I'm trying to buy a digital piano for my wife's birthday. Is this a good deal? How much is it worth?

Yamaha Clavinova YDP-113
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=18205013&cat=&lpid=5&search=piano

My price range is between 400-600. Know of any other good deals online I should be aware of? Thanks!

Yamaha introduced that piano in 2002.

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/chron.php

I would pass on it.

And it's not a Clavinova, is it? It an Arius.
Perhaps the seller wants to exaggerate the value of a Toyota by calling it a Lexus?

Anyway, I'm guessing that the MSRP for this was $1200-$1500 when new.
What's it worth today?

This type of gift has come up before. If your wife plays a bit then it is not generally a good idea for you to pick the instrument for her to play. Let her pick and choose after trying them for herself. You can still make it a surprise if that's the idea, if you're inventive in the way you go about it. If you do choose for her, divorce comes sooner rather than later

Haha. Yeah, she's already helping me pick it out. I agree.

So, I guess a better question is: What is the best price point for digital pianos under $1000? It doesn't have to be fancy, we just want a piano with good sound that won't wear out or anything.

I could do ebay, but I'd love some suggestions on the model, and which price point I should aim for, for maximum value, sound, and durability.

Any comments on either of these?

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=18179410&cat=&lpid=13&search=piano

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=18240981&cat=&lpid=&search=piano -- she said the model was "DT-30" but I can't find anything on it online.

I haven't gone to play them yet, but I'm planning on it.

You'll get more bang for the buck if you buy a slab, a stage piano.

You'll be forced though to buy a piano stand and some kind of amplification; quality headphones will always sound better than speakers if that's any consolation.

If you buy a slab, you could buy the CP33 or the P155 brand new.

The general rule is this - never buy a piano without first playing it ... and the advice to involve your wife in the decision making process is very important. I would not want my wife to surprise me with a piano purchase.

Substitute the word dress or shoes in your quest and this will make more sense.

I would avoid those second-hand listings and purchase a Yamaha YDP-161, Roland RP301, or Kawai CN23 brand new.

Cheers,
James
x

That piano is 10 years old. And it's not a "Clavinova if there is "YDP" in the model number.

For 400-600 you can buy a better brand new digital piano. The three that are always recommended are the
Casio PX130
Yamaha P95
Korg SP170.
All of these sell for about $500 and I've seen them lower. So you will have some budget leftover for a bench and stand. Of the three I like the PX130 best because of the key action. Others have different opinions. None is "best". but all of these have better specs then the old piano. Any Guitar Center or Sam Ash store will stock all three of these pianos, you need to try them yourself. There is the problem. If is really your wife that needs to try it.

If you can push the budget up to about double your current high end then a lot of options open up and you can buy a newer version of that YDP or a P155 or maybe a low end Kawai but at your "About $500 give or take" price point the three I listed are about it.

This seems like a good deal for a CP33?

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=18285740&cat=&lpid=&search=piano

I bought a YDP-113 new from Musicians Friend for $999 in 2004. It was at the Arius level (not a Clavinova -- one or two trim levels down) but I don't think they called them Arius back then. I resold it about a year or two later for $750, so now I'd pay maybe $350 for one. It had Yamaha's most basic hammer action and one of their entry-level sound engines (even for 2004).

I'd say it would be on par with the cheapest of today's P series. I'd do what Kawai James and others have suggested.

It is a fair price, not great. No warranty (they are not transferable)
A brand new CP33 sells for $999 (call it $1,000) you can typically get at lead 10% off at a Guitar Center or some times 15% so real-world price is $900 new. This guy is only taking $200 off that price

If he'd give you woo the other stuff he is selling and the CP33 for $700 it would be a good deal but he seem to be selling that for near full retail or is one case about $15 over the new price.

Is the CP-33 closer to sound and feel to the P95 or the CLP 440? I've played both of those, and I like the sounds of the CLP a lot more.

Sean, the CLP440 is a mid-range instrument, and therefore has a much higher specification than the entry-level P95.

Cheers,
James
x

Thanks James.

Better question - is the CP33 worth an extra $200-$300 over the P95? Why?

It seems like you're saying that the CLP440 is much better than both the CP33 and the P95.