Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Which Yamaha CVP should I go for

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and never played a piano in my 36 years.I have been reading a few piano books and articles on this forum for a while now and decided to go for it and buy a digital piano.

I cannot seem to make up my mind, my final three are CVP 401, CVP 403 or CVP 405.

Any ideas? If you were me, what would you go for?

Regards
Howser

sort of a non-answer but the obvious one would be the higher model, the 405. Probably especially for the weighted action which apparently is the higher grade with this model ----So is this the line (CVP) where the keys light up as a study guide? That's what you're looking for then ok. Otherwise maybe paying for this unnecessarily but it sounds like you've already done some homework so perhaps have chosen this cvp line specifically for that as opposed to the CLP line for instance.

One idea, if you haven't already, might be to google all 3 models seperately which will bring up relevant posts on this forum (from about a year ago) specific tothe discussion of thes 3 models.

I would go for the CVP-405 to get the important String Resonance.

The CVP series is expensive mostly because it has features you will not be using as a new piano student. If you are like most people you will be using only the one grand piano voice to play very simple songs and exercises from a "Learn to play piano" book. You can learn equality well on any quality keyboard. Prices for quality piano keyboards start at about $400 and head upward quickly but any will work for the narrow goal of learning to play. Which to buy would be influenced by other secondary goals

It is a mistake to think you will buy a digital piano only once. The technology moves fast. DPs are more like computers. The biggest and best one you buy today will look very dated in five years and just pain "old" in ten. So, when you buy a DP look at your goals only about five years out at most.

So what would I do? I'd buy something much simpler that addresses my current needs and plan to upgrade later as the needs change. You can easily save $2,000 this way.

Which of the CVPs is best? Obviously the model with the higher number. But can a beginning piano student use it? Certainly not right away.

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend a CVP either. Just get a CLP. If you're budget-minded, go for a used CLP. For $3000, the price of a new CVP-401, you can find a used CLP280, which would be a much better purchase. For example, I bought my CLP270 used for $2000 and I couldn't be happier.

If you want to save money, consider used/new and boost price/performance to get as much functionality as possible, why limit yourself to expensive Yamahas only?

Compare keyboards and then sound from other brands to get a wide opinion about what you want to buy.

Thanks for all your responses.

I had a look at the CLP range as well as other digital pianos. I sat and played on a few, but the CVP 401 and 403 stood out. When I looked at the technical spec and price difference between the 403 and 405, it was not that much, hence why I am considering it.

I know that I will not be using all the features on day one, but my thinking is, if in a year or two I am at that level, I would not want to change pianos, so I would rather pay the extra now. Hope that makes sense.

I have decided to go ahead and buy the 405 today. I ordered Alfred's Adult All-in-One Course - Level 1 online a while back and I was hoping it will be here by now.

I will have to find something to do with the 405 in the interim.

Suggestions welcome.