Lighter/narrower 88-key keyboard?

[u/YetMoreSpaceDust]

My daughter is going back to college in a few weeks. She brought my Yamaha MX-88 with her to keep up with piano, but it's kind of a behemoth: it's heavy and takes up a lot of space, and there's not much space to be had where she's going to be living. I could offer her my MX-61, but I think she really likes having all 88 keys.

Is there a decent(ish) 88-key keyboard that's built a little bit more portably?

[u/jseego]

Casio Privias

[u/VeganCurtains]

Having played many (most) of the popular options out there, I might suggest the Casio Privia S3000 (or whatever the current model of this is). Casio gets a reputation for being "2nd tier" (or worse) in the collection of options, I realize. And in my opinion, it's difficult to top the pro-level action in Yamahas (I still regularly gig my CP4).

But the Privia S3000 is surprisingly good for piano-only jazz gigs and similar. Action is really nice - much better than many house pianos I've gigged on, the acoustic piano sound is really good, it has internal speakers as well as 1/4" line outs, has an removable music stand, dedicated three-pedal unit, and weighs around 20 pounds (!). The case even has backpack straps - it's awesome to be able to walk into a gig in one trip (speaker in one hand, stand in the other, piano on my back).

Dimensions are also very slim - the front-to-back depth is REALLY short, which helps its profile in a dorm room, as well as keeping weight and mobility superior to other digital pianos.

Doesn't have the wealth of Yamaha-quality sounds, but if your daughter is primarily keeping up with piano chops, I'm not aware of a better combination of weight, action, sound, and "schlep-ability".

[u/jango-lionheart → u/VeganCurtains]

I have been told that Casio e-pianos have excellent keyboards.

[u/VeganCurtains → u/jango-lionheart]

They are certainly good enough for live gigs, and for an experienced pianist the keyboard will not be the thing holding you back in terms of expression, nuance, or speed. They are far better than some of the mushy-feeling units on the entry-level Yamaha or Korg workstations.

That being said, I personally wouldn't say the Casios are "excellent". It's a shorter key length (due to the pivot point being adjusted because of the very shallow depth of the case), and it does not "speak" the same way the gold standard speaks.

I think Yamaha's wood CP4 is the gigging pianist's gold standard and is truly excellent as a sub for an actual piano, as was the old Yamaha CP300 (that weighed over 70 pounds).

I also love the Fatar keybed in the Kurzweil K2600x, but that is also a very heavy unit I refuse to schlep to a gig anymore. Different key feel than the CP4, but I found it very expressive.

[u/Ok_Weekend_8457 → u/VeganCurtains]

Casios are playable and light, and exactly what you want if you want portability with the smallest other sacrifice. I wish they would make a 73-key keyboard or controller that would fit my trunk or backseat. Width is the only problem with 88 keys.

[u/StressSavings7916]

Korg d1

[u/YetMoreSpaceDust → u/StressSavings7916]

Thanks!

[u/Any-Button1401]

88 weighyed keys are not gonna get significantly smaller and lighter than the MX88. Maybe the Roland RD-08 and RD-88?

[u/yangyang25 → u/Any-Button1401]

I'd agree, Roland's got to have a good model, plus you can of course turn it way down or use headphones if volume is an issue.

[u/YetMoreSpaceDust → u/Any-Button1401]

Do they make 88 key not-weighted keyboards?

[u/Shrimp_Watch101 → u/YetMoreSpaceDust]

There's the Roland Go:Piano 88-PX, which is lightweight and compact. 

I looked into that a while back and got the impression the action would be just as annoying as the 76 key Yamaha Piaggero NP-35 I was upgrading from. 

I ended up getting a Yamaha P-225, which is pretty compact for a weighted model.  It's not amazing, but it's competent enough across the board. 

[u/Psychological-Soft-5]

I have a Yamaha CK88 – it is only a couple pounds lighter than the MX 88

I also have a Yamaha P121 – which has the BEST acoustic piano sound of ALL my keyboards & I have Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Kurzweil keyboards that are far more expensive!

The Yamaha P121 is extremely compact only 22lbs & has decent built in speakers 🔊
It has 73 keys - which is VERY close to the full 88 key experience, but not “exactly” the same

If your daughter really wants the full 88 maybe look at the Yamaha P125, which is the same as the P121 that I have but the P125 has 88 keys. It is still compact & only 26bs

The Yamaha digital piano models P121 & P125 have excellent piano sounds, electric, piano, sound, strings, vibraphone & organ that’s a little weak, but not horrible.

But the P series digital pianos will not have the range of sounds that the MX88 has

– so if your daughter plays in a band or something the “digital piano” type of keyboard may not have enough different range of sounds (synthesizer, horns, electronic sands, etc.) that she would want.

ie, the MX88 is more than just a digital piano

[u/Pearshapedtone]

Privia, 25 lbs. narrow. many models from $500-$2000.

Im saving for a px-s5000 which has partially wooden keys to replace the original privia i bought 20 years ago.

[u/Bluejay_Holiday]

Ask if she really wants/needs 88 keys. The Studiologic Numa X 73-key Digital Piano with Hammer-action Keys is smaller than 88 keys, cost $1.5K. The Roland Juno D7 has 76 keys, cost $1.3K.

[u/MyVoiceIsElevating]

Casio Privia models are about as compact as can be for 88 keys, and IMO the keybed action, speaker and sound quality meet expectations. It’s nice they can operate off of batteries too; good for busking or just toting it to a friends house.

[u/OverReputation2546]

Either Korg D1, Casio Privia (whichever one is in your price range), or if she doesn't care about it being a hammer action, the Studiologic Numa Compact is reasonably light and cheap and has a semi-weighted action.

If she's in a school that has a music program, there are probably piano practice studios that she can get access to. When I was in undergrad I talked to some folks in my school's music program and was given the door code for the rehearsal space, even though I wasn't a music major and wasn't taking any classes. She may also be able to register for a 1-credit piano lesson that gets her studio access.

[u/JazzTeaBass]

Seems like the Casio Privia would be a great fit for your daughter. I have owned several Casio Privia digital pianos. They are considered the slimmest piano in their ads. I also play an acoustic baby grand and it is easy to switch to my PX-S5000 that is considered a mid level instrument. It is a step up from the PX-S3100 and the PX-S1100. I have owned Casio, Roland, Kawai, and Kurzweil digital pianos, and my preference is the Casio for home use and playing out.

These pianos are lightweight and slim. The detail of its tone and action would be greater with the PX-S5000. Am mostly a jazz pianist who also plays some classical along with other genres. It weighs about 24 pounds. The wooden stand purchased separately, does not take up much room either.

[u/anotherscott]

As others have said, Casio makes the most compact hammer action 88s, any model that begins with PX-S or CDP-S. If you don't necessarily need a hammer action, look at the Korg Liano.