Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Casio AP-31, 33, or 38. Are they okay?

I am looking for a "very" affordable digital piano (under $2000, preferably way lower). My problem with most of the stage/portable ones is that I don't like the detachable pedal. With built in pedals, the price goes up quite a bit. I stumble across the casio AP line and was wondering if they are okay in terms of feel and sound. I've taken piano lessons ever since I was a child on a upright acoustic and later a baby grand. I don't need everything to be superb, but I do need it to feel at least average. What's your thought on the Casio AP line?

Well, this is a very personal preference topic, so you have to try them out yourself. Casio's are not very good when it comes to piano. They are not full and rich, the action is pretty dead and springy. This is just my opinion, so you really need to go try them out yourself.

Do I recomend them: No

Regards,
p120mAn

Hey there,
Casio AP line has excellent graded hammer action keys which is almost identical to acoustic one. I guess it is the outstanding feature over other brands. I gonna get AP 38 which has stereo grand piano sample and sounds. The other two are mono digital pianos.
Don't get Yamaha P120.. I don't recommend that .
Springy artificial action keys. And you have to buy a stand and a bunch of pedals too. Only advantage is that more sounds and portability. As you might guess, many in this forum are Yammy funs so I tried out Yammy pianos alot. But glad I did not buy any of those Yammys. My first choice would be Roland MP60. The next choice is Casio AP38.
Good luck ..

I guarantee that Casio does not make their own actions. They probably buy them from Yamaha or Fatar. I'm glad Kenpcola likes the action on his Casio, but it's hardly the best action out there.

ummm...
I am not sure Casio has to "buy" that key action.
I don't think it is a rocket science. Seem like it is just an artistic recreation of piano action by someone without using any spring in the assembly.
(that may be why it is very close to real piano action).And I do appreciate that artistic skill. both Yamaha and Fartar key actions are not that good to my taste.
Here I am refering to the original post regarding very good graded hammer action digital piano which is affordable... not a preference or defamation to a specific brand.

Kenpcola mentioned that there's a difference between stereo grand piano sample vs. mono digital piano sample? What exactly is that? And how much quality difference are we talking about here?

A friend of mine has a Yamaha, am I don't like the action. I do like the Rolands a lot when I tried them at the store. But the Casio prices are just so attractive. And my preference is a home piano not a stage piano.

AP38 has 64 voice polyphony. It has stereo samples grand piano voices as well as mono voices(grand piano 2, bass, etc.) When you play stereo sampled grand piano, it has 32 notes polyphony since each note gonna take 2 voices(left and right channel). With mono voices, you will have 64 notes polyphony.
The other models have 32 voice polyphony . All voices gonna have 32 notes(meaning piano keys) polyphony only. Seem like no one has 32 fingers but it gonna make different when you layers 2 voices and press down sustain and play many notes since you goona have notes drop/cutoff. For average playing it is not that significant.
Difference is the closeness to realism regarding stereo sampled sounds especially when you listen with headphones.
Hope this help.

I finally settled for a Casio AP-33. It is a very good piano for the price I'm getting. It's actually better than I've hoped. Both the sound and the action performed well. For the price I got it at, I'm a happy camper.