Hi,

I played the piano competitively for 8 years. Stopped playing for 4 years. Now I'm picking up a digital piano for casual playing/stress outlet. I don't enticipate too much playing time (probably only a couple hours a week or so) because of med school.

I just ordered a Yamaha YDP213 Tuesday, THEN I found this forum and read some rather lukewarm reviews in comparison to other more current digital piano such as the Casio PX800 (but I remind myself about reports of loose black keys on the PX800 to make myself feel a little better).

I probably view touch/feel of the keyboard as the number one factor, not so much for the build in speakers since I have some very decent headphones.

So, is the YDP213 with it's Grand Hammer Standard keyboard sufficient for my use, or do you think I should of gone with more expensive Yamaha models with Grand Hammer Effect keyboard or other brands?

the thing is that action or key feel is subjective, and you just have to try them out yourself to know what's the best for you.

personally, i like Yamaha GH action better than GHS or Casio PX800 action, although i prefer PX800's over GHS. but someone else might not think so.

one thing you could do is to go to some store, such as Guitar Center, to try those models or similar ones yourself. if you end up not liking that GHS action, then you might be able to cancel your order and get a different one.

i think you will enjoy this. particularly because you did not try out other models. :-))) honestly speaking it's fine piano on the money. besides yamaha is industry leader so what they do they do good. ´so when you placed your decision it makes no sense to go to shops and then sweaten about your decision and i think it would not be worth the effort. if you happen not to like YDP213 then you can sell this easily while new and get another model. however i think you will not.

I recently decided to try, after a 25 year layoff, to learn to play again.
Was on a budget so started with simplist of keyboards in my search and finally decided on the YDP-213 for $900.
Placed the order online and waited for it to arrive.
Assembled it immediately after arrival and was very pleased with the sound quality.
Let it go through the demo songs as I am pretty much a brand new student.
Next day when I broke out my old books and set down to practice I found a defect. The G2 key only knew how to play LOUD while all the rest were touch sensitive. Couldn't even concentrate after that. Called Kraft Music where I bought it and explained the problem. We decided to replace the unit immediately and ship the old one back at the same time the new one arrived. While I was at it I decided to upgrade to the YDP223.
While I would have been satisfied with the YPD213 after having the YDP223 for just a few minutes I'm glad I upgraded.
Features are easier to access and more of them.
Higher wattge amps and bigger speakers and the cabinet is much nicer.
Blew my budget but I'm definately happier.

I used to play on an electric piano during med school for stress relief too.

Initially I played the organ as a child. Gave it up in teenage years. Took up electric piano during med school. Played it now and then. Never was really THAT excited about it. Life was ticking along without any passion (work or hobbies).

Never in my life had I played on a grand piano. A few crappy uprights but that's it. One day in a piano shop, sat down and played on a grand. My life changed after that. The sound of the instrument makes such a difference to your enthusiasm. On a good grand piano, I could just repeatededly play a single note and enjoy listening to it, and have a smile on my face.

I am now obsessed and much happier. Life is too short for the amount of music available to play. I need 200 years more.

Do they have pianos in the afterlife?

Snowtown......no, you made no mistake......

YOU BOUGHT A YAMAHA!!!

always a good choice

Best regards and have fun with the dp,
Johan B

So you're saying that the YDP213 you received only plays loud for the Grand Piano 2 sound setting?

Is the YD213's touch comparable at all to the YDP223?

Yeah, I had numerous opportunities to compete, practice, and perform on Steinway concert grands in the past... pure finger-aural orgasm

haha I hope so, I just have this feeling that I should of gone for the YDP323 or 223 with their Grand Hammer Effect keyboard. I did thought about getting the Yamaha N100 too for a little bit but... well, thought it might be a waste since I probably won't get too much time to fiddle with it.

Graded Hammer or Grand Hammer? I thought this is Graded.

Has anyone played the N100? I have a P60..is the N100 that dramatic a difference? worth a move up?
or hype?

So you're saying that the YDP213 you received only plays loud for the Grand Piano 2 sound setting?

Is the YD213's touch comparable at all to the YDP223?


No the G2 key on the keyboard was defective and only would play LOUD nomatter how softly I played no mater which voice I selected.
I can't answer about touch since I am a new player after 25 year lay off from being a new player. The Yamaha site list the 213 as graded hammer standard wher the 223 is listed as graded hammer effect. Maybe someone here will clarify that for me.
the 323 in my research appeared to be a 213 with the amps of the 223 and a little different finish.
When I was in Keyboad concepts this week I spotted a Clavinova that looked identical to my 223 except for some different Yamaha logos.
Same exact keyboard and controls. At least to my eyes.
The thing I like about the 223 over the 213 is not having to use the keyboard to control the other functions. The 50 preloaded songs are easily accessed from the buttons above the keys and you can shut off right or left hand part as well as slow the tempo to learn with.
If was trying to get a piano that looked good in the room for as little as possible and the 213 did that but after looking at the 223 decided to spend the extra $$.
Some day if my piano skills justify it I hope to get a Clavinova. Just like sitting down to a beautiful piano. I love cabinetry.

Well, somebody played the N100?.....I'am curious...

JB

SnowTown, the GHS (=Graded Hammer Standard) keyboard of the YDP-213 has a very light action and doesn't feel like an accoustic at all.

The action of the YDP-223 is much better and has the GH (=Graded Hammer 2) keyboard like the CLP-220. (The keyboard the whole CLP-100 and CVP-300 series had, and even the new CVP-401.)

But only with the the more expensive CLP-230, 240 and 270 you have the really excellent GH3 (Graded Hammer 3) keyboard.

In the top model CLP-280 there is GH3 with wooden keys (white keys only). If you search in this forum you will see that some people find the "natural wood keyboard" (Yamaha words) of the CLP-280 much better than the GH3 of the CLP-270, and others say the difference hardly matters.

So for a good accoustic-like keyboard action you need at least GH, also called GHE (Graded Hammer Effect) or GH2.

The ROLANDS also have a good action (PHA II system) from the HP 203 on, especially the topmodel HP 207 with it's "ivory feel".

Finally the KAWAI CA's have a very good keyboard with their AWA PRO system with all wooden keys:

http://www.kawaius.com/main_links/digital/digital_actions.htm

Read this also about Yamaha action:

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/6/4240.html

So i think it's really worth upgrading to at least the YDP-223:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Cont...TRIBUTE,00.html

PS: In Belgium (Europe) we also have the YDP-151 with GH action, but i don't think this model is available in the USA.

http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_euro...-151/index.html

Copilot, completely agree, a good keyboard matters a lot. I liked Roland's make because this feels very like grand piano keybed, however i thought all HP 2xx models come with PHAII keybed, the difference is that HP203 comes with PHAII with escapement and HP207 comes with PHAII with escapement and Ivory keys with wooden sides. I tried all 3 models and difference between HP201 and HP203 keys was not dramatic (if at all) while HP207 was a real stand out and the greatest keybed of all I tried of recent.

Yamaha's GH3 is just superb too.

Surprisingly I did not like Kawai AWA PRO wooden keybed because of glossy cheap plastic on the keys. Ivory of Roland felt so much better.

Since the package was already shipped, it would still cost me around $250 for shipping if I refuse the package. So if I refuse the package and order the YDP223 instead, that'll be like a $1,000 difference in price.

Guess I'll just take the YDP213... play with it occasionally, and sell it for a couple hundred a couple years later.

Then decided if I wanna go for another digital piano then. I mean digital piano technology has got to be better then.

Where did you get it from that was $250 for shipping? I ordered mine from Kraft Music with free shipping and saw other places out there too.
Didn't cost a penny to receive or return for replacement. DP is already better if you look at the CLavinova line but what I'm looking at in the future is around $8000. I will have to really learn to play well to justify this to me and my wife.

if you can wait till April, you can consider new YDP160:

http://www.yamaha.com/namm/w2008/PressReleaseDetail.html?CTID=5041913&CNTID=565924

It appears the 213 becomes the Aurus 140 and the 323 becomes the 160?

Yes, and the new AURUS 160 looks very much like the YDP-151 we have in a lot of European countries as i mentioned 6 posts higher.

Europe situation now:

Ydp-S30: GHS keyboard, 2x6 watt and light cabinet

YDP-131: with GHS keyboard and 2x 6 Watt
(looks like the new Aurus 140)

YDP-151: with GH(E) keyboard and 2x 20 Watt
(looks like the new Aurus 160)


See: http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_euro...ries/index.html

you might be right. i think Yamaha use different model numbers sometimes for US and European markets for the same actual model. YDP131 is one example.

Doesn't look like my YDP-223 exists in europe?

They said I'll have to pay for the shipping to me and back, so $125 x 2 = $250.

Well, got it today... looks pretty nice... but the keyboard is a bit too soft compared to the real thing though. And it doesn't have the bounce and crispness of acoustic pianos I had experince with in the past.

Whatever, probably for the better, since I'll likely spend less time on it and have more time to study.

:::oops double post:::

I know the low end Yamahas have less dynamic levels and all that, but truth is, I still prefer the Yamaha sound over the Casio's.

I looked closer at the Kraft Music website where I got mine and under their 20/20 return policy I think I would have had to pay return shipping not sure about replacement shipping. Guess I lucked out since mine was defective they paid for freight both ways. When I learn to play well enough and want to upgrade to a Clavinova I plan on buying from a local piano store so I can play and examine the piano I want first.

I bought a Yamaha YDP-213 last June and haven't regretted it. I recently had the chance to play an acoustic piano and I was impressed that the key feel was almost identical to the Yamaha. The acoustic piano had more reverb so now I've increaed the reverb on the Yamaha when I play. I would buy it again.

Hi Everyone,

I'm a beginner and a newbie to this forum and am currently researching and looking into getting dp.

I agree with Copilot, even as an absolute beginner, the feel of the Yamaha CLP-280's wooden keys felt so good when I was checking it out at a Yamaha piano shop, with a price tag of $4,400.

Their MODUS F01 also caught my eyes and the keys felt really good as well. What do you all think about this particular model? And in compared to their N100 Nocturne GDP?

Would appreciate any advice and input you all can provide.

Key Notes