I am considering getting a digital piano for a cabin we just bought with another family. I looked into moving one of our acoustic pianos there, and it looks like the cost might be around $400 or even more. Considering the lack of heat during the times we're not there, a digital might be a better option.

Because we already own two pianos and this is kind of an extravagance to add a third, I would like to keep the cost to around $700. I read the Piano Buyer's digital section today, and tonight I went out and tried some digitals. Here's what I tried out:

--Yamaha YDP 223--I liked its sound and action a lot
--Yamaha YPG-635--I liked it acceptably, but I disliked the color and look of it
--Yamaha YPG-535--Really disliked the action, the sound was fine
--Casio PX575--Didn't like it very much
--Yamaha YDP 141--I liked its sound and action
--Yamaha YDP 140--I liked its sound and action
--Williams WGP mini-grand--sound and action good, didn't really like the mini-grand look

Based on those likes and dislikes, can anyone give me some more suggestions of things to try? Unless I find something else I like that's a little cheaper, I may have to go to the used market or resign myself to spending more money.

Thanks for any ideas you have. I always appreciate how generous everyone on PW is with their time in answering questions that have probably been discussed a million times.

Nancy

Well there's not too much to choose from with a budget of $700 new. You could look at:
Yamaha P-95 $599
Casio PX-130 $499
Korg SP-170 $499
Korg SP-250 $699
Casio PX-330 $699
Casio PX-3 $799

Of the ones you mentioned, the YDP-223 is probably the best followed by the P-140. These are both discontinued so you should be able to negotiate a fair price if you can still find one new. The used market might be the best place to look for either of these.

The others I mentioned are decent digitals for the money. These are all similar to the YDP-223 and P-140. You should be able to find a lot of information about all of these by searching this forum. The PX-330 and PX-3 both by Casio are two of it's most popular models and have some advanced features on them. At their price points, they are bargains.

check out the newest Yamaha DGX640 , which replaces the 635. More user sounds , better piano samples , decent key feel , speakers sound good, but they arent real loud . This unit has tons of effects that can be applied to the user sounds , a 6 track built in recorder and it is very user friendly to operate. With black friday coming ,you should be able to find one on sale for around $600 - $700 out the door.

Thanks for those ideas. That is a great place to start.

You are right that I am limiting myself for $700 new, but it seems really difficult to buy in the used market because I can't seem to find a place that lists all the features of older models and their original MAP pricing. I guess the models change too often for Piano Buyer to list them all. Is there some other resource for this sort of thing? There are all sorts of keyboards on Craigslist for a variety of prices, but except for the one YDP-223 I saw, I have no way of knowing what they originally listed for or how to compare features to ones I have currently tried.

Nancy

The YDP-223 originally listed for $1599. The P-140 was $1199. P-140 was selling for $999 after the P-155 was released. Most of the on line retailers still keep a reference page up for discontinued product. They might still have the MSRP listed. Yamaha hold their resale better than say Casio. So you can probably do better on a Casio used. If you can find a used Casio PX-800 ($899 new), it's a pretty nice piano and has the three pedals. I think it has more sounds than the YDP-223 or P-140.

Nancy, buy the piano, not the deal. If you don't like a piano's action, for example, that DP has no value at all to you.

Casios use Fatar actions. We see too many posts here about sticking or wobbling keys. If you check out a Casio, please be sure to "play" each key with power off. Check for consistent feel. Depress each key and wiggle it from side to side. Less movement is better. Turn the power on and check that the keys respond with consistent changes in volume as you increase the strike force.

Yamaha's actions have a good reputation for durability and quality control. If you can swing a YDP, that's, IMO, the better choice. Please note that the 140's are spec'd with a GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) action. Those will have a lighter touch than do the 160's and the newest one, the 181. These have a GH (Graded Hammer) action - sometimes written as GHE, for Granded Hammer Effect - which more closely resembles the touch weight of an acoustic. The 223 also is spec'd with a GH - GHE - action.

Try before you buy.

According to a post from Mike Martin, Casio makes their own.

Thanks for that info. I thought they used Fatars. Maybe that's old info. Doesn't seem to have improved the quality tho.

Thanks, FogVilleLad. If I don't like the way it feels or sounds, it really doesn't matter how much of a deal I got. In trying 8-10 last night, I have found a much wider range of touch and sound in DPs than I did when I was buying my acoustics. I tried to play and give it a thumbs or up or down before I looked at the price tag.

Your explanation about the GH(E) action was very helpful. I see from my comments on my investigation yesterday that many of the pianos I liked had that action. If that action has been around for a few years, maybe I will pursue used Yamahas that have the GH action even if they are a little older. That might allow me to get something in my price range.

It takes a lot of research to make any piano decision--I feel like I should be getting college credit for all I have learned! Thanks for your help.

Nancy

Nancy, thanks for the kind words. I've been helped many times on forums; it's a pleasure to be able to put something back.

Re Yamaha's graded hammer (effect) actions, yes they have been around for a while. I've owned two Yamaha stage pianos with that action. One of them was stored on its end for more than a year. That's a bad thing. The keys operated perfectly when I brought it out of storage. BTW the more expensive actions - GH3 and Natural - are just variations on the mechanism of the basic graded hammer action.

You're obviously a careful observer. Others can help, but please don't sell yourself short. You picked the winner on your first auditioning.

All the best on this most American of holidays.

David