electric piano for home (and studio)

[jimmyt]

I have just moved into a new flat in Lopndon. I would love to buy an upright but it would just be unfair on my neighbours as I am most likely to be playing it late at night/early hours after work.
I would be gratfeul for any recommendations as to the best electric piano which will fulfil my needs for a 'real' piano feel and sound, but oen that I can use with headphones (but also has a decent set os peakers so that when possible I can play it without). I am not really looking for any fancy extras, although I guess it would be nice to have a few varieties of sounds and perhaps a bit of organ and reverb etc..... budget approx ?2-?3k but anything less would be very welcome. reailty of sound and weighted keys are a priority. (I have a korg triton already which does not suffice)
Any suggesstions very welcome.

[tbip2001]

Hi mate,

In your price bracket, there is only one option.

A Yammaha GT20. This is a Grantouch, has a wooden piano keyboard (taken from one of thier uprights), and only has one sound. Piano.

It takes its entire ROM allocation (16meg), and utilises it for just that one sound. The sound is unbeatable. Period.

The only way to better it, would be to buy the next model up.

I owned one. and wished I hadnt sold it.

tbip2001

[Michael36]

I have just moved into a new flat in Lopndon. I would love to buy an upright but it would just be unfair on my neighbours as I am most likely to be playing it late at night/early hours after work.
I would be gratfeul for any recommendations as to the best electric piano which will fulfil my needs for a 'real' piano feel and sound, but oen that I can use with headphones (but also has a decent set os peakers so that when possible I can play it without).

The grandtouch mentioned is fine, I would disagree with it having the best sound, but that's subjective.

In terms of stage pianos, given your budget I would say try

Roland rd700sx [note the sx, not the same as the rd700]
Has lots of fans, especially for the action.
Kawai MP9500 - nice wooden keys / wooden sound
Gem promega 2 and 3 - my personal fave, folk rave about the sound, some don't like the fatar action.
Yamaha p250 - I would say more go for the cheaper models, the action is either liked or hated. If only they sampled real pianos, but I guess PR means they can't

If you can live with the sound / action on any of them that's probably the best currently available stage pianos [apart from those I've forgotten]

Some don't have speakers, but you should be able to get decent monitor speakers within your budget [and if you shop around forthose as well, they'll sound better than built in]

I'll guess if you try them, you'll like the action on one and the sound on another

Once you've found one, you might find a cheaper model by the same manuf that is still good enough to save you some money, or a furniture model that is the same - but you're unlikely to find better without going for the grandtouch to get a real action or buying a real acoustic. e.g if you like the yamaha, try the p90 which, even with very high quality monitor speakers and a stand would probably be less than the price of the p250 by itself. Or if you like the Gems, there are some new portable models appearing soon [prp700 / 800] with less gizmos but the same piano sounds etc etc.

Finding them all to play can be tricky depending where you are. Digital village might be the best for most, not sure about the Kawai though.

If you fancy a day out, Music live 2005 is on at the NEC Birmingham soon, they might have them all and mebbe even some new stuff -failing that, google should probably find dealers with stores.