Hi, I was looking for a keyboard/ digital piano that sounded more like a real piano to learn how to play. I just heard the Yamaha DGX-500 online and it sounded real nice, almost like a piano. It sells itself as a portable grand. I guess I like the price as well, but could go up to a thou for a good yamaha as well. Everyone seems to recommend the Yamaha P60 & up, is it? Does the Yamaha p series sound like a real piano? I hear they have weighted keys, does that do it?

Thank you!
Beekie

Hi, me again. Well, I think I narrowed it down to a couple models that I see praised over & over... the Yamaha P80 & the Roland FP-3, both as well that I could afford.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which would be a better piano to learn on? which is more realistic sounding? I am not so much interested in the digital aspects of it, I wouldn't know what to do with it ...just in the keyboard's sound and touch quality.

Thank you again
Beekie

I have a DGX-500 and I would not recommend it for learning to play the piano. The keys are not weighted so it's more like playing an organ than a piano. When you're learning to play, the key action is a much more important criteria than the sound.

The minimum digital I think would be the Yamaha P90, or if you wanted one with a built-in speaker, the P120. At least the keys are somewhat weighted.

But if you really want to learn, try to swing one or two thousand on a decent used upright. Yes, you'll need to spend a couple hundred on moving charges, but once it's in your place, you'll have a great incentive to learn piano on a real piano.

If you do go the acoustic route, make sure it really is a decent one. Spend the 1-2k that Bob recommended. You will often hear that a digital is no substitute for an acoustic, but that assumes the acoustic is a reasonably playable one. A good digital (one with weighted keys) is much better than an acoustic you can't stand playing - which is the situation I face currently.

The Yamaha P60 is a little lacking in the polyphony department.

The Yamaha P90 is an updated P80, so go with what you can afford (it would be helpful if you could play test both, to see if the P90 is worth the extra $$).

The Roland FP-3 generally costs more than the Yamaha P90, but has different action, sound quality, etc.(this does not mean the action or sound quality is necessarily better, it's a matter of opinion). I seem to recall (aka: do the "grain of salt" thing), seeing that the FP-3 was being discontinued sometime soon (look for discounts).

As for the P80/90 vs. FP-3, it's all a matter of taste. Play all three (Then come back, and tell us how salesman X or Y said this thing that made absolutely no sense, and you called him on it, then his face turned bright red, then...). Take your time, don't just jump into anything.

I played a variety of keyboards a few weeks ago and the P90/P120 actions were, to me, much more preferable than those of the other manufacturers I tried out. If you're looking for a straight piano and don't need a ton of voices, I like the P90. A P80 is a little cheaper, but for the extra $100 I'd get the P90. Plus online you can get $100 of extras free of charge some places plus free shipping and no tax, so it doesn't make any sense to buy an old P80.

A year ago, when I was shopping around for a digital piano, I discovered the Yamaha DGX-500 and basically fell in love with it. (I had been without a piano for several years, and was living in an apartment at the time, so a fairly inexpensive digital was what I wanted) I read tons about it online, reviews, etc., and the price seemed great at around $600. I had a hard time tracking one down that was actually in-stock where I live, so I called around and eventually found one in-stock at a store in Atlanta, GA. They said they would hold it for me. I drove the hour there and when I got there, I was practically giddy at the thought that I would finally have a piano again. That is, until I sat down to play it. I loved the way it looked, but it just didn't feel right. Not like a piano at all. Definitely more like a keyboard or organ as the other poster said. It felt hollow and quiet, and "plastic".
I was disappointed and began re-thinking my decision.

Right next to it on display, however, was another digital piano. It was a Williams Sonata 88 Digital Console. I played it, just for fun at first, thinking "What the heck is this--I've never even heard of this brand". But, I was very impressed with it. It was so much like a real piano, and the best part was that it was the same price as the DGX-500! It's more of a console than a portable, but it can be moved if necessary. I bought it without doing any research on it whatsoever, just trusting my gut. I absolutely love it and have never looked back. There's not much information on it online, but I can give you more info if you're interested! Good luck with your search.

Yamaha DGX-500
I have written educational software for Yamaha, Technics, and Roland digital pianos. I even wrote my program on the old Van Koevering. But I was unable to figure out how to operate the DGX-500. It is not very user friendly. The touch is very plastic and not weighted at all. I would not reccomend it.

Wow, I thought I was the only one who'd ever seen the Williams Sonata. You're right Ami, there's absolutely zero information online about it. I tried it out and didn't care for it personally, but it sounds like it's the right instrument for you. Enjoy.