The Melodic Dilemma :S

This post is to make up for the lack of words in my previous post. They say a picture paints a thousand words. I posted 7 pictures so my previous post is supposedly worth more than 7,000 words? Maybe I get so wordy here because there are not as many pictures?

Anyway, ever since I came to Auckland, I wanted a piano. I'd very much prefer an acoustic piano which I can easily get for free instead of a digital piano. Of course, you don't get what you want most of the time. 

There are a few factors that I need to consider about getting an acoustic piano:

1. I'm staying in a rented studio apartment and might be moving often in the future so portability is crucial. I can't afford to hire piano movers every time. 

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 I want to be able to move my things on my own as well. I can always get helping hands but I feel bad (just like when Silvia helped me to move out from Sun-U Residence to Lagoon View, of course I remember). Why trouble others when you can do it on your own? It feels great to have somebody to rely on (you-know-who) but I'm scared I'll get accustomed to that feeling again.

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2. Having an acoustic piano means my practice sessions are limited to daytime as I will disturb my neighbours. I can play one particular song over and over again, loudly, day to night literally, for the span of a month or more. Usually after 2 weeks my siblings will get so frustrated and  cranky they start calling and complaining, but too bad I played in my bedroom, door locked. Teehee! Over here, I might be beaten to pulp by the security officer. Yes, if you are a security officer it's LEGAL to take physical action upon the rule breakers provided the situation calls for it.

3. I can't afford to pay for the tuner to come every month. The maintenance fee is just too high in the long run. 

4. If I get it for free, it's must be old and beautiful BUT fragile. I might end up destroying an intricate musical instrument that has withstood the test of time. Again, maintenance fee. 

*** Hence the decision to get a digital piano ***

What do I need to compromise by getting a digital piano?

1. The keys that feel heavy as hammers strike various metal strings and rebound. 

2. The most beautiful sound ever.

They are irreplaceable and impossible to imitate even by using the most advanced technology by musical instrument producer titans such as Yamaha, Korg, Casio, etc. 

Budget

I'm still a student so I have to use my parents' money. The competition is intense, I have yet to find a part-time job that is suitable for me. When I did, it's taken. I expected my mom to give me low budget but to my surprise she gave me a budget of 

New Zealand:      $ 1,000

Malaysia       :  RM 2,505

Indonesia      :   Rp 7,500,000

Given her generosity, I'll try to go for cheaper digital pianos. Possibly less than than NZD$500.

What do I seek in a digital piano?

1. Beautiful sound is a crucial feature that I will never compromise in any situation, even when I have limited budget. I don't expect it to be superb but it has to be decent and above average.

2. Weighted keys are important but not essential because I have limited budget.

3. Wide key range, if possible 88-key but 76 is fine.

4. Portability.

Why?

I'm not a professional, heck I can't even play a proper song and say I belong to the intermediate class. I want to be able to play at a few classical pieces which might require at least 88 keys (equivalent to 7 octaves range) and since I get access to use the acoustic piano once a week at church, it is such a waste to not play beautiful songs with it. What are beautiful songs if you don't share? Hehehe... The problem is I used soft, non-weighted keys throughout my life so my fingers aren't very strong and I can't seem to control the amount of energy and pressure to be exerted when using an acoustic piano. For that, I would need weighted keys to train my fingers. Even weighted keys on a digital piano is nothing close to an acoustic piano but decent enough.

Main Choices

Yamaha P95

Release year: 2008

Key: 88, Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Keyboard

Weight: 12kg

Price: $1,799 ($1,677 after 15% discount plus cross stand and headphone)

Other features:

• Compact and Stylish Design
• Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Stereo Sampling
• New Built-in Stereo Speaker System
• 1-track song recorder
• Included accessories: power adapter, sustain pedal, music rack, manual
• Optional accessories: UX16 USB/MIDI adapter, L85 stand, LP5 pedal unit

Yamaha P105

Release year: September/October 2012, the improved version of P95

Key: 88 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Keyboard

Weight: Unknown, shouldn't be too different from P95

Price: Rumoured to be slightly cheaper than P95

Other features:

• New PureCF Sound Engine - CFIIIS samples
• USB-to-host Port
• Line Outputs with iPad Connection
• Dual and Split Modes
• Drum Pattern Playing
• Intelligent Acoustic Control
• Duo Mode for Side-By-Side Practice
• 10 Pianist Styles
• 10 Rhythms
• Metronome

Yamaha NP31

Release date: 31 July 2011 

Key: 76 Graded Soft Touch (Semi-weighted)

Weight: 5.4kg

Price: NZD$599 (before discount, not sure if I get it with cheaper price)

Other features:

• AWM stereo sampled pianos
• 32 note polyphony
• Voices: 10
• Volume control, metronome on/off, song bank, voice select
• Half damper effect using optional FC3 sustain pedal
• Operates on 6 AA batteries or optional Yamaha PA5/PA150 power supply
• Power adapter optional
• 2 x 6W amplifier with stereo speakers

Ahhh!! I reached my monthly internet quota so I can't browse anymore videos. Please go to Youtube to listen to NP31. 

If you happen to read this post, even if you are just a random visitor please drop a comment and help me decide. Should I fork out more money or should I just take NP31? They all come with 3 years warranty. 

Other Options:

NPV 60, NPV80