Hello,
I am a beginner and starting lessons in January. I found two used Yamaha Clavinova models CLP-110 for $700 and a CLP-840 for $1100. Are these prices too steep? I cannot find detailed information on either model, so I am thinking they are older models. Does anyone know about either of these?
THANKS!!

So it looks like you have a budget of about $1,000. My opinion: Buy a Yamaha P155 and the matching LP140 stand for $1040. You will get a modern design piano, the best sound engine and very good key action plus a 3 year warranty.

If you must have a that simulated-wood console look buy a brand new Yamaha YDP160 or YDP223 for $1K or $1,300.

Until at least the end of this month most new DPs are subject to a 20% off coupon deal at Music123 that "everyone" will price match.

Many sellers like the ones you found, when they set their price think only about what they paid for the instrument when it was new and figure they want some percent of the money back. You should NOT care about that at all. The ONLY thing you need to think about is "What is the best DP I can buy for $1,000?"

The 840's 32-note polyphony is very weak by today's standards and the samples inside will not be close to today's quality.

These are quite old.

Since you seem willing to spend $1100 (under the right conditions), I'd skip the CLP110. Its specs are not as good as today's bottom of the line Clavinova. (Even the YDP160 would be a better choice, IMO. It's similar to a low-end Clav, but only costs around $1300-ish, and it will be new, rather than someone's old CLP110.)

The CLP840 had slightly better specs than the 110, but not much better.

Neither of these units would be a bad choice. But the prices are too high I think.

Note: The CLP840 was first built in 1999. At that age, you might want to talk down the price.

Thank you for your quick responses.

Ideally, I would like to spend no more than $500 to start, but could spend more. I am not looking for anything fancy, but I do want weighted keys and something I can plug headphones in to so I can play without disturbing any of my house mates.

I do not need the simulated-wood console. Just something with a stand and bench would suffice.

Any more ideas to a good starting DP? One thats reasonably priced, but good quality?

My experience after trying that a half dozen times is to not even bother. The seller is of the mindset of "I paid $4,000 for this. I'm not going to just give it away." Sellers are not rational. Even if you tell them that today's new $1,000 pianos have much better specs the seller will take it as an insult.

EDIT: I just noticed the part where you wrote "starting lessons in January" Ask the teacher. Many of them don't understand digital pianos but those who do just might nudge you into the $1,000 price point. I don't know but you will quickly pay a teacher more then the cost of a digital piano. If you are paying that much for instruction be sure and ask which DP is best.



You can read all of the recomendations for $1,000 DPs. You have many options in at that price point.

At $500 the number of options is reduced to the Yamaha P85, if you can go to $550 and two models of Casio the PX130 and CDP100. I think those are it ifyou want 88 hammer action keys.

P.S. I like the way you say "to start". You are right about that.

What about a Roland HP-130 or a Yamaha YPG635 88 KEY WEIGHTED PORTABLE GRAND?

Where did you find the LP140 stand? I went to Guitar Center today to buy a DP and I really liked the feel of the P155, but they had no clue what the LP140 stand was. I also liked the YDP-223. They did not have a YDP-160, which I probably would have bought if they had it at the store.

Now I am back to step one with no DP and no idea if I should step up to the 223 or order the YDP 160 online...I really liked the P155 but think it may get spendy with having to buy pedals, bench and stand separetely. I need advice!