best digital piano/stage piano at lowest cost?

In your opinion, if you have any experience with them. What would you say is the best one for the lowest price? I know 88 keys are the most common but I think I would prefer a 76 key one because of space issues.

I am considering the Korg PS60 based on votes in my poll thread, but would the piano sound of the PS60 be even remotely close to a simple piano package with only one or a few voices?

Pianos play best from a weighted keyboard, and weighted 76-key boards are rare. However, some 88 key boards are still pretty light and compact. The lowest cost one I really like is the Yamaha P95, and I think it's a much better sounding piano than the Korg. If you really want 76 keys, the unweighted Yamaha NP30/NP31 also sounds very good, and is lighter and cheaper... but not so much smaller, because even though it's not 88 keys, it has speakers on the side that make it about as long. Although it does not feel as good for piano as a P95, it feels better than most other unweighted boards, including the PS60.

I know you liked the Microstation except for its mini-keys... you could possibly get a Microstation and an NP-30, and you could drive the Microstation from the NP30 keyboard over MIDI, and then you'd have everything you like about the Microstation plus a better piano sound and a full-size keyboard for something close to your budget. It's also a very portable gig setup, as the two keyboards together weigh maybe 18 pounds.

This sounds like an excellent idea, I just wish I had the room. I'll check out the P95

see if you can find Ensoniq TS-12

I would possibly get this if www.americanmusical.com had it http://www.amazon.com/Kurzweil-SP2-Controller-Weighted-Polyphony/dp/B000JNBUPM/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1309797021&sr=8-10 has anyone used it?

sp2x is longer than p85

sorry i have mistaken

difference is 5 inches

They have this

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-KUR-SP47-LIST

If I can get approved for 5 month payments I could get it. Whatcha think?

Very nice board. If you're comparing it to boards without fully weighted actions, like you were talking about in the other thread, I think it's a stronger choice than any of the ones you listed there... i.e. I would definitely take it over a Korg PS60, Yamaha MM6, or Casio. It doesn't have a sequencer or real sound editing capabilities, but for live performance, it's very flexible, and probably the best sounding board overall of everything you've been looking at. I though the standard preset choice wasn't great, but they have new sounds you can download into it.

Korg PS60 has some great synth sounds (I've played the Korg Triton Le for many years) but it's piano will NOT be even REMOTELY close to the accurate sound of a "simple piano package with only a few voices" - as you say... plus the keys are cheesy and soft, just like my Triton Le.

The Kurzweil SP4-7 76 key machine is nice, which you've looked at as well. Also try the Roland RD300NX - 88 keys but still lightweight... and it has 128 note polyphony, as opposed to the 64 note poly of the Kurz SP4-7. I have a Roland RD300GX, which was the NX's predecessor - very nice sounds, if you can find one used that might be a good choice for you as well.

I got the Roland RD300GX as a lightweight alternative to my very heavy/large (but great-sounding) Yamaha S90ES - I switch between them for different gigs, sometimes bringing one sometimes the other... depedending on what gig I'm going to (big or small stage, large band or small duo/trio, single, etc...).

I think polyphony is primarily an issue for multitrack sequencing... I'm not sure if that's really an issue here. Live, I still sometimes use a board with 32 note polyphony and it's fine!

Of course, once you're up in the SP4 price range, there are still more possibilities. Kurz might be strongest if you want 76 keys, but if you can get by with 61, the Yamaha MOX6 is nice too... I think it has a pretty good piano sound, and it's a very full featured board...

I'm not getting my hopes up, but if I can get approved for a 5 month plan I might get it. If I can find something for around $700 or so I can definitely get that.

I used to use the Kurzweil MicroPiano MIDI module - 32 note poly & the pianos are sampled in stereo so they actually break down to 16 note poly in reality... the "sounds" were fine but the polyphony definitely ran out on me sometimes, when holding sustain pedal down and doing a long run up the keyboard.

If you like to use the sustain pedal a lot, then the amount of polyphony actually does matter for live performance - but I think we beat that issue to death - - in another thread anyway.

Caution with the KURZ. I have heard that the keys are rigid and uncomfortable at the tips, kinda like the M-audio semi-weighted pianos out right now. It just the SP476 I have heard this about.

Hmmm I don't know after reading this thread http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2692987-Kurzweil-Sp4-7-Stage-Piano-sound-review-open-letter-to-Kurzweil

Maybe this? http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-YAM-P95B reviews everywhere are pretty good. Kind of big though.

EDIT: Oh I see this was the same one mentioned that I was looking at earlier. Might be a good choice.

i have a kawai mp5. they dont get too much love around here though. i love the feel but not the sounds as much

Some people really like the Kurzweil piano sounds, some don't. Personally, for piano, I think it's better than the other non-piano-specific boards you were considering in your other thread, but not as good as the Yamaha P95, nor is its action as good as the P95 for piano... but the P95 has very few functions beyond piano. All these boards have their relative strengths and weaknesses, that's why they're all on the market and people buy all of them. None can simply be called the best choice. You have to decide what's most important to you.

I'm really considering the Yamaha P95 now. I have to take some measurements though, I think it might be too big.

I really want the PS60 or Microstation but their piano sounds are not as good as I am looking for. It would be nice to have more features than the P95 but it still might be the best choice for me.

Now I just need to find my tape measure.

You could always start with the P95 and add the Microstation later. I know you said you didn't have the room, but you can also get a stand that will let you place the Microstation on top of the P95 so it won't really take up more room.

Whichever one I decide on will most likely be placed right in front of my monitor, if not possible, maybe in the hallway or something.

If you're using a P95 on a desk in front of your monitor, you might still be able to stack a Microstation on top of it using the kind of stands they make for using an external monitor on top of a laptop (some of them might even allow the front of the Microstation to be brought forward enough to "overlap" the top of the P95). Also, when you're not using it, or just using it as a sound source to be triggered by your P95 or computer, the MS can even be on the floor by your feet or standing up on its end under your desk. You could also just pick it up and put it next to you on a chair when you need access to it, and put it back underneath the desk when you don't. It's so small and light, it's easy to move around as needed.

The P95 is nicer than the NP30, but if the P95 doesn't quite fit, the NP30 is a few inches smaller (and also less than half the weight, also making it very easy to move around).

I sent a message to Yamaha but maybe you would know. Are the outputs on the P95 1/4 or 1/8? I can't find an answer. I may need to order an adapter.

Width 52-3/16"

Height 5-15/16"

Depth 11-5/8"

Weight 26 lbs., 7 oz.

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It's actually too long for my desk and even too long for my hallway. Damn thing is BIG. Does Yamaha make anything comparable in 76 or 61 keys? I really wanted those weighted keys too.

Any opinion on this? http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-YAM-NP11-LIST