CLP-320 and digital pianos in general

[briandemargo]

Hello. I am wanting to start learning the piano. I already play the guitar but find the instrument a bit limited and easy to get bored. I am looking at the Casio AP500 and Yamaha CLP-320. How long do digital pianos last before they start breaking down and become useless? For me £1000 is a lot to spend on something that will be a no good in a few years. I am wanting to buy an instrument that I can keep for I would think at least a decade - are these digital pianos that durable? The only other option would be to buy a real piano which are quite a lot of money. Any help appreciated.

[markymark]

The average lifespan of a digital is somewhere around 15-20 years. If they are looked after they can last for much longer. I find however that the hardware is not so much the problem as is the technology and consequently, the sound quality upgrades that occur in digital instruments. Yamaha for example typically revise and upgrade a line about every four years or so.

Let this be a warning to anyone who is thinking of buying a cheap instrument and thinking they are getting a great deal just by spending less. The better models have better sound quality and hardware and so are not as easily or quickly outdated by their successors.