Klarinet Archive - Posting 000262.txt from 2003/12

From: "Tim Roberts" <timr@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: electronic keyboard info
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 13:20:17 -0500

On Tue, 9 Dec 2003 21:46:19 -0800 (PST), Eric Jacobs
<erichenryjacobs@-----.com> wrote:
>
>Dear all-
>I'm searching for an electronic keyboard that is as
>close to the real thing as possible (within monetary
>reason)...something with a pedaling system already
>with the setup would be great. Anyone have any useful
>insight? And I don't want any arguing! :-)

As close to a real WHAT as possible? A real synthesizer? A real
clarinet? A real harpsichord? A real piano? Grand or upright? Close in
sound, or close in feel? Portable or stationary? There are a LOT of
parameters in this question.

I have been playing piano for, golly, 36 years. A decade ago, I replaced
my cranky console Baldwin with a Yamaha Clavinova. I could not be happier
with that choice. It looks like a console piano (except for the LED power
light), the key action feels like a console piano, and for the most part
it sounds like a console piano. Most listeners cannot tell that it is
digital. Plus, it has a MIDI hookup, so I have added extra sound modules
for voices and effects. Piano plus vibraphone works great for Christmas
carols.

However, it is a piece of furniture. It's certainly more portable than an
acoustic piano, but at 180 pounds you wouldn't want to take it to gigs.

In my experience, Roland and Technics seems to have done the best job of
making portable pianos that feel and sound like an acoustic. The one
limitation of my Clavinova is 32-note polyphony. You'd think 32
simultaneous notes would be enough, but many glissandos sound bad because
I end up losing the low notes before I get to the top. Newer digital
pianos have 64-note polyphony, which lets you do a complete white key
glissando from bottom to top.

The Clavinova does not have a middle pedal. I've only played two pieces
where I missed it.

You should expect to pay around $1,000 for real quality, although even
$500 or $600 will get you something pretty darned good.
--
- Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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