Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards NAMM 2013: What are your stage piano predictions??

I don't know that I've ever heard a rumor per se about a piano announcement. I wish I had.

I have unfounded speculations aplenty. Gimme a Kawai GF stage piano to replace the MP10--that's pretty likely since they have GF in several console models now. At this point we'd all be disappointed if they didn't. Maybe a Kawai MIDI controller (though it would be more likely to be RH2-based, not GF...because a GF midi controller would make me too happy). That would send shock waves around this forum if it happened bceause tons of us want a good midi controller and there just ain't any to be had. Probably about time they replaced the EP3 as well. It's several actions behind. The bad news: Kawai prices seem to be trending upward (unless it's just me), so don't expect to buy the GF stage piano for peanuts.

I don't know if Casio has any more fun announcements after the relatively recent slurry of pianos they came out with, but it would be fun.

Yamaha, well, the P105 is creeping up on the P155, which is due for a change. Decent chance the P155 could get replaced, which would also be a big deal in this forum since that is an oft recommended model. Apparently the CP33 and CP300 will never, ever, ever be replaced, so don't expect that.

I never know what Roland is doing. My guess is MOAR SUPERNATURAL, everywhere. Probably in lower level pianos as well. It would be cool if they had a SuperDuperNatural. A cheaper V piano would make some serious waves here and cause many a fun thread, but I'm not holding my breath. An upgraded a better V piano would be fun, but cause fewer waves. Still not holding breath.

I really can't predict what software pianos are going to do. I guess Ivory could come out with a new, individually sold piano. I can't guess what it would be. We'd all go nuts if it was a Kawai EX, but I'd think a handmade piano from a small, expensive brand of some sort is more likely (I know the EX is expensive and hand made in some senses, but Kawai is not small). Galaxy? Well, we can always hope.

Well, those are my guesses. I have no inside information whatsoever, so take it for what it's worth (which is entertainment value only).

try and get somewhere between the current supernatural sound and the V-Piano's magnificence. Now I know I have EssBrace's blood boiling over that comment, lol

My #1 prediction would be a Yamaha P-165.

#2- A Korg Piano based on Kronos samples.
Now, would Korg do NH or RH3 next time around?

#3- A $999 portable Roland to compete with the P-165!

I think that the manufacturers will all pool their resources to produce slab and console versions of a DP that REALLY feels and sounds like a very nice upright AP, using 1TB of memory. They will sell it for a little less than a REALLY nice upright AP, since it will cost considerably less to make.

Then for next year, they'll do the same in a more refined grand-style cabinet, with enough power to fill a concert hall.

Oh, and hunger around the globe will be eliminated, and there will be a permanent solution to the woes in the Middle-East.

and Rupert Murdoch will become a force for good

A lot of people (including me) would like to see an SV-2 with the Kronos APs and EPs, but I wonder whether the market is big enough for Korg to venture further down that somewhat idiosyncratic path.

I have no special knowledge, but I suspect we won't see many new piano products at NAMM 2013 but will have to wait for Frankfurt, where they can make maybe a bigger international splash.

Nord Stage 2 EX (more memory)
Yamaha updated CP series/AvantGrand sound update
Roland releasing new V-Piano related products/sounds
Kawai updating MP10/MP6
U.S. Senate actually passing a budget and Obama cutting the deficit in half.

All WISHFUL thinking. I know.

On a serious note, I think the general economic stagnation will keep the manufacturers conservative and boring. At least we won't have surprises!

Only 1 on your list is actually a going to happen