9 votes

Seeking advice: Best electric piano's for (well) under $1000

Posted by ourari (edited )
Tags: ask.recommendations, instruments, pianos.electric

Hi everyone,

Each and every hobby has a start. I'm going to learn how to play the piano. For this, I'm planning to buy an electric piano. There's a regular grand piano I have access to, but they come without headphone jacks, and until I get better I want to limit the scope of audible torture to my own ears as much as possible. So, I could do with some of your advice.

This list of requirements is not meant to limit you in your advice, but serves more as a guideline, to give you an idea of what I'm looking for.

Hard requirements:

  • Headphone jack
  • The sound library must contain at least a 'normal' piano sound and an electric piano sound (the more it sounds like a dirty Rhodes, the better!)
  • At least 128 voice-polyphony
  • At least 76 keys, but preferably 88

Soft requirements:

  • Weighted keys
  • Simulated hammer action
  • High repetition
  • Ebony and ivory key feel (don't like the sensation of smooth plastic)
  • MIDI support so I can hook it up to a computer to try out other sound libraries

Completely unnecessary but cool:

  • USB port
  • Bluetooth compatibility

If you've learned to play the piano, especially as an adult, any advice you may have for me would be more than welcome, too.

Thank you!

4 comments

  1. [2]
    USA
    Link
    I play an 88 key weighted hammer-action Roland HP-137R. They're discontinued (just old, nothing wrong with it) so they're only a couple/few hundred. It's only 64 voice polyphony, but it hits your...

    I play an 88 key weighted hammer-action Roland HP-137R. They're discontinued (just old, nothing wrong with it) so they're only a couple/few hundred. It's only 64 voice polyphony, but it hits your other requirements. Includes stereo & mono input and output, MIDI input and output, two headphone jacks, the built in tones: E. Piano, Harpsichord, Pipe Organ and has Key Touch Sensitivity. What I like most is that the keys are not crammed like other brands, they don't sound hollow and clackity, and have no annoying spring noise. I'm sure there are better pianos out there but if you don't want to spend much money, it's a great entry digital piano. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpMxNm_BGyo

    2 votes
    1. ourari
      Link Parent
      Thank you for the detailed advice, especially about the feel and sound of the keys. It's definitely going on my list!

      Thank you for the detailed advice, especially about the feel and sound of the keys. It's definitely going on my list!

  2. Greebo
    Link
    Yo as a home pianist, I recommend the Yamaha P-45. Nothing fancy but the sound is surprisingly good and the action is wonderful. Definitely gets my vote.

    Yo as a home pianist, I recommend the Yamaha P-45. Nothing fancy but the sound is surprisingly good and the action is wonderful. Definitely gets my vote.

    2 votes
  3. ourari
    Link
    Wish I could edit the title. It's Pianos, not Piano's. Sorry :/

    Wish I could edit the title. It's Pianos, not Piano's. Sorry :/