Attention all upcoming gigging piano players, it’s time to hit the right notes with the best stage pianos the market has to offer in 2023. Whether you’re looking for a piano with the most authentic sound, a budget-friendly option, or a model whose aesthetic design would make Beethoven himself jealous, we’ve got you covered.
From giants like Nord, Yamaha, and Roland, to emerging brands that pack a punch, this article will guide you through everything you need to know. Dive in, tickle those ivories, and let your passion for music guide you to your perfect stage piano in 2023. It’s time to take centre stage and create melodies that resonate.
Nord Stage 4 88
Overview
The Nord Stage 4 88 is the latest addition to the esteemed Nord Stage series. Available in both 88-key and 73-key models, this stage piano has been a hit in the music industry, particularly among professional musicians. The Nord Stage 4 88 features 88 weighted keys and is packed with 120 piano and 46 synth voices, along with 512 presets. Apart from its impressive sound engine, the stage piano also boasts enhanced sample memory, a variety of layer effects, and an improved workflow, making it a versatile tool for musicians.
Key Benefits
- It offers 120 piano and 46 synth voices, ensuring a wide range of sound options.
- Enhanced sample memory allows for more extensive usage.
- It includes per layer effects, providing more depth to the sound.
- With the Nord Triple Pedal included at no extra cost, it gives musicians more control over their performances.
- It features a range of connectivity options, including stereo outs, a headphone jack, an expression pedal jack, and USB MIDI, allowing for a variety of setups.
- The Piano and Sample Synth engines provide a broad spectrum of sounds.
- The advanced arpeggiator features and seamless transitions improve music production.
Pricing
While the Nord Stage 4 88 is a high-end instrument with a price tag to match, it’s an investment worth considering for professional musicians. This stage piano offers value for its cost due to its world-class features, sound quality, and impressive build.
See Current Pricing Here
Pros & Cons
As a user of the Nord Stage 4 88, I have found many aspects of this instrument that make it stand out. Starting with the sound quality, the organ, piano, and synth sounds have been noticeably improved, which has been highly praised. The weighted keys give the keyboard a realistic feel, and its robust build quality affirms its position as one of the best keyboards in its class.
However, it’s not without its downsides. The Nord Stage 4 88 doesn’t feature aftertouch, limiting its sound design capabilities. Also, it doesn’t come with built-in speakers, necessitating external amplification. The interface, while packed with features, can pose some complexity for beginners. Despite these, the remarkable features and sound quality of the Nord Stage 4 88 make it a compelling choice for musicians.
Roland RD-2000
Overview
Roland, a renowned music instrument manufacturer, introduced the RD-2000 stage piano in 2017. The piano combines sampled and synthesized tones by utilizing Roland’s Structured Adaptive Synthesis technology. The RD-2000 features an 88-note, fully weighted keyboard with a hybrid wood/plastic action and an Ivory/Ebony feel. It has two independent sound engines, including Roland’s V-Piano technology and SuperNATURAL Piano/E.Piano/Clav. To hear the audio, this piano requires external speakers or headphones as it does not include built-in speakers.
Key Benefits
- The RD-2000 is known for its versatility, catering to a wide range of music styles and genres.
- It is a preferred choice among professional musicians and performers.
- It includes a ‘Piano Designer’ feature that allows further customization of piano sounds.
- Comes with built-in rhythms and grooves that can enhance performance dynamics.
- The RD-2000 is excellent for live performances due to its range of features and integration capabilities with software and hardware.
- It boasts over 1,100 preset tones, including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, synths, and more.
Pricing
The Roland RD-2000 is a very reasonably priced stage piano for the quality and features it offers. We have it priced at roughly US$2,600.
See Current Pricing Here
Pros & Cons
As a user, I appreciate the RD-2000 for its extensive features. It offers 128-note polyphony for V-Piano sounds and unlimited polyphony for SuperNATURAL sounds. The variety of effects, including reverb, chorus, modulation, amp simulation, and delay, are impressive. The presence of a 5-band EQ and a compressor allows for further sound shaping.
The layout of controls on the RD-2000 is well-designed and user-friendly, with knobs, faders, and buttons for easy access to parameters. The instrument allows for both splitting and layering of sounds, with up to eight zones per program. The inclusion of a USB Audio Interface facilitates integration with a DAW and also allows for recording and playback of audio. The connectivity options are also extensive, including main outputs, XLR outputs, headphone output, and MIDI ports.
On the downside, the absence of built-in speakers might be a concern for some users who prefer an all-in-one setup. However, this is a common feature in professional stage pianos and should not deter those looking for high-quality, professional features.
Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735
Overview
The Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 is a digital piano from the highly esteemed Clavinova series. It captures the essence of the Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand pianos, offering a natural and accurate sound. It also features other piano voices, such as a Chopin Piano and Fortepiano, with 38 voices and a max polyphony of 256 notes. The CLP-735 is equipped with the GrandTouch-S keyboard, incorporating natural wooden keys with ebony/ivory keytops. The piano’s unique 3D Binaural Sampling feature recreates the acoustic qualities of a specific space when listening through headphones.
Key Benefits
- Offers flagship sounds from the Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand pianos.
- Features the GrandTouch-S keyboard, combining natural wooden keys with ebony/ivory keytops for a realistic feel.
- The use of 3D Binaural Sampling provides an immersive listening experience with headphones.
- Incorporates Yamaha’s Real Grand Expression 2 technology, capturing every nuance of touch.
- Comes with a 5-year factory warranty for parts and labor.
- The CLP-735 offers various connectivity options, including USB ports, MIDI, headphone jacks, and audio inputs/outputs.
Pricing
The Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 is part of the Clavinova CLP-700 series, which also includes the CLP-725 and CLP-745 models. The CLP-725 is a more affordable option, while the CLP-745 offers similar sound and feel to the CLP-735, with additional feature upgrades. Yamaha also offers higher-priced models in the Clavinova CLP series, such as the CLP-775, CLP-785, and CLP-795. The pricing varies, and it’s crucial to consider personal preferences, budget, and availability when choosing a digital piano.
See Current Pricing Here
Pros & Cons
From my personal experience, the CLP-735 stands out as one of the best options in its price range. It offers a combination of realistic sound, feel, and features that make it an excellent choice for serious intermediate and professional players. Notably, the CLP-735 comes with a powerful speaker system that produces clear and powerful sound without losing clarity.
On the downside, the CLP-735 does not have Bluetooth technology, unlike the CLP-745 and CLP-765GP models. This is a significant drawback for those who prefer wireless connectivity. Additionally, the CLP-735 has underwhelming speakers compared to the CLP-745. Despite these few cons, the overall performance of the CLP-735 is impressive.
Yamaha CP88
Overview
The Yamaha CP88 is a stage piano that is well-regarded in the music industry. It features a natural wood-graded hammer (NW-GH) action, which provides a realistic playing experience. The CP88 is designed to be portable and durable, with a weight of 18.6kg and a sturdy aluminum case. It has a simple, clean interface with vintage-inspired touches and provides one-to-one access to all key features. The CP88 also provides an assortment of high-quality piano and electric piano sounds, with the added ability to create custom patches combining different sounds and effects.
Key Benefits
- Realistic playing experience with the NW-GH action and natural wood keys.
- Portable and durable, perfect for gigging musicians.
- Simple, clean interface for easy navigation.
- Wide range of high-quality piano and electric piano sounds.
- Ability to create custom patches for more creative possibilities.
- Practical and great sounding effects that enhance the overall performance of the instrument.
Pricing
The Yamaha CP88 is considered to be high-end in terms of pricing due to Its premium features and capabilities.
See Current Pricing Here
Pros & Cons
As with any instrument, the Yamaha CP88 has its strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, the keybed of the CP88 is highly praised for its realistic feel, with natural wood keys and synthetic ebony and ivory tops. It is also recommended for serious pianists and advanced players who value high-quality sound and realistic key action. The intuitive interface, though small, is easy to navigate.
However, the primary downside of the CP88 is its high price. Given its cost, potential buyers must ensure that its features align with their needs and that the instrument will provide value for their investment.
Kawai MP 11 SE
Overview
The Kawai MP11SE is a stage piano designed for professionals, offering a realistic playing experience. The quality of its sound production is attributed to Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging XL sound engine. This instrument boasts of an 88-key full-sized keybed, which provides a grand feel through its wooden keys and weighted GHA keybed that offers a responsive and realistic playing experience. It comes with a variety of effects, 200 setup memories, and a MIDI recorder for recording and playback. Despite not having built-in speakers, it offers private listening through a stereo headphone jack.
Key Benefits
- Realistic and rich tones, including vintage electric pianos, thanks to Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging XL sound engine
- Weighted GHA keybed and real wooden keys for a realistic playing experience
- 40 onboard tones featuring grand piano samples
- MIDI recorder and USB to MIDI capabilities for recording and connecting to other devices
- Polyphony of 256 notes for complex and layered performances
- Touch sensitivity featuring various options: light, normal, heavy, fixed, and user-customized settings
Pricing
The Kawai MP11SE is priced at $3,499.99. Although it’s more pricey compared to some other digital stage pianos like the Roland RD 2000, which retails for $2,600, or the Kawai VPC1 priced at $2,399.99, it stands out for its quality and pro-grade features. One such instrument with a higher price point is the Nord Grand, but it offers lower polyphony compared to the MP11SE.
Pros & Cons
From our perspective, the Kawai MP11SE shines as a well-rounded digital stage piano delivering a realistic playing experience and high-quality sound. Its pro-grade features, including the heavy wooden-key action, onboard recording capabilities, stunning sound engine, and high polyphony, earn it a 10/10 rating.
However, it doesn’t come without a few drawbacks. It lacks built-in speakers, which may limit its use in certain scenarios, and its appeal might be more towards a niche audience. We wouldn’t recommend the Kawai MP7SE as an alternative, as it doesn’t meet the same production standards as the MP11SE, lacking the sturdiness and quality offered by the latter.
Kawai KDP120
Overview
The Kawai KDP120 is an exceptional digital piano known for its top-notch sound and consistent performance. It’s an upgraded version of the well-received Kawai KDP110 and comes packed with features to cater to the needs of any pianist. The KDP120 boasts 88 fully weighted keys, touch sensitivity options, a 192-note polyphony, and 15 unique instrument sounds, four of which are variations of the SK-EX concert grand piano. Its design includes a sturdy build, a music stand, a key cover, and a triple-pedal setup, all adding to its appeal. The KDP120 also comes with Bluetooth MIDI connectivity and can be controlled using the PianoRemote app.
Key Benefits
- The KDP120 promises an authentic piano-playing experience at a pocket-friendly price.
- It features the Responsive Hammer Compact II keyboard action for a realistic touch and feel.
- It includes the beautiful sound of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, reproduced using advanced Harmonic Imaging technology.
- With a robust 40W stereo amplifier and speaker system, the KDP120 delivers a rich, vibrant piano tone.
- The piano offers Bluetooth and USB connectivity for additional features and functionality.
- It comes with built-in lesson songs, a song recorder, and a variety of instrument voices, enhancing the playing experience.
- Its compact and attractive design is available in three finishes: Premium Rosewood, Premium Satin Black, and Premium Satin White.
- The KDP120 supports different headphone types for an optimized listening experience.
Pricing
The Kawai KDP120, a home digital piano with good looks, great playability, impressive sound, and a useful selection of features, comes at a price of US$1499. It also includes a 3-year parts and labor factory warranty, providing assurance for any potential issues.
See Current Pricing Here
Pros & Cons
The standout features of the KDP120 include a superb keybed with Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHCII) action, for a comfortable and responsive playing experience. The piano sounds are powered by Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging (HI) sound engine, with the SK-EX concert grand samples being a particular highlight. The dual 20W speakers deliver a powerful and detailed sound, and with a maximum polyphony of 192 notes, it’s suitable for most playing situations. The built-in recording feature is a bonus, allowing you to record and playback your performances.
However, its button/key combination control scheme might be less user-friendly for some. The KDP120, though, is a solid choice for anyone seeking a digital piano that offers high-quality sound, realistic key action, and a range of useful features.
Casio Celviano AP-710
Overview
As the leading model in the Celviano Series, the Casio Celviano AP-710 creates a beautiful juxtaposition of tradition and innovation. Crafted in collaboration with C. Bechstein, the AP-710 is a digital piano that exudes sophistication and quality. Equipped with an impressive 88 weighted keys, 256-note polyphony, built-in speakers, and 26 tones, this model is a testament to Casio’s long-standing expertise in the realm of digital pianos. It’s hard to overlook the 12 different acoustic piano sounds it offers, featuring samples from leading grand pianos such as the Steinway, Bosendorfer, and Bechstein.
Key Benefits
- Outstanding piano sound chip with over 12 different acoustic piano sounds
- Enhanced 256 notes of polyphony processing power suitable for complex musical scores
- A music library featuring 10 full orchestra classical songs
- Ability to record right and left hand playing independently on 2 separate MIDI recording tracks
- Hardware connectivity options, including audio inputs and outputs, USB ports, and headphone jacks
- Comes with a 5-year warranty and a matching height adjustable bench for enhanced comfort
- Features Casio’s proprietary AiR Grand Sound Source and tri-sensor scaled hammer-action keyboard for a realistic piano playing experience
Pricing
The Casio Celviano AP-710 is an excellent choice for those looking for a top-quality digital piano under $3000. This model provides a superior playing experience, impressive sound, and key action all within a reasonable price range.
Pros & Cons
The AP-710 is something we can’t help but admire. Its key action movement and response, coupled with the realistic stereo piano sound, dynamic range, tonal articulation, and pedalling authenticity response, make it a favorite amongst piano players. It’s hard to ignore the upgraded triple sensor synthetic ivory & ebony key action, intuitive LCD display screen, and the adjustable matching bench that it offers.
This model features a 60-watt, 6-speaker system, more than any other brand under $3000, and a new matte black cabinet finish for a touch of elegance. The adjustable open-top lid and 6-speaker system together provide a sound projection that is simply impressive. Speaking of sound, the pedalling offers half-damper control, damper resonance, and the functionality of the middle sostenuto and left soft pedals, adding depth and authenticity to each note.
The AP-710 is also quite versatile, with features like USB audio wav file recording and playback, USB flash drive input, and connectivity options for external devices. It offers realistic instrument sounds, layering and splitting capabilities, and hall effects for a more immersive piano playing experience. It easily contends with other top digital piano brands like Yamaha, Roland, and Kawai.
However, the AP-710 may be best suited for players of all levels who prioritize piano playing and want a high-quality instrument. Its stylish cabinet design and a range of connectivity options make it a versatile and practical choice for musicians. But of course, like any product, it may not suit everyone’s preferences or needs. Despite this, we believe the AP-710’s pros far outweigh any potential cons.
What Is A Stage Piano?
A stage piano, as the name suggests, is a keyboard instrument notably designed for live performances on stage. It’s tailored to withstand the rigours of touring, often built with robust casings, durable switches, and buttons, and metal rotary encoders and slider poles. This resilience makes it the ultimate companion for gigging musicians who require reliable instruments for their performances.
Stage pianos are not only about durability—they are also about high-quality sound. They are known for offering impeccable piano sounds, both acoustic and electric, as well as organ models, and some even venture beyond these to provide a broader range of sounds. This vast array of sounds allows musicians to create complex and dynamic compositions, adding depth to live performances.
Another attribute of a stage piano is its connectivity. They can be connected to a PA system or a mixing desk via line outputs, making them flexible for various performance setups. Ultimately, a stage piano is an embodiment of performance, durability, versatility, and high-quality sound, making it an essential tool for any serious live performer.
What Makes The Perfect Stage Piano?
The perfect stage piano is a combination of various factors, tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the player. Firstly, a stage piano should offer a realistic playing experience. This is achieved through the quality of the keyboard action. For instance, the Nord Stage 4 88 and Roland RD-2000 feature fully weighted keys that replicate the feel of an acoustic piano. The Yamaha CLP-735 takes it a step further with its GrandTouch-S keyboard, incorporating natural wooden keys with ebony/ivory keytops.
Sound quality is another critical factor. A perfect stage piano should deliver high-quality, diverse sounds to cater to a wide range of musical styles. Both the Nord Stage 4 88 and Roland RD-2000 offer a broad spectrum of sounds, from various piano and synth voices to acoustic and electric pianos, organs, and more. The Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 provides flagship sounds from the Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand pianos, recreating their natural and accurate sound.
Lastly, a perfect stage piano should have user-friendly features designed to enhance workflow and performance. This includes effects, sound shaping tools, connectivity options, and customizability. The Roland RD-2000, for instance, offers a well-designed layout of controls, with knobs, faders, and buttons for easy access to parameters. It also boasts extensive connectivity options and compatibility with various accessories, facilitating integration with software instruments and DAWs. The Nord Stage 4 88 includes layer effects and advanced arpeggiator features, while the Yamaha CLP-735 uses 3D Binaural Sampling to reproduce acoustic qualities when listening through headphones.
In conclusion, the perfect stage piano is one that provides a realistic playing experience with high-quality sound, user-friendly features, and versatile connectivity options. However, personal preference, budget, and specific needs will always play a significant role in determining what makes the perfect stage piano for each individual musician.H2: What Makes The Perfect Stage Piano?
Wrapping Up
As we’ve journeyed through the world of stage pianos, from the Nord Stage 4 88 to the Kawai MP11SE, we can affirm that each instrument bears its unique blend of characteristics, catering to a variety of musicians and their distinct needs. While some pianos shine in sound quality and number of voices, others strike the right chord with their user-friendly interface and versatile effects.
The Nord Stage 4 88, with its wide array of sounds and enhanced sample memory, is a remarkable choice for musicians seeking diversity in their acoustic palette. Roland RD-2000’s layered approach to synthesized tones and user-friendly design makes it a sterling option for performers who prefer hands-on control.
In contrast, the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735, with its GrandTouch-S keyboard and immersive 3D Binaural Sampling, provides an authentic and immersive playing experience. The Kawai MP11SE doesn’t lag behind, offering a playing experience rivalling a real grand piano, thanks to its weighted GHA keybed and wooden keys.
Each of these pianos serves as a testament to the evolution of keyboard instruments, marryinga vintage acoustic feel with modern digital capabilities. Ultimately, the choice of a stage piano is personal and dependent on the specific needs, preferences, and budget of the musician.
Remember, the best stage piano is not necessarily the most expensive or feature-packed one, but the one that allows you to express your music most authentically. Happy playing
