How Long Do Digital Pianos Last?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ค. 2024
- livingpianos.com/how-long-do-...
Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I'm Robert Estrin. I had somebody ask me recently how long digital pianos last. I have a Steinway here, built in the late 1930s and still going strong. We rebuilt it a few years ago. But you know what? 100 years from now, it could be rebuilt again. Pianos can go on forever if they're not completely thrashed by the environment. But what about digital pianos?
I've gotten close to 30 years on a Yamaha CVP-109. It was top of the line when I purchased it. Last year I replaced the felt strip below the keys, regreased some of the keys that were sticking and also replaced the 3.5" floppy with a USB emulator. Still works great! It really doesn't have any monetary value, no different than a computer from the 90's would have today. Nonetheless, I gave it to a family, and they love it! I recently bought a Roland GP-6 and love it too. Can't compare the sound modeling with the old way of sampling. The Roland is light years ahead. If that lasts me another 20 years, I'll be in my 80s. I think I did pretty good. I'm not a professional. I'm just someone that loves music. Thank you Robert for being part of my musical journey and education.
My Roland E-56 is 30-years old and still works
Do you use it often though?
My Roland JV-30 synthesizer is 34 yrs old, doesn't get a lot of "use" now, used with music notation software extensively.
That line about cigarette smoke reminds me of the 80s. I was a young programmer working on a video switching system for the French broadcaster TDF. It was years and years before smoking was banned in the workplace, but it was naturally frowned upon in computer rooms. Two of my colleagues decided to ignore this rule and lit up. Our systems guy asked them to stop, explaining that the smoke was endangering the data on the hard drives. They didn't... I don't remember every word that was said, but I'll never forget the systems guy fetching a fire extinguiser and pointing it at one of the smokers (I half expected him to brain him with it, he was so worked up). Fortunately the smokers decided discretion was the better part of valour and found another place to smoke.
I am a piano technician who gigs as a side hustle. I bought a Yamaha P200 in 1988 and it was like wow! It still works but I long ago tired of the weight (66 lbs without the case I made for it). I used it with groups and then a hotel dining room gig before retiring it in favour a Roland which weighed half as much. The Roland ended up in an e-waste collection 2 years ago as the contact problems were endless as it aged. I gave the Yamaha to a young university student and it's still working albeit with clacky keys as the rest strip has hardened with age.
I currently use a Nord which is "bullet proof" according to a keyboard tech I know. I'm not particularly in love with any of the sounds (the Wurly comes close) but it gives me the emulations of all the keys I grew up with (piano, Hammonds, Wurlys, and the synths I could never afford at the time) and it only weighs 33 lbs. I've had it over 10 years and never had an issue.
Does your Roland have a graded action?
I know Roland pianos from the RD series (1987), and Korg M1 and 01Wfd keyboards, which still work perfectly. I have an Italian Armon organ, Bunny Junior model with 49 keys, which my grandmother gave me in 1978, and it still works.
My dad bought a Yamaha Clavinova in the late eighties which worked perfectly fine up until 2016 when one key just stopped working. That was a VERY good run! My dad bought my Kawai ES100 off me before I moved abroad, and it just blows away the old Clavinova in every respect for a fraction of the price. Having more than 16-note polyphony was quite an upgrade, haha! I just hope it will last even half as long.
My dad bought a clavinova around that time, too. He was sooooo happy…he could play at all hours. He’d have the headphones on and you’d hear his fingers furiously tapping away on the keys. It was so new, then. A real breakthrough.
Thank you so much Mr.Robert for this subject which is so important to me .
I got about 15 years out of my Roland before running into the mechanical issues you described so well
My Dad bought a Clavinova in the 80s, has probably played it for 50’000 hours, took it to Spain when he moved there and it’s still going strong.
Happy New Year, Maestro.⭐🌹⭐
I've owned the Kawai KDP-120 for 1 year and a half now. An absolutely gorgeous sounding instrument.
I think a dustcover is essential so i always cover my ctx and pxs even on breaks when practicing. Its real love i guess😉Our teacher showed us yam....Keyboards , 20 years old,not covered,played by so many kids,and still working. So, maybe sometimes with a little luck it lasts, sometimes there are mech.issues...hard to say , thanks robert, kind regards from Germany 😊
Interesting. I'm a church organist/keyboard player and our stone church building is very damp (even with a dehumidifier). It has killed a Hammond style organ in the past (keyboard contacts corroded). More recently it "killed" a Casio keyboard completely dead, although since taking that home in a dry environment, it did return to life after a couple of weeks, although the on off switch is still dodgy. We keep the Yamaha keyboard that replaced it in its carry bag with some silica gel sachets. Hopefully that will solve the problem.
Tip: occasionally put the silica in the oven to dry it out. After it absorbs its moisture capacity, it can’t do any more, but heat can dry it back out.
The contact rubbers will need replacement here and there, but rubber from most brands can be found online, and it's not that difficult to replace it yourself.
i've had a digital piano repaired - find an electronics tech or go to a guitarcenter and ask em if they have any repair guys - they probably do. the main thing that wears out first is the weighted keys - they'll fall out of their track from all the banging - and they're made of plastic that can break pretty easy. or if you spill something in there :( there's also the little rubber sensors that get hit. a digital piano can last a good 20 years if you're treating it nice.
I had a 1990s Kurzweil PC88. The kids bashed middle C and thrashed it. I got it repaired for just over $100 a few years back. The tech replaced the entire Fatar keybed with a new one and replaced the storage battery too. It was good as new!
I now have a Kawai MPC 1, which is like a real piano keybed with wooden keys and minimal electronics. It’s just MIDI and USB out with no internal sounds. I expect it to last a lifetime - since my kids are now grown!
I've got a Kurzweil K2600 that is 20 years old and still going strong. I have religiously kept it covered to keep out dust when not in use. I love this keyboard.
I'd like to point out some of the issues correctly raised by Robert.
About the keyboard action themselves yes, they will certainly break after many years of use, but the electronics that will fail are basically capacitors and batteries. These are easily repaired by any electronics synthesiser repair shop and the major brands (Roland, Yamaha, Kawai, Korg) usually have certified service shops in big cities. The issue here is that, unlike acoustic piano technicians, it is much more difficult to make them come home and repair "on site", you have to take the instrument to the service shop which is really inconvenient. Broken keypads will usually be replaced by the same shop as long as there are spare parts available. I would expect a "play at home" digital piano will last much more than 10 years! Robert is right, most of the digital pianos will be replaced by newer models but not because they break, it's because the newer models are much more cheaper and powerful in terms of realistic sounds.
But one has to factor that digital pianos require no service during all these years, unlike a traditional piano that needs tuning and more delicate caring. It's always a matter of tradeoffs.
I started taking piano lessons in 2020 (when I was 63) and bought a Yamaha Clavinova CSP-170, which I really like. I did have a problem a couple of months ago where a few of the keys seemed to double-strike. I contacted a piano repairman in Sacramento (about an hour away) and he came and replaced the components controlling the keys. He said there was a glitch in the software, and Yamaha had fixed it. So far, so good. I like acoustic pianos, however being able to practice with headphones on really is a must for me. I hope to keep this instrument for a long time.
I"m wondering if you used the same technician I did back in 2008. He came from Sac and I want to remember his name as Dan, but not sure. If you wouldn't mind giving me the name of the tech guy you used I would really appreciate it.
@@ddgyt50 Yes, his name is Dan. His business is Keyboard Electronics in Sac.
@@vic6695 Thank you!
@@vic6695 Thank you!
@@ddgyt50 No problem. Good luck
I have a Kawai digital piano that I bought around 2010. It's still going strong (~14 years later). Only problems I have had are cosmetic. I've dinged the wood vaneer a few times while moving it. And also some of the paint from the black keys has transferred to the white keys from my sweaty hands.
I previously owned a Yamaha Clavinova made in 1988 and used it for 30 years. I sold it to a friend and it is still in use today.
Several years ago I inherited my mother's Kawai organ. It's not completely digital but does have some features that are digital. It's 37 years old and still going strong. I think another factor besides the environment is how you treat a digital piano or organ also matters. Any instrument for that matter will last longer and probably sound better if you keep it clean and don't abuse it.
Major manufacturers like Roland and Yamaha have service centres in every western country - often the same technicians (my local Yamaha repair centre is also the official Roland repair centre and they also service Nord and Kawai instruments). But you don't need them except if SMD's need to be replaced. For instance, all the spare parts of the Clavinova series can be purchased via Yamaha and their customer service will gladly send you the assembly documentation.
Have been doing maintenance on my Clavinova for years and once the felt strip and the contact points are replaced and the mechanic has a new application of parrafin wax lubricant it's as good as new.
Digital pianos can last for decades with proper maintenance and spare parts.
I have a Roland KR3 which I got for Christmas in 2004. Sometime last year, one of the notes started playing loudly and then stop working all in the span of a few minutes. But I kept playing with it and it came back. So since then, they have an absolutely no issues!
Interesting subject. I bought my current digital piano, the Yamaha P90, back in 2005. Admittedly I've hardly played it since about 2018; before that I was playing it several hours a week. It has such a beautiful sound through the headphones, (it doesn't have onboard speakers) and sounds fairly good if I can get my monitor speakers positioned correctly; but it took a few knocks when I used to take it to the odd amatuer gig, and so the left side of the audio is barely audible which affects the overall experience.
It still works well with midi and only one of the keys has a sticking problem. So it got 13 years of good play. I would consider paying to get the lost left side audio fixed because I was in love with the piano sound. I would even be tempted to see if I could find a second-hand version for spare parts etc.
I have an ancient Yamaha CP-20 from the late 70's that still works completely! That old horse has seen probably 2000 gigs and rehearsal sessions, maybe more. I have an old Rhodes 73 suitcase model from 1974 that is still in good working condition. A Wurly 200A (may baby) from 1972 still working great except for a crackly speaker. I have several Yamaha "P" series that still work just fine (P-80 from 1999 that still works good, P-95, P-105, P-115 and P-515, all working excellent).
You’re absolutely right - using a UPS is key and is great advice and cheap protection for any electronic equipment worth protecting. Multiple Kurzweil 250 owner here still going strong with those!
My CLP-480 from Yamaha works well, I service it myself every 2 years, that is by disassembling it, rubbing a pencil on all the contacts on that rubber sticks and then assembling it again. For the sound I now use a notebook with Pianoteq. That does it for me quite well. I have surge protection which is enough. If there was something with the electronics, I would fix it myself.
I had to resolder the connection of the potentiometer on the damper pedal of my CLP-440 a couple of times. I still think the RGE engine of the CLP-4xx series is still one of more natural ones that Yamaha has ever produced.
I had a junker Yamaha PS20 4-octave piano/organ that I bought from a neighbour for 10 € - he'd bought it for his kids, who'd moved on to better things, but I wanted a non-weighted keyboard to try and keep my hand in while I had tendonitis.
When some of the keys started malfunctioning I downloaded the technical manuals and took it to pieces. The keys were fairly simple to fix... but when I put it together again I found half the electronics refused to work.
It was then I remembered the mandatory course at my job on how to avoid static discharges when working on electronics... and I live in a flat with cheap carpets that love to store up electricity...
I had a Kurzweil Mark III that did well for 21 years. When it fizzled out, I replaced it with a Kawai CP2 that's going strong at 7 years old.
Love the Roland Piano Plus, 70 series I'm assuming, on the title screen. My father used one exclusively in the 80's and I still have it... still works great!
I've had my keyboard for a little over 10 years. It's a Yamaha DGX-650 and it's one of the best investments I've ever made. It's never had a single issue and I still play it often. I've kept it in the best environment and clean it every so often, though.
UPS is a great idea for a digital piano. Thanks for the video.
I have plenty of electronic gear lasting 20, 30 and 40 plus years around. The trick: maintenance and care. For the digital pianos (and synths in general), keep them covered when not in use, of course trying to not store them on high humidity places, nor close to heat sources or direct sun. Then, don't keep them always connected to mains. I use plenty of switcheable multiple power sockets of good quality, so they switch both phase and neutral lines, keeping ground always connected (that is good if your device is connected to other devices which may be powered). From time to time, you can carefully open and clean any dust to prevent it to get into contacts, if you are handy enough. Anyway, keeping them covered will make this not regularly needed. Also, exercise the controls (switches, pots) from time to time. Don't leave the VOLUME at the usual position, but at minimum. That way, the most used position will keep working fine for a lot more time. For long time storage of synths / DPs, use good quality transport bags, correctly sealed. Don't store keyboards in vertical position, it is better flat or longitudinal, to prevent mechanism deformations
I have a Kawai CS7 I purchased used in November 2018. I have no idea of how old it is; I have seen reviews of it dated 2013. It still plays beautifully albeit I had to service it. I have one of the models that was made with the felt slip tape. The plastic covering did not adhere well to the felt tape and would shift, exposing the glue and causing keys to stick. Kawai America was extremely helpful and sold me the new foam tape and the silicon oil needed to replace the felt, along with detailed instructions and diagrams. I fully expect this piano to last many years more.
A good question. Especially when you consider some of the prices.
I do think manufacturers could make it far easier to change components that are likely to fail. like the rubber contacts. Maybe include an extra couple of them in with the order, because they could be hard to get hold of a few years later.
I have to remove so many screws and parts just to change one, and then disturb areas I shouldn't need to and run the risk of damaging something else.
They could but would not. Just like everything else electronics - phones, computers, household appliances, they will rather you buy a new one. Or spend a fortune for their service centre to repair it.
I purchased a Kurzweil Mark IV in 1991 and it died on me in 2019. It would not even turn on anymore. It still sits in my home studio as a souvenir. My 1921 Steinway still plays happily…
I just replaced my Yamaha G1 acoustic piano with a Yamaha Clanovia CLP 795 GP. We will be moving into an apartment and need an instrument that takes up less space.. So hopefully I will get the enjoyment of playing and not annoying neighbors. I am an old student of you Father when I was a student at Hofstra. Nice to see that you are carrying on your Father's legacy.
I generally change stage pianos every 5th year, currently use nord stage 4 73 and CP88 dependent on gig. Ive had all kinds of errors but mostly keybed errors or other mechanical errors. The worst fail was my Roland FP1 where the keybed completelely died. Hammers just broke off one after another. If an old piano is in good ahape and have midi I can recomend using korg plugkey and an ipad/iphone with ravenscroft or korg module. Its a rwally neat package which I also bring to rehearsal with bands who have an old digital.
Had a old keyboard models from Yamaha & Roland. The first even have a floppy drive for storing sound files. The main issue was playing outside in cloudy weather and then rain. 1 model got some key damaged due to coffee/tea spill. Personal negligence...
I had a Yamaha Clavinova that lasted from the early 90s until 2 years ago, when a few of the bass keys stopped working. I looked at some TH-cam videos, and took it apart; there was some corrosion on the contacts, probably from a liquid spill; I cleaned that up but after putting it back together, more keys stopped working. Given its age, I threw it out and bought a Kawai CA49. I don't play that much, or very well, so it will likely outlive me.
I have a organ from 1978 with piano sound, and it still works. Yamaha Clavinova from 2003 and all is working fine, for now. It depends on the environment and the amount of abuse it gets.
What frequently fails in a DP is the impact strip, the keys do not hit strings but a spongy strip which will get deformed or damaged after repeated use.
Merci Robert. I had a problem with my Yamaha (2022 model) that luckily just turned out to be a faulty headphone jack. I have heard that stuck keys can be fixed sometimes by just turning them on the side and banging on them. Mine is fine, my son-in-law has several keys stuck. I'll find out if it worked for him.
Just recently purchased a hybrid Yamaha N1X and they will repair anything for the next five years….i believed its a much higher end than Clavinova so i would assumed that it’ll last about the as any earlier Clavinovas…very happy with mine…got five grand concert VST….my favorites are Bechstein, Ravenscroft and Fazioli concert grand pianos
Bought a CVP-98 Clavinova in 1998. It stopped working in 2018. Then was gifted a Technics digital piano in 2019 which was new in 1997. Failed a month ago.
The Clavinova was used pretty regularly for its time. However, the Technics sat dormant for many years with its previous owners before it was gifted to me. I attributed the problem for both pianos to failed circuit boards based on my research but they both lasted longer than I anticipated.
Although I do have a more portable digital piano that I use, getting a real piano is always the best option.
I've had a Technics SX-P30 for 25 years that still works well. No degradation that I'm aware of. Replaced it with a Kawai CA401 last year but only because I fancied an upgrade
I have a Yamaha PSR 280, I bought 25 years ago, until now the condition is relatively good.❤
Use a B3 from the 40's :) It can be a fun ride sometimes. Can be a nightmare othertimes. Married to a Leslie and you just can't duplicate it.
Fun fact, on my Nord Grand, it had a key that was hitting way to hot. Got mad at it and smacked my hand on the keys and the whole thing soft booted. Out of curiosity, I tried it again. Smacked a bunch of keys and it rebooted again. Turns out, it's a feature of the Nord Grand (not sure on the other models). So if your on stage and it is doing something you don't like, you don't have to hunt for the power switch. Just smack a bunch of keys with decent force (Don't punch it of course) and it doesn't even make a noise, just reboots to reset itself :)
I have owned a Roland KR977 for 30 years and it still works like new.
Recently I toured the piano shops of Toronto to see if the technology had improved. Here is what I found.
1. There has been little/no improvement in technology. If anything the designs are worse with the controls in a less convenient place.
2. Salespeople who probably have some degree in music look on digital piano players with disdain.
I bought a Roland FP-1 in 1997, which lasted more than 10 years, but by that time it started failing in several ways. First, the output amplifier for the right channel failed, so I could only listen with headphones. OK, a sacrifice, but I could still practice on it and play it for myself. Then the Bb (above middle C) key failed. Did you ever try to play anything without that key? I did some research and found I could replace the nylon key lever. So I removed about 40 screws, which gave me access to the keys in their entirety. I replaced the Bb key, restored the 40 screws, and went on my merry way-for about 3 weeks. Then the E above middle C failed. Again with the replacement and the 40 screws. Then more keys, and I finally bought multiples of the two types of replacement levers and left the screws out. Then I moved, and left the piano with my grown son to tinker with. In my new home I was given a Yamaha Arius V240, which I hated instantly (rotten touch, unsatisfactory emulation) but worked with for a few years, then retired it and a couple years ago I bought a Roland FP-90X. The key levers are wood, not nylon skeletons, and the touch is still the same as I liked with the FP-1: a little bouncy, maybe, but firm and similar to a well-played grand. I added outboard KRK speaks and it sounds WONDERFUL. I think (?) it will last longer than the other, but for now I'm in heaven. It really sounds and plays as well as or better than a number of grand pianos I've played on, and it takes a high-end grand piano, like a Steinway, to make me jealous.
I have been using Roland digital piano HP205 for about 15 years. There were several key detect problem in last 5 years or so. I have fixed them by myself twice or 3-times and finally gave up that last autumn.
Fianaly I gave fixing and change key board part to stage piano FP-30X.I took keyboard unit out of wood piano body and threw away and replaced it to FP-30X.
I had to cut base board of old digital piano console but it fit nicely.The cost was about 1/3 compare to buying new HP205 class piano.
Now I am very satisfy with what I did.
Your 10 year estimate sounds right to me for low and mid-market units. A high end Kawaii digital should be built to last approximately 15 years, with a normal statistical distribution. However if any of these DO break, and they DO break all the time, parts WILL NOT BE available, nor are repair people who can work on these available, in many areas. If you live in LA, you can probably find a technician to repair your high end digital piano. If you live in a small town, you will NOT be able to get repairs done, even one year after you buy digital.
Let's also talk about the lead free and the surface mount electronics problem. Newer digital pianos may last less time than digital pianos built before the advent of surface mount electronics, and lead-free solder. Surface mount electronics boards are basically NOT REPAIRABLE by even most skilled technicians. You can really only REPLACE A BOARD, and replacement boards are hard to obtain and very expensive, when obtained. You should budget for the keyboard's entire price being your initial repair price, that is, there often, no sensible repair option even if in live in NYC or LA.
A digital piano made in 2004, before surface mount, and before lead free solder rules, will probably outlast a brand new unit bought in 2024. However the 2024 unit will sound better. In my opinion an 88 key digital piano with MIDI from 2004, purchased used, connected to a mac running PianoTeq, and a great powered monitor system, will give you a unit that will last, at a very good price, that sounds like anything you want it to sound like, even getting very close to the sound of a nicely regulated steinway. Okay, there are no digital keyboards that feel (or sound) like a piano, to a pianist, but you can sure sound pretty good.
Now one more thing, you are highly likely to SELL your keyboard or piano before it dies. Be aware that digital piano depreciation is pretty brutal. New digital pianos lose probably 60% of their resale value in about 3 years.
Yup, I have a Roland FP-1 playing through PianoTeq software. No issues with the electronics, but the keys do have to be replaced from time to time.
I've got two Yamaha P-515s, one a year old and one a 2018. Both immaculate and functioning well. The keyboard on the P-515 seems to be extremely well made. That said, I regard them as doomed to obsolescence, like motorcycle helmets or laptops: by the time they wear out, their tech will be standard on bargain instruments, and the new stuff will be streets better.
Dont know about that.... if they will be streets better than current DP's , they will also be better than acoustic ones.... dont know if they would like that...
My Casio Celviano is almost 10 years old and some of the most-used keys in the middle are losing their touch sensitivity. Sometimes they'll activate at full fortissimo volume when played softly as if the sensor sticks
PSR-90 here, still going from the '80s, and my Clavinova's been around for a couple years.
10 years would be wonderful! Got a Roland FP30x recently and I love it. But I want to save for an acoustic (and also save for the down payment on a condo/townhome). But the FP30x seems very sturdy and well built, so I totally believe it would last a decade.
Ive got a Yamaha P45 since 2014, still working fine
I have a CVP-809 (Yamaha Clavinova) and its keyboard went bad before its 5 year warranty expired. Yup! I was hearing notes at "full volume." Thankfully, there's a local authorized Yamaha repair shop near me and they replaced the key sensors; they looked like computer keyboard membranes. They replaced my touch screen as well since I experienced start up issues (hangs) with it. Everything has worked since then and the repair took them a few hours. I should probably ask my Yamaha dealer if I can get an extended warranty. The technician who repair my CVP-809 told me that most people don't understand that digital keyboards need to be repaired just like acoustic pianos....
Depends on how much you play them and the quality. I got about 6 months out of a cheap Chinese digital piano with moderate high use. All the rubber contacts inside had worn out. Could replace them relatively easily but it's not the point. Buy cheap, buy twice.
I have a Casio PX-S1100. I would be happy if it remains problem free for 5 years. After that Casio will most likely launch a new model with better (I hope) features. These are not very expensive models, so I think the product cycle is fine.
I just discovered this channel and subscribed. When I was a kid, my mother had a Lester upright piano. She got rid of it in 1974 to accommodate my first organ -- a Conn three-manual Theatrette. Nowadays, I have a Lowrey Imperial organ, and Yamaha DX-7, Tyros2, and Tyros3 synthesizers. They're all plugged into an APC SurgeArrest. My apartment is smoke-free, has great air conditioning, and I keep all the synths covered. The organ has a pull-down cover. I am thinking of buying the recently released Yamaha Genos2 workstation from Sam Ash, which has a store about 1.5 miles from me. Does anyone have experience with it or with its immediate predecessor, the Genos? Thanks for any info! Greetings from New York City!!!
FYI, UPSs don't necessarily power their outputs from the battery all the time-some switch between line-in & inverter, though I honestly have no idea how common each type is...
I'd be curious to know if any mfrs commit to long-term availability of piano parts. Unlikely. Fortunately, as you say, most problems are mechanical-and hopefully fixable.
Very few kbds use wire contacts these days. Most sensing is through some sort of elastomeric pads...
I have a Yamaha p80 digital piano, the first thing that started to go was the keys, they are sticking, I've been replacing them, and the odd thing is, you can't see any issues with the keys, I cleaned them and nothing is wrong, but it sticks, a technician said to me they crack in the back of the key or break and that's what causes it, I am now waiting for my new keys to get delivered when I take the keyboard apart I will inspect and look for the cracks,
I currently have a Yamaha P-125 that's about two years old and one of the keys feels like it's come a little loose - it has a bit of a wobble and rattle when you press it, moreso than any of the other keys.
My own experience has been positive. I have had quite a few digital pianos over the years and with moderate use, had almost no issues.
I think it is down to environment and obviously amount of use. It's a question too of whether you want to upgrade to newer model which will like have better touch and a more realistic piano sound, n whether this is important to you?
That said, I think the previous Yamaha CLP 600 series was better than the 700 series as they were using their NWX action which is most realistic I've personally played on a digital. Now they use their Grand Touch S, which is very light in my opinion and not like a Yamaha grand at all.
I've had terrible experiences of being asked to play for a wedding on a 30 year old Clavanova which sounded and felt awful. But it was in perfect working order. Of course if you are happy with you digital, great. But there is a sense that you're missing out on improved technology by keeping it for 10 plus years.
I've had a number of DPs, mainly Yamaha. Nowadays, portable pianos tend to have flimsier builds than the heavier home digital pianos and professional stage pianos - otherwise they wouldn't be light enough for us ageing pianists and slightly built pianists to carry them unassisted. Accordingly, they get damaged, particularly since we tend to use them a lot and carry them around a lot in soft bags. They last about 15 years with moderate care, 20+ with extreme care. By that time a much nicer model has always emerged, and the keys on the old one have begun to play up. If you divide the new purchase price by the years of use, it costs slighgly less than tuning an acoustic piano.
It's very important not to carry a DP in any way that might squeeze the front board/plinth that protects the ends of the keys. An over-enthusiastic self-appointed roadie carried my P80, squeezed between his arms. Several warped keys resulted.
I recommend keeping keys covered at home, and never letting liquids, food or pencil rubbings come anywhere near the instrument.
My Clavinova became really dirty inside after about 4 years. This caused some notes to jump out loudly and it became h*** to try to practice on it! Finally, I called the place I got it from and they recommended a guy who fixed it expertly.
My kawai l5 is good got it used $275! Sounds great ! Used to have a real piano in USA but I'm overseas now
I am curious about what if the digital piano has acoustic keys like the Clavinova CVP 809-GP, how long would that last in average and with good care
I’ve got vintage synths that are more than 30 years old and working perfectly. Also, vintage synths are repaired and restored all the time. Electronics techs are everywhere.
I bought a Roland FP-2 over 15 years ago and that thing is built like a tank not a lot of fancy features just a basic 2 track sequencer and a general Midi sound file..it’s more so a practice keyboard with weighted keys, I keep it inside my vocal both so it’s in a controlled environment with very little moisture or dust exposure. The only issue is it so old that Roland no longer supports updated drivers for my current Mac Pro which is actually an older 2012 model. I would have loved to be able to use it as a midi controller but the last Roland FP-2 Mac Update was for OS 10.6. My current Mac is on OS 10.13.6.. I bought the NI Komplete software over Xmas at half off, so next I will save up for native instruments 88 keys weighted controller. It’s my retirement rig setup..
I bought a digital Yamaha in 1988 and it still works. I mostly use a Roland I bought in 2022. I’m hoping that one lasts as long. It’s always hard to know.
A lot of times with electronic items is that even if you can find someone who can repair it, it's cheaper to get a new one.
The same issue exists with digital organs even from major companies such as Rodgers/Roland. Keys stop working or won’t play with certain stops and the technicians say the only solution is a total keyboard replacement which is not economically feasible. That shouldn’t be the case with such expensive instruments.
Parts are available for certain.
I have a 20 year old Yamaha digital piano and everything still works except 2 keys drop out frequently. There are videos on how to fix that problem, but I have no interest in taking it apart. Probably time to get a new one.
I have a Yamaha PSR 2000 that i bought new many years ago (20 yrs?)and works fine. It quit working about 6 months ago took it to great guy in a music store fixed it for $100.
I had a Casio 49 key keyboard that ran off power and batteries, which I purchased in the early 1980's. It was stored in a hard plastic case. Sadly, I lost the power adaptor, and contacting Casio they were not able to assist with a replacement. I brought it out during covid to occupy and stimulate the brain, and using batteries became expensive. Current aftermarket adaptors did not have the exact voltage to set the aftermarket adaptor to. I disposed of it via my council e-waste program in 2021 and bought another Casio (S-300) keyboard with 61 key. Now I'm looking to upgrade.
Oh I wish that I would known this before. It's possible that I could have guided you on how to get or make your own power supply.
Well, not make, exactly, but how to find a power supply that has more voltage than the Casio needed, but had the same or more amperage output.
There's a way to use a Buck Converter, very inexpensive, to adjust the exact voltage and amperage max.
oh well.
I have a Korg PA800 and that's 13 years old, and it works well. Yes, I did have to replace the display, and as an electronics technician, I had the ability to do it. It wasn't that hard. My friend has an older 200 series Yamaha Clavinova and the Clavinova part works fine, but the speakers are shot.
I agree that an acoustic piano can last for well over 100 years, whereas the comments you made about electronics are accurate. For the person who wants to take the time to dig in and repair an older digital keyboard, it can be done, but the cost is prohibitive. Not to mention the cost of the instruments themselves had come down over the years.
My Korg PA800, when new retailed for $3,800. When finally discontinued, 8th Street Music had it for $3,199. This was at least 10 years ago. Yet, today, the Korg PA1000, which is the lineal descendant of my older PA800, is $2,599 and does far more. So, price drops and technology increases. This is one of the bigger drawbacks of digital pianos or keyboards, things get better. New features, new abilities, new and better technology. I remember selling Yamaha Clavinovas back in the 80s and 90s, and back then, the Clavinova Grand Piano sound wasn't bad, but you could tell you weren't playing a grand piano. Today's CFX and Bosendorfer samples in the top of the line Clavinovas are awesome. But, they weren't available 30 years ago. Today, a new CVP 800 or 900 series Clavinova gives you both those samples, and because they are 'CVP', they also give you full accompaniment capabilities, headphone jacks for quiet practice times, the ability to connect to your computer, etc. None of which you can do with an acoustic piano.
To those who ask 'which is better' (and I realize that's not the point of this video), I say 'Neither!' Choose the one for what you want. Top of the line Yamaha Clavinova CVP-909GP is about $18,000 USD, whereas top of the line Yamaha CFX Grand approaches a quarter of a million dollars. Two different instruments.
I didn't know that Korg has a PA800. So now, I guess that Korg doesn't follow any kind of increase model number. LOL
I have a PA700, which I love. I bought that in 2017. I have this mounted over top my Yamaha HS4. It's a pretty good kit for a non-pro.
@@BlondieSL the PA800 was released in 2010, and was the follow on to the PA80 keyboard. At about the same time, the PA1X Pro was released, and then later on, the PA2X keyboard was released.
After the PA800, the PA 300, 500, 600, 900, 700 and 1000 were released, although I'm not sure the exact order.
@@GaryMCurranI think that the 700 and 10000 were close, because when I decided on the 7000, there was a 1000 there as well.
Really nice, but a lot more $$$, more than I wanted to spend at that time.
@@BlondieSL Correct. The PA1000 is the top of the line PA series, versus the PAX series of keyboards. The PA1000 keyboard came out before the PA700.
In 1997, the Korg iX300 came out. (This was my first Korg Keyboard that I owned.)
The PA80 came out in 2000. (This was my second Korg Keyboard.)
In 2002, the PA60 was introduced. This was a scaled back version of the PA80.
I said earlier the PA1X pro had been introduced in 2010, I was incorrect, it was introduced in 2003.
In 2004, the PA1X, a 61 key version with speakers was introduced, as was the PA50.
The PA800 was not introduced in 2010, but in 2006. I must have had it a lot longer than I thought I did! Time flies. That puts it almost 18 years old!
The following year, in 2007, was the introduction of the PA2X Pro, which is where I was confused.
In 2008, the PA500 and PA588 (an 88 key crossover keyboard) were introduced.
It wasn't until 2011 that Korg introduced another Arranger keyboard with the introduction of the PA3X and the MicroArranger.
The PA600 and 600QT were introduced in 2012.
The PA900 was introduced in 2013.
The PA300, the new 'entry level' arranger, was introduced in 2014, ten years ago. The PA3XLE, a cut down version of the PA3X was also introduced that year.
In 2015, the PA4X Pro was introduced followed by the PA4X Pro Oriental in 2016
In 2017, both the PA1000 and PA700 were introduced, the same year. So, you're keyboard was introduced about 7 years ago.
The Korg EK-50 line of keyboards were introduced in 2018.
In 2020, the updated and re-released i3, which was the original 'Professional Arranger' keyboard for Korg was released, but it wasn't anything like the original.
Finally, the current PA5X was introduced in 2022.
I hope this clarifies things for you.
I had no idea my keyboard was 18 years old, I really need to upgrade it. PA5X-88 is what I want. 🥰
@@GaryMCurran Yeah, that PA6-88 is gorgeous!
For me personally, my only issue with it (and others like it) are the weighted keys.
I come from an organ background and never played actual pianos with weighted keys. So I never got used to that. Plus, for me anyway, I don't think that I could do squabbling or other B3 style techniques with them. LOL
This is where the Yamaha Genos 2. It has more of an organ touch or synth touch.
I figure, once this Yamaha HS4 dies and I can't fix it, it'll be time to get the Genos 2.
But then, I have to get my butt moving to build a bass pedal kit. I do have all the parts I need, I've just not had the need to do so.
It's really too bad that these manufacturers didn't have options for these instruments.
Like where you could select a specific model, but have weighted, non-weighted or even semi-weighted keys.
I'm surprised that no one has invented something were one could flip a switch to choose one of those 3 on the fly.
I got my Kawai mp9000 since two decades ago. still perfect. I Put a widi system on it and now I can control vst pianos on my iPad m2…it sounds perfect with good vst pianos (pianoteq, ravencroft, etc)….of course two decades of sampling tecnology makes diference, but my mp9000 as midi controller is excellent.
My Kawai MPC1 with Pianoteq is fantastic. It feels and sounds perfect to my hands and ears.
Another issue with digital pianos is the fact they have a computer, this means the manufacturer can artificially lock out whatever they want such as repairs and modifications which is getting worse every year in addition to becoming more proprietary to make sure you can't use off the shelf components or learn how it works.
If my organ from 1905 was digital, there would have been no point in even making an attempt to get it working but being all acoustic means that it doesn't matter that the manufacturer no longer exists, I can make new parts for it and learn how it works.
I bought a Roland XP 60 back in I think 1995. It just died. MIDI still works to control other sound modules, but the internal sound module no longer works. I opened it up, everything looks great. So I only use it as a controller.
Love the sound of my 40 year old Clavinova but i had to replace like 50 keys at a cost of 200 usd. Also the midi velocity goes from 0-100. So i use special software on my pc to stretch velicity ehen recording midi.
Still using my Technics SX-PX111 after about 30 years. But the action is noisy and the speakers are, well, from 30 years ago, so it's a headphone instrument.
20 years for a quality-brand, 5-10 for a mid-brand, and 1-5 years for the Chinese low-quality brands, if you are lucky. My old church has an older year 2000 Clavinova and still works fine 24 years later and is played regularly. Just make sure to unplug and cover the keys when not in use, you'll get several years more just for that.
Make sure that you cover the keyboard and UI when you are not using the instrument. Dust, pollen, etc. will shorten the life dramatically. Also, lightly vacuum occasionally.
Hi, I bring here the subject of obsolescence in electronic devices caused by an irregular use. Many people can speak about this with more authority than me, but I have kept the painful souvenir of a beautiful Sony AM/FM radio 📻 in the 80's that literally melted inside after 2 years of disuse. This is possibly inherent to electronics in itself, but I'd like to hear some opinions from some people with knowledge of the subject. On my side, I put my keyboard on and play some half an hour every month even if I'm not inspired ! 🎹💜
Hello Mr Estrin. I have a question: Would help to practice with cold hands to get used to it? I've been having gigs and my hands are dead cold and came up with the idea. If you would a video about I would appreciate it.
I don’t see how your hands could be ‘trained’ for the cold. IMO you’ll never play your best with cold hands. But there are all,sorts of hand warmer thingies.
I had a yamaha clavinova go bad. Keybed, as you said. Couldn't find anyone to service it. No luck, despite being in a major metropolitan area. Tried to fix it myself, but only made it worse. End up buying a new keyboard controller by Arturia. I keep all electronic keyboards underneath cloth, something I didn't do with the Clavinova. Knobs and buttons too. In the meantime, my Knabe grand piano soldiers on, although it has it's own issues since it spent most of it's life in a literal mental institution. They did not practice the same level of care as it receives here.
Key contacts and capacitors can be problems over time. For me the main thing is that sound quality improves so much they become somewhat obsolete. I have synths over 20 years old that are still usable, but soon to be obsolete too IMHO.
My Alesis QS8 purchased in Denver in 1993 went with me to China in 2007 and finally died around 2014. Meanwhile my Kurtsweil PS2 gave up the ghost just after the warranty expired; its repair cost would have been close to the purchase price.
my 30 year old Clavinova works as new. My mitigating circumstance is that I take care of it.
Regardless of digital or acoustic, the cost of servicing is now prohibitive for most of us. I have dumped about $4K into my old Steinert over the 10 years since I bought it. Semi-annual tunings are up to about $200 a pop now. The Clavinova I bought in 1992 has cost me less than $100 for the one time it was serviced, c2008. However, it needs to have the contact strip (old technology) replaced again and I can't find anyone to service it. I'm not sure the parts are even available anymore.
My Kawai ES8 is broken - the contact board has to be replaced. Fortunately I have a Kawaii grand as well. I’m thinking of just replacing the ES8.
Broken ? the early ES8 ,s were fitted with poor contact rubbers which Kawai diligently covered under warranty with up graded ones, maybe worth you contacting Kawai for help
They can last a long time I have some 20 year old Yamahas I had to replace the felt on one the other I replaced the screen and membrane contact strips and cleaned the contacts
One thing is for certain, digital pianos never need tuning.
They last as long as the next sound engine or keybed brings the playing experience to a new level. 😢
As long as you can find replacement parts. Keys, ICs, transistors,hybrid ICs(most problematic to find in my oppinion).
Hi Robert
I had, still have, a Roland RD-150 that lasted for 19 years!......I only had to have the felt replaced but it is now obsolete
So I bought a Roland RD-88 in 2020 .......it lasted for 2.5 years before the keys started rattling
I took it to my repair man and he didn't want to touch it because of what you just said about getting parts
Roland only has a 2 year warranty on this unit and they would not take any action to help me
I still have it but only play certain sounds like E. pianos or organ since that action is horrible!
I went out and bought a Yamaha P-515 and it's built like a tank
The case has a lot of metal and the keys, The white ones, are pretty much wooden
Yamaha has a 3 year warranty on this unit and I'll have to say their service is great
I called to ask questions, and actually got a person that talked to me for 25 minutes!
The Yamaha P-515 is 2 years old and no problems at all
I'd like a real piano but live in a condo with a limited budget
So that's my story.....Hope it wasn't too long
Thank you for this video
Dave W.