From: bw@hpcvxgmr.cv.hp.com (Bill Wilhelmi)
Subject: Re: Re: acoustic pianos versus digital pianos/keyboards
Reply-To: bw@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com
Organization: Interstate 5
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 16:41:58 GMT

In article <122130078@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>, mjs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Marc Sabatella) writes:
|> > >In summary:
|> > >
|> > >   Reasons to get a Digital Piano (keyboard, synthesizer, whatever):
|> 
|> This subject comes up every once in a while, and I have begun to wonder if I
|> live on a different planet than everyone else, since there seems to be this
|> widespread agreement on a few "fact" that are not true at all in my experience:
|> 
|> > >     1. You need an instrument that stays in tune no matter where you
|> > >	go.
|> 
|> How often do you really plan to move the thing?  Are we really talking about
|> a truly portable, one-person-can-pick-it-up-and-throw-it-in-the-back-of-the-car
|> kind of thing?
|> 
|> If you need portability, obviously, an acoustic is not a good idea, but most
|> consumer model "digital pianos" are not especially portable, so take that into
|> consideration.  I hear the Yamaha pf-85 has been discontinued, which would be
|> a shame.  I'm trying to figure out what to replace it with when mine dies.

I lumped "keyboards" in with digital pianos.  If you intend to stay at home
and play for fun, this obviously doesn't apply.  

|> 
|> > >     2. You have been unable to rely on a decent-sounding piano to be
|> > >	available wherever you practice or perform.
|> 
|> This essentially duplicates #1.

This is a variation of #1.  Some pianos can be tuned and still sound bad 
because they are crummy instruments. But, if its really important to anyone,
I don't see why we can't lump these together.

|> 
|> > >     3. You can't afford a good acoustic piano.
|> 
|> This is the one that has me completely baffled.  I know I can get a good
|> acoustic for $1000.  Are there any "digital pianos" (88 weighted key, sampled
|> sound, including possibly separate amp/speaker) for anywhere near that amount?
|> I keep hearing about there mythical cheap digital pianos, but I've never seen
|> one, and whenever I call this bluff, I never get a response.

If you are going to perform for a live audience, I doubt that your $1000 piano
will do.  If all you intend to do is sit at home and play for fun, you don't
need a performance-grade piano.  A $1000 piano might be just fine.  But if
your comparison is between a Yamaha grand and a keyboard, the keyboard is 
bound to be an order of magnitude less expensive.  It all depends on what
sound you want.

|> 
|> > >     4. You like the other sounds you can play on a keyboard.
|> 
|> Good reason - also, the interface to sequencers, et al.
|> 
|> > >     5. The keyboard has a reasonably good-sounding piano setting.
|> 
|> Not a reason to prefer it over acoustic, though.

If having a piano sound is critical to your act, this can make a difference.

|> 
|> > >     6. You need a portable instrument.
|> 
|> You've essentially said this twice already.

OK.  Putting 1,2, & 6 together:

	You need a portable instrument that stays in tune no matter where
	you go.

|> 
|> > >     7. You can also afford to get a sound system and mixer.
|> > >	(Some electric/digital pianos come with built-in speakers.)
|> 
|> Huh?  Are you saying that the fact that you can afford a sound system and mixer
|> should determine whether you go with an electronic or acoustic instrument?
|> Nonsequitur.

No.  Actually, this is simply a list of reasons and considerations when getting
a keyboard.  I'm not trying to imply that one has an advantage over the other.
Some people think that they can just buy a $2500 keyboard and that's it.  They
need to consider sound.

|> 
|> > >   Reasons to get an acoustic piano:
|> > >
|> > >     1. The type of music you perform demands the "real thing".

Even if your ears don't demand the "real thing", classical piano works 
seem to.  

|> > >
|> > >     2. A decent, tuned piano is available wherever you expect to
|> > >	perform.  You don't really need a portable instrument.
|> > >
|> > >     3. Your ears demand the "real thing".

Not all musicians have critical ears.  For some, no matter what they play,
they must have a very good instrument.

|> > >
|> > >     4. You have the money to get a good piano.
|> > >
|> > >     5. If you play keyboards at all, you should have a good 
|> > >	acoustic piano.
|> 
|> I don't understand the distinction between 1, 3 and 5 - they all imply an
|> acoustic sounds better, which is certainly true to me.  Don't forget "the
|> audience's ears demand the real thing".  2 is the portability question again.
|> 4 is still the mystery statement from hell, as far as I'm concerned - if it
|> were true, it would be wonderful, but I haven't seen any evidence in favor of
|> this statement.  Don't most of these digital pianos cost well over $1500?
|> Certainly any portable system I've ever tried to piece together would cost
|> over $2000, unless someone makes an <$1000 88-key weighted controller that
|> nobody has been telling me about.

Well, I'm not going to attempt to convince you of this.  Everyone has their
own set of ears--some just are more demanding than others.  Personally, I 
could just as easily get a $1000 piano as a $30,000 one.  But, then, I'm not
the musician in the family; I'm just the roadie.  It also depends on your 
level of play.  If you are an accomplished arranger, composer, or performer
(beyond the self-promotion phase), chances are you are not going to be 
satisfied with a $1000 piano anywhere.  If you are happy with that and can
get away with it, the more power to you.  But I'm not about to tell people
they are getting ripped if they spend more than $1000 on a piano.  

If I understand your contention correctly, someone who is on a limited budget
can get a reasonably-good piano for starters and shouldn't be muscled into
getting a fancy-dancin' keyboard that they don't need.  In this I would agree.
However,  you usually get what you pay for.


|> 
|> Also, as someone else observed, feel is important as well as sound, but I have
|> to say I'm pretty happy with the feel of virtually every weighted keyboard I've
|> ever played.

This is personal opinion (valid).  But, not every one feels that way.

|> 
|> > Another one in favour of the digital piano:
|> > 
|> > 	8. You wants to play at any time of the day without bothering
|> > 	   your neighbours (or even your partner -- depends on your level ;-)
|> 
|> You can have your acoustic fitted with a piece of felt to dampen the strings -
|> this helps somewhat, but obviously is not the same as a pair of headphones.



|>  
|> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> Marc Sabatella           Winner, 1992 First Annual Bill Evans Lookalike Contest
|> marc@fc.hp.com

-- 
 Bill Wilhelmi    
 Hewlett-Packard - User-interface Technology Division CV
 1000 NE Circle Blvd.  Corvallis, OR 97330
 bw@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com
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