Help! I know little to nothing about pianos, but need to buy one for my daughter to start lessons. I can get the Yamaha YPP200 for $399. Is this worth considering, or should we to for the p80 or p120. My daughter is just starting, so she can't try things out with any base of knowledge or experience. I appreciate any input!

Hello shoppin-y,

I am in the same situation as you are. You may want to follow some of the threads that I had initiated in this forum and the Piano Forum. There have already been a number of responses that have gotten me thinking. We do not expect to make a final decision for at least two months but these are the possibilities we are considering:

- Used accoustic ($800-$2000; we located a Baldwin spinet for $800)
- Yamaha YDP-121 ($1000 at Guitar Center)
- Yamaha P-120 ($1000 at Guitar Center sans accessories w/c include stand and pedal)
- Yamaha PF-500 (est $2000; new model w/c I am still trying to learn about)

Our daughter is currently "making-do" with my old 77-key Yamaha XG-MIDI keyboard from my young bachelor days.

Admittedly, while I must acknowledge the strong arguments for authentic keyboard action for an accoustic piano, I also find it beneficial that our daughter is able to use headphones for late-evening practice. We live in a small house and a closely-clustered community and this advantage of a digital instrument allows her to extend her practice time. Also, after taking measurements around our house, it is becoming obvious that most uprights will have a hard time fitting into our living room.

We are still weighing all arguments.

Good Hunting!

- TikiDude

Thanks for your input Tikidude. I have read the info on these boards and whatever else I've been able to find online. I think we've decided on a digital piano but not a budget yet. Our daughter is just beginning, and we're not sure she'll stick it out.

Hello shoppin-y,

The YDP-121 is now selling at a substantial discount of about $895 at Guitar Center. The retailers need to clear out inventory for the new models being released by Yamaha in late-2002. There are the YDP-113 and the YDP-223.

Neither digital piano is being featured on Yamaha's official site as of today. Here are two links which provide more information:

http://www.giles.com/yamaha1/pr/trade/NAMM/S02/pr/pac/pkb/ydp.html

http://www.musiciansnews.com/piano/40/yd...hted_acti.shtml

The nicest features of these two is that both now have graded-hammer action on their keys. We plan on buying the YDP-223 when it become available.

Best Regards,

- TD