Hello,

I am a brand new forum member looking for a little advice on a new DP purchase. I looked through this forum for several hours last night but didn't see an exact match for my question. I'm a new piano player, but I've been playing music for close to 15 years on all sorts of other instruments. I would say my musical skill is high, though my piano skill is low. That said, I have a very strong sense of what a good piano should feel and sound like, from my time around them.

I'm in the market for a DP that can provide realistic action and sound. I'm not looking for many other frills, except perhaps organ and harpsichord. My budget can't really exceed $700, and I'm in a large enough city that I can probably take any recommendation to a music store and try a DP in person.

I was searching recently on Amazon and Craigslist, and (at least for now) have narrowed my selection to two DPs: a used Roland FP-3 with stand and pedal for $500-550, and a new KORG SP-250 with stand and pedal for $700 from Amazon. I know that Rolands have issues with clackety keyboards, and that the FP-3 has far inferior polyphony compared to newer DPs. However, in the long run I want to make sure I'm getting a superior all-around experience that should last me quite a long time.

I've also looked at Yamaha P85 and Casio Privia PX-130, but these models do not appear to include stand and pedal for under $700. My sweet spot is $600, but from what I've heard on these forums and on audio samples online, the KORG is a great value.

Thoughts? I am at your mercy!

The thing to do is to go to the music store and try out digital pianos. Don't look at the price tags. Take good notes and record the models you liked and why and the ones you didn't like and why. Later go on-line an see which DPs used which key actions.

Then you will know which key actions and which brand of sound you like. Later when you see a used DP for sale you can look up what key action is inside that model and know if you'd like it or not. This works because they make lots of DP models but keep using the same parts inside. So then when you see a used DP on craigslist that has the same "guts" as one you liked at the store you'll know to jump on it. But you have to do the research up front.

For example I found I like Roland's "PHA II" but not their "PHA II Alpha" and with Yamaha I found Liked "GH". Plan to spend a few hours with headphones and a notepad at Sam ash or GC.

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. I will certainly get to a GC this weekend.

However, if you could at least give me a cursory impression of a used Roland FP-3 against a newer DP like a KORG SP-250, I would appreciate it. The only reason for my haste is that I've scheduled a meeting with the seller for this Friday, but I don't want to waste his time if it's bad judgment to buy an outdated DP when there are comparably priced, better-performing pianos available on the market today. I certainly understand each DP is different, but on the whole, I guess this is a question of new mid-range versus old used-to-be-high-range.

Thanks!