Used Digital Pianos - What Should You Be Looking For?
So! You've decided to buy a digital piano and, for whatever reasons, you are going to buy a used one.
But when you're looking at all the used digital pianos on the market, how do you decide which one to go for -- which one will suit you best and provide the best value for money? Obviously the precise model will depend on you the buyer and your own personal circumstances and preferences.
You might say that if you try it out and it simply feels like it is the one for you, then that is a very strong indicator; however there are some important points to consider before it comes to handing over your cash.
The first point is that there will be many sellers trying to dispose of their digital piano, so you can be sure you will have a wide range to choose from; you can also be sure that if you don't find a keyboard that completely satisfies you, you may only have to wait another week and there will be whole new batch of used digital pianos appearing in the classifieds.
Of course, when you are actually shown the second-hand keyboard one of the first things you should do is to make sure it actually works.
Try all the keys, all of the controls, and ask for a demonstration that all of the interfaces work, including the mains supply.
One of the chief ways that digital pianos vary is in the number of keys.
This again is a personal preference, but I would advise you to go for the full 88 keys, or perhaps go for one with 76.
There are some keyboards with only 61 keys, but for me that is starting to stray away too far away from a "proper" keyboard -- but it might be right for you.
It all depends on what you want to do with the keyboard.
Digital pianos also vary in their action, or what the keys feel like when you play.
If a keyboard has proper weighted keys that means that the keys should have the same feel as keys on a real piano -- it actually takes a little effort to play them.
Some people prefer this type of action -- trained pianists will usually opt for weighted keys, and if you are ever expected to play a real piano you will be prepared because it will feel pretty much the same.
The other type of key action is commonly called "synth", since this is the action commonly found on the early electronic synthesisers; they are usually very light, and the keys only have enough spring in them to return them to their normal position.
Some people prefer this type of action because it is possible to play them a lot faster than weighted keys.
Finally, and this is getting fairly technical, there are the velocity and the aftertouch of the keys.
On advanced keyboards if you hit a key hard then the note that is sounded is louder than if you hit the key gently -- this is called the velocity -- and this mimics how a real piano works.
The aftertouch is how the sound behaves when you hold a key down -- again, trying to mimic the way a real piano works.
If you are serious about playing the piano then you will want to get a keyboard with velocity and aftertouch.
In the end, the factors that are important when buying used digital pianos are very much a matter of personal taste and how you feel about the keyboard when you try it (you must try it).
You have to able to feel completely comfortable using your musical instrument for years to come -- you are going to spend a lot of time using it!
But when you're looking at all the used digital pianos on the market, how do you decide which one to go for -- which one will suit you best and provide the best value for money? Obviously the precise model will depend on you the buyer and your own personal circumstances and preferences.
You might say that if you try it out and it simply feels like it is the one for you, then that is a very strong indicator; however there are some important points to consider before it comes to handing over your cash.
The first point is that there will be many sellers trying to dispose of their digital piano, so you can be sure you will have a wide range to choose from; you can also be sure that if you don't find a keyboard that completely satisfies you, you may only have to wait another week and there will be whole new batch of used digital pianos appearing in the classifieds.
Of course, when you are actually shown the second-hand keyboard one of the first things you should do is to make sure it actually works.
Try all the keys, all of the controls, and ask for a demonstration that all of the interfaces work, including the mains supply.
One of the chief ways that digital pianos vary is in the number of keys.
This again is a personal preference, but I would advise you to go for the full 88 keys, or perhaps go for one with 76.
There are some keyboards with only 61 keys, but for me that is starting to stray away too far away from a "proper" keyboard -- but it might be right for you.
It all depends on what you want to do with the keyboard.
Digital pianos also vary in their action, or what the keys feel like when you play.
If a keyboard has proper weighted keys that means that the keys should have the same feel as keys on a real piano -- it actually takes a little effort to play them.
Some people prefer this type of action -- trained pianists will usually opt for weighted keys, and if you are ever expected to play a real piano you will be prepared because it will feel pretty much the same.
The other type of key action is commonly called "synth", since this is the action commonly found on the early electronic synthesisers; they are usually very light, and the keys only have enough spring in them to return them to their normal position.
Some people prefer this type of action because it is possible to play them a lot faster than weighted keys.
Finally, and this is getting fairly technical, there are the velocity and the aftertouch of the keys.
On advanced keyboards if you hit a key hard then the note that is sounded is louder than if you hit the key gently -- this is called the velocity -- and this mimics how a real piano works.
The aftertouch is how the sound behaves when you hold a key down -- again, trying to mimic the way a real piano works.
If you are serious about playing the piano then you will want to get a keyboard with velocity and aftertouch.
In the end, the factors that are important when buying used digital pianos are very much a matter of personal taste and how you feel about the keyboard when you try it (you must try it).
You have to able to feel completely comfortable using your musical instrument for years to come -- you are going to spend a lot of time using it!