http://www.thomann.de/se/thomann_sp5100.htm
http://www.medeli.com.hk/products/sp/sp-5100.html

This is the keyboard I'm considering purchasing for myself, being at a beginner level of playing. It has weighted keys as well as hammer action, despite the websites not stating the former (extended searching of the internet confirms this).

I don't really care much about anything other than getting a fairly mobile and cheap item to practice piano on, so the lack of sounds (and such) don't really bother me.

What I want to know is if anyone knows if this piano poses any issues, either with my goal or just as a product in general. I could be worth mentioning as an example that the Yamaha NP-30 has it's keys 2/3" shorter than of a regular 76 key keyboard, making it a definitive no-no. It did however take me two days to find this out.

Have you tried out this keyboard?

I bought my first digital piano in 1989, and even way back then
the digitals already played like an acoustic piano. Today, 20
yrs. into the Digital Piano Era, you would literally have a hard
time buying a bad weighted-key digital piano, particularly if
you buy it from an established online retailer like Thomann.
Moreover, they have put their own name on this digital,
which they would never do with a questionable product.
I see no problem buying this sight-unseen online.

No I haven't, since the closest one I can find has to be shipped from germany.
From what I've gathered (impression wise) it's downfalls is that it feels "a bit clumsy and the keys feel a bit loud".

Both of these are aspects that I've taken into consideration, but am still interested in the keyboard.
The next step up from this would be getting a Korg SP-170 for 500 euro (instead of the ~300 I'm paying for this).

I'm not trying to save cash by buying a poor product by any means, but if I can save 200 on just having a keyboard that clicks a bit extra and isn't the easiest to tug around; I'm game.


That's reassuring

The reason I'm asking is twofold.
Partly because from what I can assume, Thomann (just like Fame and Winchester) bought the piano from Medeli (chinese) and added their own name to it. As they're not exactly a large scale company like Yamaha or Korg, I feel I have a reason to be worried.

Secondly is because it could have hidden flaws. The NP-30 example I gave in the initial post is a perfect one of this.

Well, it's all about what you expect. By paying say 300 Euro for a new DP will never ever provide you the quality of both keyboard action and sound compared to a "serious" brand name. That's for sure without trying it. I have tried some noname or rebranded keyboard at a local store, and while you can of course play piano sounds on it and it's not completely useless, it's nothing I would consider. I would be very unhappy to play on such an instrument, because I at once recognize all the flaws it has, without even knowing what other flaws there will be after extended usage. So if you decide for such a model, be prepared!

I checked it out on the Thomann website, and it looks okay to me.
The keys look full-sized. I don't think Thomann would put
their name on a piano with cut-down-sized keys. The keys
appear "short" in some pictures, but that's because the shot
is head-on, which make them look short by perspective. It
apparently even has instant record and playback, which some
more expensive digitals don't have. Almost all digital pianos
today are made in China, so that's not a problem.

It has hammer action, but over on www.musicstore.de they say it is /very/ light weigthed. http://www.musicstore.de/en_EN/GBP/Keyboards/Stage-pianos/Fame-SP-5100-/art-KEY0002335-000
This is not necessarily a disadvantage, it depends.

Also in a german forum I have read there are problems with th MIDI output. If you ever intend to use soundmodules or software instruments this could be a problem.

That's the thing though. If you look at some other sources, you get a clear impression that they're weighted. Heck, even one guy claims that he needed extra finger strength so he could handle it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX5iDu_eCcw
http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?high=&m=1975586&mpage=2#2006321 (hit ctrl+f and search for weighted)
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081218054539AA7WR8o
http://forum.cockos.com/archive/index.php/t-56296.html

The Midi issue is something I'm defiently more interested in.
As I use the PC (and probably will in the future) for piano related software, I'd love to hear what kind of issues it has.
A link to it so I could try to google translate it would do wonders as well.


Like I previously stated, even Yamaha had issues with their NP-30 (unless they intentionally cut their keys short, which seems a bit weird) in this price range. Ultimately though, I could double the maximum amount I would be willing to pay and I'd still hear "But mate, you're still not paying enough to get actual quality".

If this model for some reason is defect in any way, I'd look for another model; I wouldn't go for a 900 euro one.

Sorry I cannot find this thread this device is sold under so much brands and search functionality in forums is slow and gives bad results.
It was some months ago and had to do with midi clock or else I dont remember exactly.

Sorry.

It was in www.musiker-board.de some months ago.
May be you ask others about there experiences.
If nobody else has experiences then you are the first, buy it but try it before buy or negotiate the right to send it back and test it immediately.
Then tell us your experiences...

Peter

I would never buy a piano that I hadn't first tried. Not ever. Worse, the description you quoted: "feels a bit clumsy" ... that just screams DON'T BUY THIS PIANO.As usual, pure nonsense from Gyro.More nonsense. Sight unseen leads to regret.Don't be reassured by nonsense. Gyro is famous for extolling the virtues of the cheapest pianos. He claims that they compare favorably with the finest grand pianos. More nonsense.

Seems they have 30-days money back guarantee, which I'll look a bit more into then

Update:

I just got it home and it's absolutely terrible:
* The keys are graded, but they're also very light weight. Somewhere after the middle C, I might as well just play with a synth action keyboard instead.
* The keys have a very distinct clicking feel, which feels pretty piano like.
* The keys WOBBLE and sound TREMENDOUSLY much. Playing a scale honestly feels like a stampede just from the wobbling keys clinking every time they move up.

Time to send it back and look for a better one.

I clicked on the link for that keyboard.

Did you really expect something decent for € 339 ... and from a brand name that I'm guessing most folks have never heard of?

It's great that you have a 30 day return policy!

Beware however thomann will not pay return shipping costs from outside Germany unless the product is defective.

I suppose "try before you buy" applies to any product.
With respect to pianos, that advice has been given in this forum a thousand times.

I guess the lure of a low price convinces people to ignore the advice.

After reading this thread I'm sure Gyro might consider helping out with the return shipping costs.

Gyro, you'll help out in this instance, won't you?

Oh dear. I've only just spotted this thread and started at the beginning...there was a total inevitability to the ending...this piano was always going to be a piece of shit.

Time to up your meds Gyro...your crazy views have now cost someone good money.

Skan - look at a Casio PX-130 as a starting point. Or as you have already mentioned, the Korg SP-170.

Cheers,

Steve

I knew that I was taking a risk, and I gladly accepted doing such. Some people play the lottery, I try my luck every now and then at the bargain bin.

Needless to say, the DP is going back and I'm down 30$.
I will run by the music store in a couple of days and try a few of the "classical" beginner DPs (like the PX, CDP100, P85 etc etc).

Now, now... Gyro's advice is excellent--- as long as you do the opposite.

I've noticed he often 'helps' people who are inexperienced on the forum... but who still ought to know better anyway (though I am sorry for the person who bought this 'instrument').

Maybe you could donate it to charity and take the write-off? Cut your losses a bit.

I used to work with a guy who always bought the bargain stuff. He bought a Yugo car and later learned the carburetor was made in part from plastic; he sold the car later when he couldn't have it repaired. He would always buy the cheapest sound system for jobs and then they would break down. Even when it came to long term saving and investing he refused to take everyone's advice and had to do it his way.

Spend more money, buy known brands ... and more importantly, play the keyboard in question and ask others what they think.

If you learn from this lesson, great. If you repeat it, it will be great entertainment for the rest of us just the same.

Maybe gyro can send you a nice kawai or yamaha, as an apology.

do you know other chinese/korean digital piano brands?

please answer me by private message