My daughter's hearing impaired and a digital piano is the way I think we want to go.

So...which Clavinova is the best? The CLP models? I'm very green when it comes to this.

TIA,
Michelle

If you don't need a lot of the bells and whistles on the clavinova line (100's of sounds, lessons, accompaniment, etc...) then you might want to look at the yamaha p series and the ydp series. These are sold at music stores with the prices already significantly discounted from the MSRP. Buying a Clavinova is more like buying a car (or an acoustic piano): salesmen won't talk prices over the phone, some try to get away with very high prices, etc...

The ydp113 and ydp223 look like clavinovas but are much less expensive. I think there are some other posts in this forum which discuss which clavinola models are similar in terms of sounds and action to corresponding p and ydp models.

The biggest difference between the Clavinovas and the other digitals in the Yamaha line (PF500/1000, stage pianos etc.) are:

- Furniture cases
- Built-in sound system
- Better action (at least in the higher end models)
- More instruments and voices (usually) and larger samples for some of them, particularly the pianos

If you're going for the Clavinova line, they come in two flavors. The CLP models are basically "pianos with a few other instruments and features" The CVPs are "pianos with zillions of bells and whistles for auto-accompaniment, midi playback and recording, etc. etc." I think the CVPs are the only ones with the guide lights your daughter liked.

If you go the CLP route, I'd look at the top of the line CLP170 or 175. It has the "natural" (wooden keys, different mechanism) that I think is better than the others (my CVP900 has it) and it has the augmented sound system that many seem to like.

With the CVP, as you move up the line you get better sound systems, better piano sounds, and more instruments. Most of the bells and whistles stay the same once you get to the 206 level and beyond. Be aware that Yamaha has announced the CVP300 series, which means the 200 series will be replaced. You might get a good deal on a 200 series because of it. The PF500/1000 offer many of the features of the CVPs, but not all, and they are closer to a stage piano "look" than the Clavinovas.

One very good reason for going with Yamaha is an excellent user group (non-affiliated) at www.cvpug.com. If you go there you can search the archives for just about anything you want to learn, and if it isn't there, many users are happy to answer questions. I don't think any other digital maker has such a group.

And NEVER NEVER pay list price for these things! 20%-25% off list should be easily obtainable. There is an excellent dealer in Canada who will ship to the U.S. and has very good prices - search the user group site for their name. I bought mine locally because I sort of wanted to support local dealers, but I used the Canadian price as a benchmark to get my local guy to come down to something reasonable.

As somebody who has and enjoys both digital and acoustic instruments, I think you're making the right choice for your daughter.

thank you so much for your insight.

i was also considering a keyboard. She has to have a mobile keyboard for her group class and I was considering buying the Yamaha DGX300 with a stand. I've researched them and since she is so young maybe that'll be a good way to get her feet wet and if she keeps the interest in it then we can go for the CVP.

Does that sound like a good alternative right now?

Michelle

My family started with a dgx-300 as well. It has great sounds and the lesson feature was a lot of fun for the kids (they learned the right hand to fur elise that way), but the keys don't feel anything like a real piano and we are replacing it with a real digital piano.

If you want something that is somewhat portable with a not bad piano action try the casio privia px-100. At $499 it's VERY cheap, the sounds are ok, has 88 keys, and the action is a real weighted hammer action, much better than the dgx, and it's not too heavy at 27 pounds. For an extra $100 you can get the px-300 which has lots more voices and accompaniment features.

If you want something with a beautiful piano sound and a great hammer action there's the yamaha p90 at 37 pounds with no speakers (headphone only) at around $1000 and the p120 at 40 pounds with speakers at around $1200.

There are many, many discussions out there about learning piano with weighted vs. non-weighted keyboards.

Good Luck,

-mark