Suggestions on a relatively inexpensive but good electronic piano?

Cambiata

I haven't played a lot of piano, mostly just four semesters of mandatory group lessons during my music performance degree, but I'd sort of like to pick it up again and really learn to play for my own enjoyment. So I need an electronic piano! Has to be electronic because I live on the third floor of an apartment building and a "real" piano would just be too much work to get up here (and get down again when I wanted to move). I also don't want to spend too much, I'm thinking $100 - $300, maybe a little bit more if it was really worth it, but I want a good sound, too. Suggestions?

T-bolt

Look up the Casio Privia on Google. Not sure which models are considered the good deal, but I've heard that's a very good choice for an inexpensive but decent sounding and playing piano. You may have to up your price range a bit though, you'd have to luck out on Craigslist for anything decent at that price.

Cambiata

Well I can probably go a bit higher, though I don't want to get near the $1,000 range. I'll do some research on Casio Privia, thank you!

olanmills

I have an older Privia. It's good because the keys are weighted, so the action is more similar to a real piano, unlike most cheaper electronic pianos which just have keys that just return with springs. This was three or four years ago that I was looking, but I found that other electronic pianos with weighted keys were much more expensive and had a lot of professional-grade features that I didn't need.

You can also buy a nice stand and pedal set for the Privia which work fairly well. Sometimes it's sold as a complete set.

I would however, say that the sound from the Privia isn't that great. The sound samples are fairly realistic, but the fidelity isn't that great. Also, there is a very limited set of sounds and other features compared to most cheaper electronic pianos. So if you like to have fun screwing around playing songs with trumpet sounds and then switch to banjo sounds and then an alien sound (lol) you won't find that here.

However, I like the piano because of the weighted keys, which helps if you're trying to practice how to play and move your fingers along the keys. It will be more similar to a real piano. The keys, however, are totally plastic and they clearly feel that way. There's no effort to make them like a faux ivory or wood feel like some higher end electronic pianos.

EggyToast

You do get better sounds on a nicer digital piano, but the Privia is probably the cheapest option that actually feels and sounds like a piano. It's worlds better than your average springy keyboard. Most alternatives that get you weighted keys that aren't a joke and actual piano sounds for the full range of notes will jump up to $500+.

My girlfriend has a cheap Yamaha keyboard that's 7 octaves and works for practicing. But my piano teacher last year used a Privia in her little studio nook, and it was such a significant difference that I found I didn't like practicing at home due to how crappy the keyboard felt. It no longer felt like playing a piano.

If you're willing to spend $500 or more, there are a lot more options that cover things like the feel of the keys and the sample set, but for the price? The Privias are a good bet.

either,or

Get a Yamaha p95. Comparatively very cheap and it's just an absolutely amazing piano for the price. The keys are weighted properly (lower notes are heavier like an acoustic piano) and the sound, while not perfect, is miles ahead of most low price electric pianos.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/digitalpianos/p_series/p-95_color_variation/

Also I just moved house with this piano yesterday and it was way easier than I had expected.

Cambiata

I'm liking what people are saying about the Privia. I want the keys to have weight, and I don't care about having a lot of different sounds (piano sounds are all I really need).

What olan says about the low fidelity is troubling, but I'm not sure how much fidelity I'd be able to get in the price range I'm looking for.

Karrmer

Getting a decent used Kawai EP3 or EP2 on craigslist (if there is one) can be a good option too, I got mine for around $400 and they retail for something like $1100-$1500.