Hello,

I'm looking for a almost zero budget digital piano, just for practice really.

The even lowest cost new ones like Priva 130 are over my budget for the moment.
[Thomann.de sells its own brand for €350, but I'm affraid of the quality]

So now I found a 2nd hand Kawai CL-20, for €250.
It's a bit far to drive there for testing, so I wondered if anyone has any experience with this one?

Regards,
Cic.

Hello cichlid,

The CL20 was manufactured over five years ago. At the time, it was marketed as an entry level instrument with 8 sounds and just 32 note polyphony.

Despite these relatively paltry specifications, if the instrument is in good condition, a second-hand CL20 may be useful as a zero-budget practise instrument - provided you are expecting too much.

It's perhaps worth pointing out that this model features MIDI IN/OUT jacks, allowing you to use it as a controller keyboard for PianoTeq or similar software-based virtual instrument.

For more information, please take a look at the KAWAI Europe website:

http://www.kawai.de/cl20_en.htm

Cheers,
James
x

Thanks James,

Basic is good enough for me.

I think I'll go for it, will let you know what I think.

Is the basic piano sound any acceptible (or even good)?
The AHA-3 action can that be in any way compared to the newer AHA4?

Regards,
Cic.

Hello Cic.


I believe the main piano sound will be comparable to other entry-level digital pianos produced in the middle of 2004. As I noted previously, provided you do not expect too much, you will not be disappointed.



This generation of products is a little before my time, so I'm afraid I am no terribly familiar with the action used. However I shall check with the keyboard development chaps a little later.

Cheers,
James
x

Hello,

Well I actually bought it.
It needed a good cleaning and there are some scratches in the wood... but the condition is basically OK.

Sound is quite good through headphones, through the speakers is only So So.
The action feel is a bit heavy, but OK.
It's got something strange compared to the other DP's I tried: it's reasonably quiet, probably because keys & weights hit a thick felt or somthing... but this causes it to feel a little squishy.

Now, I'm happy with it ....

I got a practice 2nd keyboard from Musician's Friend, it is a refurbished WK-200 for $149 (usually $199). It just has one little scrach.

It's really not bad, has 76 keys, lots of voices, a very nice practice program called Step Up Practice, with 152 built in songs and exercises and a song book. You just need to purchase the AC adaptor or use batteries, the adapter on sale is about $10 US.

I'm enjoying it and practice a lot on it. It only weights 15 lbs. It's a lot of keyboard for the money, and I think it would suit your purpose.

Just a little update:

Yesterday I was happy with it.

I was warned not to expect too much this little low end, a bit dated piano.

So after 2 evenings of praktice & playing, I have to say: nice !

Sure it has low specs, but the touch & the dynamics are well balanced. The sound is simple but I like it, at least through headphones, there are no abrupt sample switchings when you hit keys harder or softer (something I hate).

If you need a simple beginners piano, don't forget about this one.

Oh, mine has it's music stand missing, the owner forgot where he put it.

cichlid, I receive a reply from one of the plastic keyboard engineers regarding the changes/improvements introduced from AHA3 to AHA4.

- Improved response feeling, improved action weight (closer to that of a grand piano)
- Improved 'stopping' sensation through the addition of a rib at the base of the key
- Removed polished finish from black keys to improve appearance.

Cheers,
James
x

Hello James,

Thanks for looking this up for me.

The 'stopping' sensation is the only thing that is still bothering me a bit ... glad to hear they fixed it in later version.

For the rest it does what I want from it: piano sound & a metronome and that is enough, growing attached to it really.

All I can say: Folks, if you're looking for a basic well built piano don't forget about the lower-end KAWAI's CL-20,25,30,35.

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Folks you can't go far wrong with the Kawai digital pianos, the touch is closest to an acoustic piano I've tried, if I could buy a CL-20 for 250€ I'd snap it up.
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