Stage Pianos

[SumOne]

I've been gtting  into the dangerous territory of keyboards (dangerous for the wallet!), speciafically Stage Pianos and I'm looking for recommendation in the <£2k sort of price rage (new or second hand).

 

The things I want:

 

• Good sounding Piano, EP, Organ (ideally with drawbars), and synth would be a bonus but not essential.
• 73 Keys (semi-weighted), good keybed. 
• 'Hands-on' design for the controls (for live use without menu diving).
• Relatively light/portable.
• Tough/reliable for live gigs and moving around: Gigs every couple of weeks, rehearsals each week, set up at home in-between.
• Decent professional level type connections and power supply (including a tough IEC type power cable rather than barrel would be ideal).
• Budget: £2k 

 

I've owned a Yamaha CK 61 for 18 months and it has has had a decent amount of use - both at home and for gigs, it shows me this isn't just a flash in the pan or quick impulsive decision for something that'll gather dust. The CK 61 is good start for a decent enough Stage Piano but I'm starting to feel it is lacking in a couple of areas: Mostly as I'd prefer an extra Octave (especially for split points) and  it is starting to feel a bit on the budget end of being a professional instrument e.g. things like a barrel power connector are not as roadworthy as I'd like, the keybed is just 'okay' and the keys are slightly smaller than standard, and as I get more into playing I think I'd start noticing an upgrade being worthwhile and noticable for playability, sounds, robustness.  

 

Any recommendations? That £2k sort of price seems to be the level that most manufacturers have their entry-level of professional stage pianos: 

• Nord Electro 6D 73 (this is my front-runner)
• Yamaha CP 73
• Viscount Legend 73
• Korg SV2 
• Roland Fantom 07
• .....or second hand could get to things like a Nord Stage 2.

 

Or is this just me wanting new stuff?!  A: Yes! ...but I think something like a Nord Electro 6D 73 would be quite a significant upgrade to the CK 61 in terms of feel, sounds, robustness.

 

My 'buy stuff justification' maths says:

• £1,920 for the Nord Electro 6D 73. (or about £1,500 with part-ex for my CK-61, and I do also have a MPC Key 37 that could potentially get sold/part-ex for about £500, but I thik of that as a different thing I'd like to keep - as it's more for home production, sampling, sequencing and synth sort of stuff).
• After 10 years (about the time that updating a Nord seems worthwhile) it'd still be worth about £1k (given that the asking priice for an Electro 4 from 2015  is about £1k). So that'd cost me less than £100 per year (or £50 per year if you include the CK-61 being sold...or free if I also sell the MPC!). Who can argue with that?! (I'll give you a clue: I'm married to her!).

 

In a word that is increasingly asking for subscriptions/pay monthly and throwaway stuff/things with planned obsolescence I do find that my 'buy stuff justification' for musical instruments a wonderful thing!

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 13:10 by SumOne

[Hellzero]

Why don't you go the full Monty with an 88 keys keyboard as these are the real professional pianos?

 

If you like the Nord Stage Pianos, they use the Fatar keybed, which is, to me, excellent, and you can get the Studiologic (same company as Fatar) Numa X Piano GT (wooden keys) as it ticks all your boxes, except the IEC socket, or its sibling with plastic keys, the Numa X Piano 88 or 73.

 

I own the controller version of the Numa X Piano GT, called the SL 88 GT Mk2 and it's a delight to play.

 

That said, look at Kawai with their MP7 SE and MP11 SE (both with IEC sockets), and their portable digital piano (so with integrated amplification and speakers), the ES 920 (again all with 88 keys, but no IEC socket), 

 

But don't forget the Roland 88 keys RD-88 EX (no IEC socket) or RD-2000 EX (IEC socket) and the FP-90X (no IEC socket), which is the equivalent of the Kawai ES 920...

 

And of course, the Casio high end digital portable pianos (no IEC sockets) models like the PX-S 5000, PX-S 6000 and the superb looking PX-S 7000 (they all share the same keybed).

 

They are all in your price tag or bit higher.

[Hellzero]

If you want to have real good demos, watch Stu Harrison at Merriam Music as his demos are really honest, not like at Andertons where they are just yelling and jumping everywhere and touching all the buttons just because they are there.

[SumOne]

17 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Why don't you go the full Monty with an 88 keys keyboard as these are the real professional pianos?

 

If you like the Nord Stage Pianos, they use the Fatar keybed, which is, to me, excellent, and you can get the Studiologic (same company as Fatar) Numa X Piano GT (wooden keys) as it ticks all your boxes, except the IEC socket, or its sibling with plastic keys, the Numa X Piano 88 or 73.

 

I own the controller version of the Numa X Piano GT, called the SL 88 GT Mk2 and it's a delight to play.

 

That said, look at Kawai with their MP7 SE and MP11 SE (both with IEC sockets), and their portable digital piano (so with integrated amplification and speakers), the ES 920 (again all with 88 keys, but no IEC socket), 

 

But don't forget the Roland 88 keys RD-88 EX (no IEC socket) or RD-2000 EX (IEC socket) and the FP-90X (no IEC socket), which is the equivalent of the Kawai ES 920...

 

And of course, the Casio high end digital portable pianos (no IEC sockets) models like the PX-S 5000, PX-S 6000 and the superb looking PX-S 7000 (they all share the same keybed).

 

They are all in your price tag or bit higher.

Nice one, they all look decent. I'll look into them in more detail. 

 

The IEC socket isn't a deal breaker. I'd prefer it, but it is more that I find it generally a sign for everything from DJ mixers through to multi-fx and keyboards that they've been made with more robust longevity for gigging/roadworthness in mind. 

 

I would like 88 keys in some ways - especially for home use, so that isn't a deal breaker either but what puts me off for live use is that extra size and weight (I play some quite packed pub areas and need to transport it in a VW Polo). At the moment, I've found I can get by with 61 keys and octave buttons but 73 keys would be better especially for splitting the sounds, 88 just feels a bit unnecessary for my use. 

[Hellzero]

I totally understand your point of view concerning the size, but sometimes it's preferable to have the full 88 keys keyboards, especially if you play some organs or pianos parts, just saying. 

[HeadlessBassist]

I have a simple Roland FP-30 Stage Piano for teaching duties, but I regularly play on a lovely Roland HP-508 at a pupil's house. So whatever the equivalent Stage Piano to the 508 is, I'd highly recommend it. Lovely action and fantastic sound.

 

Also, there's no real need to plough thousands into a Stage Piano - I previously had a Casio Privia PX-310 which was a fantastic Piano at the time, and my current Roland only cost me £250 barely used from a lady on Gumtree.

[Hellzero]

59 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

I have a simple Roland FP-30 Stage Piano for teaching duties, but I regularly play on a lovely Roland HP-508 at a pupil's house. So whatever the equivalent Stage Piano to the 508 is, I'd highly recommend it. Lovely action and fantastic sound.

 

Also, there's no real need to plough thousands into a Stage Piano - I previously had a Casio Privia PX-310 which was a fantastic Piano at the time, and my current Roland only cost me £250 barely used from a lady on Gumtree.

The Roland HP-508 and the FP-30 share the same keybed, known as PHA-4, and the same sound generator (SuperNatural Piano), so basically it's the same keyboard.

[sammybee]

I picked up a Roland RD-700nx used from Andertons earlier this year, in mint condition for a mere £599 with stand and pedals etc. Yes it is a little bulky/heavy, but ticks all the other boxes

[Hellzero]

@Owen is selling his Nord Lead Piano 2 HA 88:

Could be interesting for you...

 

Here is its official web page: https://www.nordkeyboards.com/legacy-products/nord-piano-2/

[Owen]

Thanks Tony. Sum, we should talk. 

[SumOne]

I'd like to test a few side by side in a shop and I'm in Central London once a week but can only think of the Yamaha shop and the Roland shop, are there any central ones that have multiple brands and testing rooms? 

 

I suppose a day trip to Andertons might be in order (I'll get sidetracked by the Bass guitars though!). 

[bass_dinger]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

are there any central ones that have multiple brands and testing rooms? 

I just 5 minutes ago spoke with Rose Morris (the shop in Denmark Street) to ask if they stocked the Kawai ES60, to upgrade my old Kurzweil. They do - and I was also offered the option of Roland pianos (two doors down in the same street) and Yamahas (5 minutes walk away, at the main Yamaha store at
152-160 Wardour Street Soho London W1F 8YA). 

 

So, perhaps Denmark Street would be a good starting place for @SumOne?

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 17:41 by bass_dinger
The address of the Yamaha store

[SumOne]

20 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

I just 5 minutes ago spoke with Rose Morris (the shop in Denmark Street) to ask if they stocked the Kawai ES60, to upgrade my old Kurzweil. They do - and I was also offered the option of Roland pianos (two doors down in the same street) and Yamahas (5 minutes walk away, at the main Yamaha store at
152-160 Wardour Street Soho London W1F 8YA). 

 

So, perhaps Denmark Street would be a good starting place for @SumOne?

 

 

 

 

 

Nice one (and the ES-60 looks decent).

 

[SumOne]

I'm starting to have a slight change in plan.

 

I currently have a Yamaha CK-61 for band stuff and it also sits in my front room for me and the kids to do piano playing.....now i think that something specifically designed as a home piano like the ES-60 is probably better for the home piano stuff (88 weighted keys, better speakers, a bit simpler interface, I wouldn't need to move it for rehearsals/gigs) and I'd also getting something like the Nord Electro 6 73 (or perhaps something cheaper) as a stage piano/organ/EP for playing with the band (better than the CK-61 for band stuff as it has the extra octave and is just generally better sound, keybed, and roadworthy build quality).

 

I also have an MPC Key 37 for home production stuff, mostly I use it for sampling and drum loops and sequencing and then adding some simple keys ideas rather than seriously playing piano on its 3 octaves. Although I'm loving the MPC Key 37, I could actually sell it and do my home production stuff via Laptop software (keeping the MPC software synths etc) and controlling it via the new stage piano via midi.

 

MPC Key 37 and the CK-61 would sell/part-ex for a total of roughly £1k. ES-60 and Nord Electro 6 73 (or similar) would cost roughly £2k. I've pretty much convinced myself that this £1k upgrade to home piano, stage piano, and home production/midi keyboard is probably worthwhile, we're talking things that should last 10 years and hold their value pretty well. 

 

Edited yesterday at 16:54 by SumOne

[bass_dinger]

4 hours ago, SumOne said:

 

Nice one (and the ES-60 looks decent).

 

For me, I need a compact solution, to fit on a desk just 120cm wide.  I need a weighted 88-key keyboard too, and the Kawai ES60 was highly rated.  It also fits on (or over) my desk, as it is just under 130cm wide.  The only issue is that the ES-60 has only USB midi and I have already invested a tenner in three 5-pin DIN midi cables . . . 

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by bass_dinger

[bass_dinger]

Far be from me to persuade @SumOne to buy more gear and multiple keyboards...

 

However, the idea of a simpler home piano, and a more capable stage piano, and a compact "workstation" keyboard, all doing different roles, would certainly appeal to me.

 

In terms of what to buy first, the family can probably play the Nord at home, and you can take it to gigs too.

 

However, the ES-60 (or similar) perhaps won't be robust enough for gigging, and may pick up knocks - not ideal for a piece of home furniture. 

 

So, perhaps keep the MPC Key 37, find a suitable secondhand Nord Electro 6 73, sell the CK-61, and finally buy a ES-60 at your leisure. 

 

 

[Hellzero]

2 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

However, the ES-60 (or similar) perhaps won't be robust enough for gigging, and may pick up knocks - not ideal for a piece of home furniture. 

The old Kawai ES-100 (now replaced by the ES-120) has proven its ability to be roadworthy as it's been used and abused by countless pro and non pro player as stage piano.

 

You should maybe both, you @bass_dinger and @SumOne have a look at the ES-120.

 

And almost all modern keyboards have the new USB (Host) to MIDI connection instead of the now oldish typical MIDI 5 pin connection: it needs 3 connectors to do less than the USB MIDI protocol and the new MIDI 2.0 does even more.

[SumOne]

2 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

Far be from me to persuade @SumOne to buy more gear and multiple keyboards...

 

However, the idea of a simpler home piano, and a more capable stage piano, and a compact "workstation" keyboard, all doing different roles, would certainly appeal to me.

 

In terms of what to buy first, the family can probably play the Nord at home, and you can take it to gigs too.

 

However, the ES-60 (or similar) perhaps won't be robust enough for gigging, and may pick up knocks - not ideal for a piece of home furniture. 

 

So, perhaps keep the MPC Key 37, find a suitable secondhand Nord Electro 6 73, sell the CK-61, and finally buy a ES-60 at your leisure. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah I think that compared to Bass Guitar gear it is more worthwhile having the specialist tool for the job with keyboards. My standard Bass guitar and equipment could cover any genre (apart from perhaps some niche exceptions like wanting a fretless sound, or a high C string), but you couldn't get a grand Piano to sound like a Minimoog or vice versa and all the nuance between a home piano/synth/stage piano/workstation keyboard mean that it could be worthwhile having them all.

[BigRedX]

I don't know. I suppose it depends on how like the action of your keys?

 

Traditionally an acoustic piano would have a fully weighted action, and organ no weights. Synths would be either the same as an organ or semi weighted, but then it would also depend on what each player was used to. In my very limited experience with my very limited technical ability the action of the keyboard can completely change how I play.

[SumOne]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

I don't know. I suppose it depends on how like the action of your keys?

 

Traditionally an acoustic piano would have a fully weighted action, and organ no weights. Synths would be either the same as an organ or semi weighted, but then it would also depend on what each player was used to. In my very limited experience with my very limited technical ability the action of the keyboard can completely change how I play.

 

Semi-weighted is what I'm after from a stage Piano.

 

On 24/11/2025 at 13:01, SumOne said:

 

The things I want:

 

• Good sounding Piano, EP, Organ (ideally with drawbars), and synth would be a bonus but not essential.
• 73 Keys (semi-weighted), good keybed. 
• 'Hands-on' design for the controls (for live use without menu diving).
• Relatively light/portable.
• Tough/reliable for live gigs and moving around: Gigs every couple of weeks, rehearsals each week, set up at home in-between.
• Decent professional level type connections and power supply (including a tough IEC type power cable rather than barrel would be ideal).
• Budget: £2k 

 

 

[SumOne]

I think that a digital home piano for me and the kids to play at home is a different enough thing to a stage piano for band stuff that it is worth getting both: 

 

• Home Piano:  88 weighted keys, good piano sounds, simple interface, built-in speakers, music stand, metronome, size/weight and portability isn't really an issue (in fact, being quite heavy/sturdy might be an advantage). Nothing too fancy needed as I don't want to be paranoid about it getting bashed about by kids. Kawai ES-60 looks a good option and I'll keep my eye out for similar second-hand things. 
• Stage Piano: 73 keys semi-weighted (as I'll play organ and piano), decent piano and organ sounds - ideally with organ drawbars, relatively tough/light/transportable/fits in my small car and on small stages (hence 73 keys, but wanting a bit more than the 61 keys I currently have with a CK-61), roadworthy - so needs a certain level of toughness and the right connections.

 

...although saying that, a decent stage piano with some small monitor speakers set-up would I'm sure do fine as a home piano so I'll put-off getting a separate home piano for a while.

 

I think I've narrowed the stage piano list down to: 

• Viscount Legend One (£1,555). I really like the sound of this, the features, and the look - something very cool about it.
• Nord Electro 6D 73 (£1,919) ...although if I was to go for a Nord then I'll wait a while as version 3 = 2009, 4 = 2012, 5 = 2015, 6 = 2018. So an update is well overdue which would either make the older ones cheaper or the improvements in v7 might be worth waitng for.

 

Handily as they are the two seemingly ticking the most of my stage piano boxes there is this comparison at 1hr4mins. This reviewer prefers the Viscount is better (and it's cheaper). My only reservation (beyond where will I get the ££ and what will my wife say!) is that the Nord is a bit more mainstream for holding value and ease of selling second-hand.

 

 

And this quick review seems to prefer it to the Nord Electro:

 

I do also like the look of: 

• Roland Fantom 07 (possibly a bit big and over-complex and workstation-like for a live stage piano).

• Studiologic Numa X (no organ drawbars, but at only £850 it certainly saves me a few ££).

Edited 2 hours ago by SumOne

[bass_dinger]

2 hours ago, SumOne said:

it could be worthwhile having them all

 

Here's a basschatter who won't be entering the 2026 Gear Abstinence Challenge!   

[SumOne]

1 hour ago, bass_dinger said:

 

Here's a basschatter who won't be entering the 2026 Gear Abstinence Challenge!   

I think it was the first one out in 2025 so I'm not even gonna attempt 2026!