piano on |
| You say "What about the Yamaha, I have heard that it | | | | the web at around 20-25% off RRP. |
| is a very good piano as well?" | | | | Gem digital pianos |
| They say "No, the Roland digital piano is far better than | | | | Gem digital pianos look very nice indeed and have a |
| the Yamaha". They then sit down and playthe | | | | great name behind them. They do lack in quality |
| Yamaha and then the Roland and convince you that | | | | though, the sound is very poor and they offer a limited |
| the Roland digital piano is definitely far better than the | | | | range of digital pianos. The lid tends to make a |
| Yamaha. | | | | squeaking sound and the keys are quite noisy. They |
| Why do piano shops always try to push a particular | | | | proclaim to use 'Drake Technology' in their pianos - |
| model or a particular brand? | | | | sounds impressive doesn't it? But what is it? Well, It |
| Well the reason behind this is that they are either | | | | really is just a feature to help them sell, but I |
| eager to get rid of a model or they aresimply making | | | | don'tpersonally see much of an improvement in their |
| more money on one brand than they are the other. | | | | digital pianos. |
| You trot off to another piano shop to get some more | | | | Rating: 3 out of 10. |
| advice and to compare prices. Again you walk inand | | | | Advice: Probably wouldn't consider a Gem digital piano, |
| you are confronted by a similar set up. The salesman, | | | | but if you like the polished ebony look, it is the |
| like before, shows you the different digital pianosand | | | | cheapest digital piano in that particular colour on the |
| advises you that the Casio is the best digital piano and | | | | market. |
| not the Yamaha, and certainly not the Roland. The | | | | Price: Basic models start from RRP £999. You |
| Roland digital piano is way over priced! | | | | probably won't be able to get much of a discount on |
| You explain that you have just been to another piano | | | | Gem digital pianos, as these pianos are not very |
| shop and were told that the Roland digital piano is | | | | popular and there is not much competition online. |
| better than the Yamaha, and the Casio is nowhere | | | | Ketron digital pianos |
| near as good. "They don't know what they are talking | | | | Ketron make good digital pianos but they are very |
| about" the salesman says. Now you are utterly | | | | expensive, especially the digital grand pianos. |
| confused and walk out of the shop a little angry. | | | | If you have money to burn then consider these pianos, |
| If you have experienced the above and are at the end | | | | otherwise go for one of the big three - Yamaha, |
| of your tether, I am here to help and offer you | | | | Roland or Casio. |
| unbiased advice on which digital piano you should | | | | Rating: 6 out of 10. |
| consider, the merits of each one and the strengths and | | | | Advice: Probably wouldn't consider a Ketron digital |
| weaknesses. Read on... | | | | piano unless I had lots of money to throw away, but if |
| Yamaha digital pianos | | | | you really like the sound - some people do - then go |
| The Yamaha digital piano is the most popular digital | | | | ahead! |
| piano today. More Yamahas are sold than any other | | | | Price: Basic models stars from RRP £1299. You |
| digital piano by a long way. | | | | probably won't be able to get much of a discount on a |
| Yamaha have got where they are today by superior | | | | Ketron digital piano, as these pianos are not very |
| branding, advertising and product development. | | | | popular and there is not much competition online. |
| Yamaha put in so much effort to make their digital | | | | Suzuki digital pianos |
| pianos (known as Clavinova) sound and feel as close | | | | Suzuki make fantastic motorbikes, but digital pianos?? |
| to a real piano as possible, the sound sample they use | | | | Yes Suzuki is very famous for their motorbikes but |
| for their digital pianos is taken from their own concert | | | | also Suzuki is hugely famous in the worldof musical |
| grand piano. | | | | instruments. They are famous for the 'Suzuki teaching |
| Rating: 9 out of 10. | | | | method, they make great violins and bows, recorders, |
| Advice: Go ahead and buy any Yamaha digital piano | | | | harmonicas, guitars and reasonable acoustic pianos. |
| from the range. | | | | Suzuki digital pianos, however, unfortunately don't quite |
| Price: Basic models start from RRP £989. You | | | | make the grade. The Suzuki's sound is poor, the build |
| should be able to buy a Yamaha digital piano on the | | | | quality is appalling and the touch is rather dreadful. |
| web for about 20% off. | | | | They are very cheap digital pianos. Sorry Suzuki, but I |
| Casio digital pianos | | | | have to tell the truth. |
| The Casio digital piano has improved vastly over the | | | | Rating: 2 out of 10. |
| previous few years. The Casio digital pianos were | | | | Advice: Don't buy a Suzuki digital piano. Pease don't |
| considered mediocre a few years ago, but now their | | | | buy a Suzuki digital piano. Never buy a Suzuki digital |
| improvements have been so great they are | | | | piano! There are so many other good digital pianos out |
| considered to be one of the best digital pianos on the | | | | there, why would you want to throw your money |
| market today. | | | | away buying a Suzuki digital piano? |
| Casio digital pianos are, and have always been, the | | | | Price: Basic model starts from RRP £799. You |
| best value for money. The Casio digital pianos are not | | | | can pick up generous discounts on Suzuki digital pianos |
| quite as good as the Roland or the Yamaha but they | | | | (20-25%). Beware of your local piano shop if they are |
| are generally cheap digital pianos, between half and | | | | trying to sell you a Suzuki digital piano. Ask them how it |
| two thirds the price of the Yamaha and Roland digital | | | | compares to a Yamaha digital piano or a Roland. |
| pianos. | | | | Kurzweil digital pianos |
| Rating: 7 out of 10. | | | | Kurzweil are well known for their keyboards and pro |
| Advice: Fantastic value for money! Go ahead and buy | | | | audio products but not so much for their digital pianos. |
| any Casio digital piano from the Celviano range (Casio | | | | Kurzweil digital pianos have been around for a long |
| AP). You might want to consider the Casio Privia digital | | | | time, they have been mainly distributed in America up |
| piano range if you are short of space. | | | | until recently. The Kurzweil digital piano is very robust |
| Price: Basic models start from RRP £799.99. | | | | and produces a good sound. |
| You should be able to find some great deals on the | | | | Rating: 5 out of 10. |
| web. | | | | Advice: Might be worth trying one out if you can find a |
| Casio digital pianos generally sell for around 28-30% | | | | Kurzweil digital piano stockist. I have seen of these |
| off RRP. | | | | pianos on Ebay. |
| Roland digital pianos | | | | Price: Check Ebay, as this is probably the only place |
| The Roland digital piano is built with quality and | | | | you will find them on the web. |
| produces nice piano tones, especially around the | | | | More digital pianos (not in the same league as above) |
| centre of the keyboard. The sound is a little thin and | | | | Alesis, Bohemia, Bohm, Daewoo, Ensonio, Farfisa, |
| false around the middle to high treble though. | | | | Hammond, Orla, Samick, Solton, Technics, Viscount |
| Roland has always been known to value their brand | | | | Allegro, Wersi. |
| extremely highly and will not reduce their prices if it | | | | These digital pianos are much worse than any of the |
| means the quality of their digital pianos would be | | | | above digital pianos I have reviewed and should |
| compromised. | | | | definitely not be considered. |
| The sound sampling for the Roland digital piano is | | | | I can recommend and good website that offers |
| taken from a Steinway concert grand piano. | | | | comprehensive information, unbiased advice, reviews |
| Rating: 8 out of 10. | | | | and a range of most of the digital pianos mentioned |
| Advice: Go ahead and buy any Roland digital piano | | | | above: |
| from the HP, F or KR range. | | | | Digital Pianos: Yamaha, Roland, Casio, Korg and more - |
| Price: Basic modesl start from RRP £899. | | | | I hope that armed with the above information you can |
| Prices seem to be fixed on the internet so you won't | | | | now go out and buy a digital piano. |
| be able to get much more than 5% off RRP. You will | | | | Don't take too much notice if you feel you are being |
| probably get a better deal on a Roland digital piano | | | | pushed towards any particular digital piano. |
| from your local music shop. | | | | Ask the piano salesman to demonstrate a few |
| Korg digital pianos | | | | different piano brands and then make the decision |
| Korg are perhaps better known for their high end | | | | yourselfbased on the above information and what you |
| keyboards and stage pianos. They do produce a | | | | feel is right for your needs. |
| limited range of digital pianos that offer functions similar | | | | Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your new digital |
| to the Casio digital piano. | | | | piano! |
| Korg digital pianos are quite reasonably priced but their | | | | |