Hi! I'm a 19 year old cellist who's been playing since childhood, but now I am interested in learning a second instrument: piano. My friend has a Yamaha P120 which I have played on and I do like the piano sound on it through headphones/sound system.

I know a digital is not going to sound like an acoustic, but I am not serious enough to consider an acoustic at this point so I want to spend around $1,000. This should give you an idea of the type of piano sound I'm comfortable with though.

So being that there are newer models available than the P120 now, what around this price point sounds as good or better and has the best/closest to real weighted effect?

Thanks for your time and advice, I appreciate it.

Edit: I should also add I don't really care about portability or samples besides piano.

I can only offer that the P120 IS a good instrument - why not pick one up used. Find someone who plays piano to take it on a test drive and you can probably find one for well less that $1000. I've owned one for 5 years for my 4 kids (35 combined years of playing time - they started young) and the P120 is a) our backup practice instrument in the house when the grand and upright acoustics are in use and b) our traveling practice piano for taking to competitions, camping (to keep practice up etc.) c) an easy method to record their better pieces, d) an extra keyboard when they play piano quartets and e) as the interface to our MIDI software on the computer. We couldn't be happier with it.

BTW - the kids play becuase THEY want to, which is great (although my wallet would disagree....)

Excellent Key action, but weaker sound, it's the Korg SP250.

Or the Casio PX-830. The P-155 is good too, but close to your budget.

The P120 was replaced by the P140 which in turn was replaced by the P155. All are good but the sound is beter which each generation. I just paid $960 for a new P155. They sell "everywhere" for $1,200 but you can find discounts. There are also still P140 in most stores with price tags just under $1K but again discounted, if you ask, at up to 15% or so.

So the current incarnation of the P120, which you liked is within your budget.

At this price point, there are no Rolands or Kawai. These cost more. But Casio has many models below $1K. Korg makes two, the sp250 and lp350 both under 1K but I coud not find one anyplace to try