List Price: $659.95
Sale Price: $229.99
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- 76 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch (GST) action
- Backlit LCD, panel lights, pitch bend wheel
- 6-track sequencer allows you to record your own music
- Portable Grand Button: industry's best piano
- USB & Flash ROM to download new Songs and Styles for playing
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I received this keyboard on 2/2/11. As always, I was impressed with how quickly I received my order from Amazon.com. However, within minutes of setting up the keyboard, I noticed that two keys on the right side of the keyboard didn't work. One key simply didn't work AT ALL, and one key seemed to have a short and would only play after pressing it like 3 or 4 times in a row. Amazon is making it easy to return/exchange this keyboard, so I'm hopeful that the replacement is decent. However, after this experience and reading other reviews online of this exact problem, I am very concerned about the build quality of this keyboard, despite having heard good things over the years about Yamaha.I'll update this review after I receive the replacement in a week or so. Hopefully I won't have to switch to another brand, but Casio maybe the next one I look at (need to keep this purchase affordable).
UPDATE: I received a replacement keyboard in record time: less than 2 days! I was at first bummed that I wouldn't be able to test the new keyboard over the weekend, but Amazon got the replacement out immediately and it was here early Friday afternoon (I had only submitted the return early Wednesday evening). Amazon did create some confusion, however, by on the one hand telling me that UPS would be picking up the defective keyboard from my house, and then e-mailing me a label and instructions for dropping the keyboard off at a local UPS center. Then UPS added to the confusion when I called to confirm the pick-up at my house: they said that one hadn't been arranged. So then I bring the keyboard to a UPS center, and then find a UPS pick-up attempt label on my door. Whatever...I got the defective keyboard to UPS and back to Amazon.
As for the keyboard: it sounds great. I've only just begun to play around with it, but the keys feel good, and the variety of quality sounds is incredible. I'll be combining this keyboard with Ableton Live Intro to create music. I spent several hours after receiving the keyboard testing the keys (I was concerned after the defective unit) and checking out the various functions. I haven't even scratched the surface yet, but I am giving the keyboard a decent rating. I'll report back if my opinion changes over time.
The headphones that were included with this package deal are ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. It's not worth my time to return them, especially since I already went through the hassle of returning the entire first keyboard package. The right channel of the headphones didn't work AT ALL right out of the package. These no-name, god-awful headphones are already in the trash. I ordered the package to get the power adapter and the stand anyway, so it's not a big lose. Still, you don't like to feel ripped off in any way.
The stand that came with this package is quite sturdy. It certainly isn't anything fancy, but it was easy to put together and it seems strong enough to last years.
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I purchased this item from Amazon a few days ago. In general the keyboard should suit my needs. However, the entry for this item on Amazon's site is highly misleading. For the stand in particular, the image on top shows a single-X stand, and I almost didn't buy the package because I was afraid so flimsy a stand wouldn't support so hefty a keyboard (76 keys). However, when I read further down in the actual description (toward the bottom), it said that the package included a Yamaha PKBX2 Double X Portable Keyboard Stand, and even linked to the specific product. That struck me as an excellent deal, and I ordered it, assuming that the specifics of the product description were correct and the photo at the top was in error.When I received the package, however, not only did it include a single-X stand rather than the promised, sturdier double-X version, but the stand wasn't even a Yamaha product -it was from a company called "World Tour".
Of course I could return the package and demand my money back, but I happen to need the keyboard now, and of course returning anything mail order is a hassle. So I am kind of stuck using this inferior stand; the keyboard is a bit unsteady on it, but I'm not Franz Liszt and it will probably be all right.
But the experience has left kind of a bad taste in my mouth with respect to Amazon. They shouldn't specify one product and then deliver an inferior one.
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Not bad. I'm pretty happy with the piano. Glad I got it, and would definitely buy it again. A few complaints to consider, but keep in mind I still rated it 4 stars. I'm just being picky here.Keys: very little resistance, therefore does not feel like a piano. Also, I have the impression the keys are narrower than piano keys. While this is not mathematically true, I still have that feeling. And when you're talking about fingers, feeling matters. I think the low resistance contributes to this. You can depress a key just by the side of your finger catching it. Now all this is not to say you can't learn. It's analogous to the difference between typing on a laptop keyboard and a full keyboard. The cogno/psycho/senso/motor skill totally translates over, you just have to get used to a different feel. The transition will seem disproportionately rough, but once you get used to it you will go back and forth fine, and practice on one will appreciate on the other.
Range: You can play pretty much everything on 71 keys. But not everything. The bottom has been more shortened than the top.
User interface: hard to make sense of, but I think I'm catching on. Intuitive is the LAST word I would use to describe it.
Accessories: On the adapter that came with the headphones, the 3.5 mm female is a little fat, so headphones fit in loosely. Stand is fine. Could use a travel case
Sound: Not terribly loud when turned all the way up.
Overall, buying a piano was out of the question. This was a great substitute.
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I'm no piano player, but I am a musician. I've heard many Roland, Casios, and even other Yamahas that all cost at least twice this one. None of those piano's sound as real as this one. The piano sound isn't the only sound that impressive either. There are lots and lots of other sounds that are really top notch!The 'graded soft touch' action is what made me want this keyboard. Unlike what some people have written, it's not adjustable. Like I said, I'm not a piano player, but I've been around musical gear my whole life. In my opinion, it feels like somewhere between a weighted key and an unweighted key. I feels more like a weighted key when you push it down, but then it feels like an unwieghted key when you let it go. Since I'm just learning how to play, it's a little hard to control the release of the key compared to pushing it. I think I'll get used to it, but at any rate it feels better than any other unweighted keyboard I've ever played with.
This thing does a lot, but unless you've got a lot of time to dedicate to it, you'll probably not be able to figure out how to make it work on your own. There's a fairly large manual that comes with it, but I'm not going to read it.
This keyboard is pretty light, but I wouldn't gig with it. It feels like something that should stay in one place. I think if you were gigging with it, you would probably regret it.
Overall, this keyboard is a good value. I'm very glad I bought it and I absulutely would buy it again.
