My wife is a classicly trained organist and pianist. What would be the best electric piano new or used that 1000 dollars would buy her. I'm thinking Yamaha P80. She likes the sounds of her friends Roland HP-something or other. She would not want or need rhythm or styles but if they come with a good unit that would be ok.

Just got a Yamaha P120. IMHO the piano samples sound better than on the P80 and the keys feel great.
But you have to play it using headphones or "real" speakers.
The built in speakers are O.K. if you just want to try a little. But not for serious music.
Thomas

Tom,
I think your wife should play some of the upright electric pianos by Yammy and Roland.....in the "home use" department. They are weighted like a real piano and sound fantastic. They are also relatively cheap come with real decent built in speakers too.

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jam on,
Terry
http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

I like the P120, and also the Korg SP300. I was a big fan of the P80 for a long time, but this new stuff sounds even better. The Roland FP3 is pretty good also.

You should take her shopping and let her try out the different key-feels and sounds for herself. She might have different taste than you would. I took a lady friend from Russia who is a superb classical pianist to Guitar Center once, and she tried all the different setups, and she picked the FP3. I liked it too. However, she later complained that it just didn't have a real piano feel/sound. This was two years ago, and hopefully the new electrics have better sampling capabilities.

Isn't there a website where they have a sampled piano shootout with dozens of MP3s? Many of the pianos are software based, but some are from electric pianos and synth modules. They have a recording of a real Steinway B that is a good reference.

Good luck. Tell me what you pick.

Beakybird

I highly recommend the Alesis Qs8.2 or the Qs8.1. It is a 88 key fully weighted synth with expansion card capability. They have a Fantastic Grand Piano expansion card with unbelieivable Stereo Piano's and Rhodes sounds. The action on the keyboard is very close to a real keyboard. And when you are bored with the Piano sounds, you can play around with it's Synth, sequence, and arpegiator capabilities.

I purchased my Qs8.1 for 850.00 from Sam Ash.

Al

P-80 or FP-3 Good Luck

The Promega 3 or 2 if you truly want the "Real" piano sound. By far the most realistic piano out of any brand. The Yamaha P120 is a good entry level board; Although I would suggest the PRO 1 over the Yamaha P120 because it has a more realistic sound. If this is for your home, I would look at the GEM RP 120.

I have seen used Kurzweil PC88's go for $1000. Great weighted action, wonderful real and electric piano sounds (among many others), even a nice acoustic guitar sound. It has some of the best layered strings I've ever heard too.