Hello, I started looking at pianos to replace my returned Knabe grand. Anyway, I decided to look at DP, specifically Yamahas and Rolands, and I went to a local Yamaha dealer who had a big sale and lots of acoustic and DP. I started downstairs with cheap rentals...not. Moved upstairs to look at digitals...there was one, count one Roland a KR 575, that they would sell for $3400 approximately. I liked it way better than the similarly priced Yamahas. Then the salesman showed me the CVP 407...what FUN! I really liked its little computer screen (I know NOTHING about DP/synths so excuse my jargon), and the way it wrote the score I was playing while we recorded me. Then it played it back and it could be transposed. Plus it had a bunch of songs programmed in for playing with, along with some song arrangements. My FAVORITE aspect was the instant wireless connection where I could download more songs. It was listed at about $10,000, on sale for $8,000, I'd never spend that much but was it ever fun.

So I'm sure there are other keyboards that do the same thing, but I was impressed. Quite frankly, I liked playing it and the Roland better than most of the acoustics, including the grands.

So I'm pretty sure I'll get a digital. What I want is something that record multi-tracks, I'd like something with wireless and that transposes, and that writes out the music I'm playing. and for less than $8,000. Is that possible?

Hi,

Aside from the CVP line of the Yamaha's, I know of no other DP that features the wireless connectivity and ability to download new music to the native screen. And $8k is a pretty good price for that unit in CA, although I had a dealer here in Ohio down to about $7500 (but they insist on delivery, which costs me $200 and them something far less, I imagine).

In any event, if you don't want to spend $8k on the CVP 407, you could just as easily buy a less expensive Roland or Yamaha, buy a $400 laptop with video out, buy an LCD monitor, and go to www.sunhawk.com and download and view as much music as you want. And it would be coming to you on a much bigger screen than the one built into the 407. And even with the computer and monitor, you would still be paying thousands less than $8k. And you can install any number of sequencing programs on the laptop that will score your music as you play it (this has been a common feature in sequencing programs for a while).

Most of the Roland and Yamaha DP's have multi-track recording. With Yamaha, I think the CLP 340 and up all have 16 tracks. Granted, you are giving up the nice, integrated display of the 407, but if you can take function over form it isn't a bad compromise.

Take a look at the Yamaha CVP403 and 405 models for a lot less money. They do everything you are interested in.

Actually after reading a bit more I think I might be able to get that 407 a lot less, but according to the brochure the 405 has pretty much everything I want. Which Roland does about the same. I really like the feel and sound of the Roland a lot better.

The other issue for me is the lack of portability of those models. I'm wondering what keyboard would do the same stuff but not in the big old heavy cabinet. I can see how the speakers were pretty nice on the 407 and it was nice that the pedals were "piano like" rather than an "add on" but I'm thinking the ability to move the keyboard around would make up for the inconvenience of having to add speakers and pedals.

Yamaha Tyros III, stand, amp/spkrs, optional pedals, connected to a laptop. Badabing.

The local music stores have a pretty limited supply of DP (except the Yamaha dealer). Anyway I tried out the YPG-635 at a store yesterday (runs $900-1000 "on sale" most places). It actually sounds very good through my Bose headphones (which I brought). I found it at Kraft in a bundle for $1015 including the optional stationary 3 pedal attachment, the "furniture" style bench, an extended 3 year warranty, and a few other things. The pedals usually cost $80-90, free shipping, so it seems like a good deal. It has a USB and a thumb drive. Free shipping and probably no tax since it's not in CA would be quite a savings. I'm leaning towards this. I'm not finding a lot on here about this DP.

I realized I really don't care about the extra instrument voices....just piano, maybe EP, organ...want midi, drive slot,
recording capability and some kind of tutoring thing for new pieces. I'd like a better screen that the one on the 635 but for the price....

If you're mainly a classical player, I'd think you'd
soon tire of all those bells and whistles on the
CVP models. You can get many good digitals for
less than $1000. For example, the Casio PX 800 and
the M-Audio DCP 200 are both $900 online. You
couldn't go wrong with either.

To put this into perspective, I'm mainly a classical
player. I've had a high-end acoustic upright piano
in storage for many yrs.; a similar model today
would be in the ~$20,000 price range. But I
play a $600 Williams Overture; it's more practical
and I like it better. I can play anything on the Overture,
including concert pianist-level stuff the the Chopin
op. 14.

How do we go from a CVP407 to a YPG635? The touch, tone, features, functionality, price are not in the same ball park!

I know. It's definitely a big step down. But I'm gun shy now since my Knabe experience and I'm trying not to spend as much.

I probably don't need all the features of the 407 although I love them. The touch and tone relative to an accoustic good quality grand piano are the most important thing. That's my reason for leaving the whole new accoustic behind. I probably can't get an acoustic I'll be happy with.

The portability is another issue, although I may not need to move it around, it would be nice to be able to.

The recording options, ports, etc...

I'll take some more time, I just have to bite the bullet and drive in to some bigger dealers....perhaps in San Francisco, Berkeley.

We're going up to Sacramento on July 10, so we may look up there.

I'm still kind of broken down from the whole Knabe ordeal, but all I have here is a Casio CTK 591, which I could live with, if it had a longer keyboard, but it's only got 2 octaves below middle C and that is limiting even for blues and jazz, much less classical.

Maybe I just need to rent or get a nearly free upright in here ASAP to take the pressure off, but the rentals sound horrible.

There was an M Audio 250 at the music store. I thought the Yamaha sounded better and it had more features for just a couple hundred more. I haven't tried a Casio PX 800...haven't found any in the area.

I do also play some blues, pop and am working on Jazz. I sing quite a bit, so accompaniment on everything but classical matters.

Do you think the 2 models you named are better than the Yamaha?

Anyone know what a good closeout price on a CVP-405 and CVP-407 would go for in California? Any recommendations for choosing between the 2 models?