Should I Buy a Digital Piano? A Comprehensive Guide by Ty Uphoff

The Case for Digital Pianos

A piano technician acquaintance of mine posted some very helpful insights regarding the purchase of digital pianos versus acoustic ones. He graciously allowed me to share his thoughts and promote his website. In the world of piano technology, community and collaboration thrive, even though some competition exists. I have been known to share information about other technicians with clients when I encounter jobs that I cannot handle. Thus, I am more than happy to share his business website with you here: www.schedulemypiano.com.

The Short Answer: Yes!

You might ask, why would a technician who makes a living servicing acoustic pianos recommend buying a digital piano? Let's explore this question together.

The most common argument against purchasing a digital piano is that they are not real pianos.

If we had unlimited resources and space, we would all play on 9-foot concert grands, expertly prepared by professionals in recital halls worth a quarter of a million dollars. Now THAT is a real piano. Everything else is a compromise due to space or financial constraints.

Understanding the Differences

The actions in upright pianos differ from those in grand pianos. Generally, uprights are less expressive and have slower repetition. Spinet pianos have even shorter keysticks and a “drop” action, making them less desirable. When you compare a high-end digital piano with a spinet, the digital instrument closely simulates the experience of playing a concert grand.

If space is your primary concern, you might mistakenly consider spinet pianos. Although they are shorter than other vertical pianos, their footprint (width x depth) is actually larger. Therefore, they take up more space than a digital piano, which is considerably smaller.

A Balancing Act

Now, hold on! Are you really suggesting that digital pianos are superior to acoustic pianos?

No, that's not the case. Digital pianos will never replace acoustic instruments. Nothing can compare to the live vibration of steel and wood experienced from an acoustic piano. If you have the space and a budget of, let’s say, $5,000 or more, no digital piano can match the musical quality of the acoustic pianos in that price range.

However, the harsh truth is that there is no such thing as a good acoustic piano available new for $2,000. When considering used pianos priced at or below that mark, you're often looking at instruments that were poorly designed and built to meet a market demand now filled by digital pianos. These pianos were subpar musical instruments when new, and after decades of age and neglect, their condition has only worsened.

The Truth About Free Acoustic Pianos

You may think, "But there are FREE acoustic pianos all over the internet!"

While pianos are consumer products, they do not last forever. Although some exceptions exist, without a trained eye, you’re likely to end up with a piano in desperate need of extensive service. After spending hundreds of dollars to move the instrument and even more to bring it to a functional state, you may find that even a “free” acoustic piano can become quite costly.

Should I Still Consider a Digital Piano?

If you have the space and budget to own an acoustic piano superior to digital options, should you still buy a digital one?

The answer remains: Yes!

Of course, we will never give up our beloved high-quality acoustic pianos. But why should guitarists have all the fun of owning multiple instruments? Wouldn't it be silly to tell someone they could only own an acoustic guitar and that electric guitars were not real guitars?

While we may prefer to play our acoustic piano most of the time, digital pianos offer various features that extend beyond traditional piano playing. You can practice silently with headphones, explore sounds of other instruments like organs and harpsichords, and record your music for sharing.

Final Thoughts and Shopping Tips

So, if you have considered that cheap Facebook spinet for your kids, I encourage you to listen to the wise words of Nancy Reagan: Just say no!

If you're ready to consider a digital piano, shopping will be straightforward. As Marty McFly once quipped, "What do you mean, Doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan."

In the next blog post, I will delve into the often confusing world of hybrids—acoustic pianos with digital features and digital pianos with acoustic features. What a brave new world awaits us!