Hi folks!
We've been busy researching stage pianos to help you figure out what you need to make
your best audio and video and music content and stay on budget.
Links to all the products in the review are in the description box below, where you'll
find current pricing for your region wherever possible.
The video has timestamps so that you can jump straight to the piano that interests you the
most.
Now before I move on, we'd love to hear what stage piano you're using right now and what
you think of it.
Let us know in the comments!
Okay, let's get into it!
Here are the top five best stage pianos.
The fifth product on our list is the Kurzweil SP6-8.
Kurzweil's SP6-8 is an 88-key stage piano with an innovative sound engine.
The keys are weighted to mimic the feel of an acoustic piano, with the keys in the higher
register being lighter and the lower heavier.
There's also touch and velocity sensitivity, which adds to the genuine sound of the piano.
You get 128 notes of polyphony, which means that you can play several notes simultaneously.
The SP6-8 boasts digital signal processing effects that modify the sound of your keyboard.
If you're looking to play different instruments, you'll love the split function.
This function lets you split your keyboard up into four parts and play two different
instruments.
You also get the dual-function mode, which will allow you to combine sounds to create
a new one.
You can layer it up to four parts.
With 256 onboard sounds, you won't have any trouble finding one you love.
Of course, you can also make use of the 1024 user-created sounds for a personalized experience.
Effects are a breeze with this Kurzweil piano.
It boasts an array of effects, including chorus and reverb.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Kurzweil SP6-8:
This piano is a bit taller than most, so you might want to make sure that it will fit in
your space.
Overall, if you're looking for a stage piano with excellent sound and quality, the Kurzweil
SP6-8 is an excellent choice.
The fourth product on our list is the Casio Privia PX-S3000.
The Casio Privia PX-S3000 is a fantastic stage piano with an affordable price tag.
This is a compact instrument that features 88 weighted keys.
It's also portable and easy to transport at 25 pounds or 11 kilograms.
This keyboard was designed to look clean with its sleek finish and control layout.
The physical controls comprise the volume dial, power button, pitch-bend wheel, and
two assignable knobs.
The knobs are a great feature for live gigs.
The rest of the controls are accessible with touch-sensitive backlit buttons from the upper
panel's surface.
This also allows the icons to change depending on which mode the keyboard is in.
If you're worried about draining your batteries too soon, fret no more as the screen-saver
mode turns the screen off when not in use.
The PX-S3000 boasts five touch-response settings.
Two of them are light, two heavy and one standard.
This setting will allow musicians to grasp the feel of a real piano quickly.
There's also a fixed velocity option.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Casio Privia PX-S3000:
The key weights could make this piano daunting for beginners.
If you're in the market for an affordable stage piano with various tones and an excellent
interface, the Casio Privia PX-S3000 is an ideal choice.
The third product on our list is the Roland RD-2000.
The Roland RD-2000 is a stage piano with excellent sound and construction.
It has a solid body weighing 27.8 pounds or 21 kilograms, which ensures its durability
for musicians on the go.
This keyboard boasts controls that will take your music to the next level.
On the front panel, you'll find knobs, faders and buttons laid out neatly.
This gives you easy access to basic parameters without having to navigate a sea of menu options.
The buttons are well-built and have a tactile feel.
They're also appropriately sized, with the tone selection buttons’ being slightly larger.
In the middle, you'll find a screen and a large value dial identical to the ones on
Roland's Juno-DS arranger piano.
This gives you an entry-level version of the customization found on that keyboard.
The keys on the RD-2000 have a unique feel.
They are of a hybrid construction with a wooden core and an outer plastic shell.
This gives you realistic sound vibrations.
The sound on this piano is excellent.
The V-Piano engine gives you modeled sound, coupled with Roland's piano designer, which
will allow you to edit them.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Roland RD-2000:
There are some technical limitations, for example, using the percussion sound removes
your access from the upper drawbar, which might be irritating for some musicians.
The Roland RD-2000 is perfect for musicians who want to integrate software and hardware
when playing.
The second product on our list is the Nord Stage 3
The Nord Stage 3 is an 88-key stage piano that is built for professional musicians.
It features weighted wooden keys which give better sound vibration and playing quality.
The keys are pressure-sensitive, meaning you get a more genuine acoustic piano sound.
In the middle of the front panel, you'll find an LED screen that shows your current settings.
In terms of polyphony, you get 120 notes in piano mode and complete polyphony when you're
in organ mode.
If you're the type of musician who likes to customize your sound, you'll love the creative
filters and layering options.
You'll find a library of songs, effects and a synthesizer.
It also has a capacity of 480 MB with the option to import and export files.
You get two types of effects with Stage 3.
The first type features tremolo, ring modulator, autopan and various wah effects.
The second type has flanger, vibe, 2 phasers and 2 c hoir effects.
You won't have any problems connecting this Nord keyboard to other hardware with its range
of connectivity options.
There are four audio inputs, a quarter-inch headphone jack, a stereo input monitor, and
different pedal inputs.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Nord Stage 3:
The sample library on this piano could be underwhelming for some musicians, as they
might feel some instruments don’t have enough samples.
If you're in the market for an all-rounder professional stage piano, the Nord Stage 3
is a great buy.
The first product on our list is the Yamaha YC88.
Yamaha's YC88 is a game-changer in the world of stage pianos with its fantastic sound and
performance-optimized setup.
It features fantastic hammer-action keys with an ebony and ivory feel.
This gives you a dynamic performance.
This Yamaha keyboard employs virtual circuit modeling, which accurately mimics analog circuitry
to ensure that your sound stays detailed.
It also applies to onboard instrument effects on the YC88, giving you genuine tone.
You'll find nine drawbars, which give you precise control over basic parameters and
other effects.
These drawbars are solid and feature LED indicators, which helps you to see where each bar is even
in the dark.
You can also layer sounds with the YC88 by assigning a sound to each layer.
After this, you can switch between the two or turn them off completely with one button.
This keyboard features rotary speakers, which will give your sound a crunchy and sharper
quality.
Yamaha takes it one step further by adding nine onboard effects processors.
The processors will allow you to do extensive effects routing, with each key having two
slots to insert effects.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Yamaha YC88:
The build quality may be lacking in some areas, in heavy use, the buttons, fades, and wheels
may not hold up.
If you're a dedicated performer who wants a customized experience, the Yamaha YC88 is
a perfect choice.
And there you have it folks, the five stage pianos that got us excited this year.
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If you would like to see some more reviews from our team here at Gear Music Tech, here
are a couple that we think you’ll enjoy.
We look forward to seeing you back here on Gear Music Tech soon.
Bye for now.