On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:35 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:57:18 +0100, dennis@home wrote:

A decent (more than ~£99) digital piano is almost certain to be better
than a 1920s upright if it wasn't tuned two hours ago if its connected
to some proper speakers.

Operative words being "proper speakers" and not forgetting a decent amp
with a fair bit of umph. Some modern electronic "pianos" don't sound to
bad but I still much prefer the sound of the real thing. Each instrument
is an individual, with their own tone and nuances. Not some every note
perfect thing.

A good digital piano isn't an 'every note perfect thing'. In
simplistic terms you take a recording of an acoustic piano (
Bosendorfer, Steinway et al ) and trigger it on a 'per note' basis,
thus reproducing the typical sound ( usually defined by the frame
design ), warts and all.
You might be thinking of an 'electronic keyboard', in which the sounds
are synthesized - a completely different beast.

Good though many a budget keyboard is these days, the realistic
benchmark for a basic good digital piano is around the £500 mark.
The general consensus is that there are Yamaha digital pianos, and
everything else - and while this is perhaps a little on the 'one size
fits all' side, it's nonetheless a good starting point when choosing
an instrument.

Anyway, if anyone wants info on such things - including how to get rid
of an old upright - try he

http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/Piano_forum/default.asp

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk