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Hello,

I'm looking to buy my first digital piano, I don't have a big budget maybe around $300-$400.

As long as it has hammer action nice weighted keys which feel similar to acoustic pianos I'm fine. Also I do like the ones with the base and pedals attached; feels/looks more like a piano

What are some models that you would recommend for my situation?

Thanks!

I don't think anything exists in that price range.

It may depend how important "hammer action" is to you and what you think that means.

I'm trying to find something used, forgot to mention that. So that budget is for a used digital piano. Not sure if that changes what might be available to me?

If you're looking for something used, you may want to give up on the nice looking base, because unless you find something very local, you're going to have to deal with shipping, and the freight cost may eat up too much of your budget. If you stick with a slab style, you have a wider range of things to choose from (i.e. on eBay) that can be shipped pretty inexpensively. Things like Yamaha P85/P95, Casio CDP or some of the PX models.

Thanks, yes definitely looking to buy something local (Los Angeles area), so shipping won't be an issue. Ideally would still like the console style.

Oh didn't realize you could buy the frames separate. Thanks I'll look into those.

This one might be a good fit for you... pretty good deal actually.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/msg/3759092360.html

Thanks! Are you familiar with this model? How are the keys/action?

I also see this one:http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/msg/3747540480.html
How does it compare to the Roland?

Cheers

I really cant tell you much about them aside that they are 10+ years old. Im sure they were pretty good in there day. Best i can tell you is to Google search Yamaha YDP213 and Roland HP335 and look for any user reviews. Maybe a few folks on the forum might chime in too. Good luck!

If you could stretch your budget to $600, you could get a new Casio PX-150, which is Casio's "current generation" -- nice weighted action, good sound generator. An X-stand would be another $25 (or free, depending on the salesman).

Costco in Canada is selling the Casio PX-135 for $400, with "furniture-style" stand and bench. That's only one generation old, and I think it's a good deal at the price. I don't know what's available in the US, but "costco.com" will tell you.

The technology of "entry-level" digital pianos has been getting better. I'd be wary of buying anything older than 2 years, unless your budget is very, very tight.

. Charles

And that's new. Good deal.
I'd look at a PX series Casio. If you can't afford one. Which you can. Then drop down to a CDP.
I forget...do all the PX series have the three sensors? Did they start that after the series started?

Those two on CL already sold unfortunately (Roland & Yamaha). I'll check out the Casio, thanks.

I looked on Craigslist for several months before buying a Casio PX-150 demo unit for $453. The used units on Craigslist at a good price go very quick, so you have to watch and jump. For me, it made more sense to buy a newer unit, albeit a demo.

Along those lines, I suggest looking for a coupon or a sale or demo/refurb on a newer unit, prices are for new without any sale or coupon. There is the Yamaha P35 ($475 street), also the Yamaha P105 ($600 street, older is P95 and P85), the Casio PX-150 ($600 street, older is PX 120/130). You may also need a stand and maybe a bench. There is also the Casio CDP120 ($400 street?), but it is not as nice as some of the other units.

i would look at the Yamaha p-120 on craigslist - i see them once in a while.

you could also put a wish list ad on craiglist - you might get a bite that way.

thank you yes i saw the yamaha p35 at guitar center today, seems likely that i'll buy it, any other opinions on this one?

Update I can get a used Yamaha YDP 213 for $500 in good condition. Is this a good deal or wise move?

Rather than start a new thread, I'll post my very similar question here. I'm looking to get a relatively cheap keyboard (used) from Craigslist or another source. I've recently seen a used-as-new Yamaha P95 for $450-ish with a bunch of accessories. Is this too much? What do folks think of the P95?

Apparently the YDP213 was a $800/$900 board five years ago, so that is a good deal on the used market. It has three pedals, and nothing new with three pedals can be had for close to $500. Condition does matter, even for digitals.

As to the other person asking about the Yamaha P95, $450 is about the going rate on the used market. However, a person might be able to get a new P105 for not much more ($600 street price), if they can find a coupon/sale or a demo/refurbished unit. The new one might not come with all the accessories though, and doesn't have a MIDI port.

What's the difference between the P95 and the P105? I think the $450 P95 is a price for the "bundle" which includes stand, MIDI to USB connector, and headphones.

I guess I feel like $450 is a bit much for a used P95 at this point. The P105 is the replacement version, but in this case Yamaha made a very substantial improvement on it. For example, the tone engine in the p95 has only one sampled layer, while that of the P105 has multiple...it sounds more like the P155. I was not at all impressed with the P95 when I played it, while I felt that the P105 that I played (on a different occasion) was very decent, especially considering the price point.

Of course, at $450 it becomes difficult to find any pianos that are ok, so I can understand how the P95 hasn't depreciated as much as a different model would in similar circumstances.

My advice, though, is to save up a bit and grab the P105. It comes with USB-to-host so you don't need a MIDI adapter. It won't come with a stand or headphones but you can typically work out a solution for these that either doesn't cost much or gets a better solution than a package deal.

I second the suggestion to look for a deal on a P105 as opposed to the used P95. $450 for a slightly used P95 may be the going rate (and maybe a decent deal if the included accessories are of good quality), but the price difference in quality is (IMO) greater than the difference in price, especially if you find a special sale price for the P105. Although I don't own a Yamaha, I tried both models when I was shopping. From what I remember, the action feels about the same on these two, but the piano sample quality is quite noticeably better on the P105.