| Brand: | Yamaha | ||
| Average Rating |
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The Yamaha NP Portable Grand is an easy-to-carry piano that features Advanced Wave Memory stereo sampled piano sounds for incredible sound quality A entirely new take on the digital piano offering quality value and portability with a lighter touch Featuring Graded Touch keys and stereo-sampled pianos Also voices like Organs and Strings plus notes of polyphony Another great feature for the home recording artist is that it performs as a MIDI controller too The built in speakers allow you to play it anywhere since it operates on six AA batteries Ultra-Portable Digital PianoThe new NP- Portable Grand delivers Yamaha digital piano sound and simplicity in a new lightweight compact design like nothing else you’ve seen all at a price point you won’t believe Its super slim design and minimal weight of pounds makes it the most compact performer in the digital piano family of instruments And AA batteries are all you need to power up and start playing immediately Do you have questions about personal keyboards Click on the image for product comparisons and FAQs Graded Soft Touch Action NEWBecause of its similarity to acoustic pianos a graded action is one of the primary features sought by pianists in their digital instruments While technically a non-weighted action the new Graded Soft-Touch keyboard is the first of its kind bringing different levels of resistance without the extra more info
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November 6th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Wonderful Portable Piano!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is exactly what I have been looking for! It is a very portable PIANO – it isn’t like a keyboard with all the buttons and rhythms – it is very much like a real piano that you can carry around with you. The keys have a great touch that feels very good under your fingers and they play just like a real piano, louder if you hit them harder and softer if you press them softly. The two grand piano sounds and the two harpsichords sound so real. The 76 keys are enough to play almost any song and it sounds lovely. This would be perfect to take to wedding receptions, graduations, birthday parties or anywhere someone wanted piano music and didn’t have a real piano. One could even play at outdoor weddings as it can run on 6 AA batteries. I am SO happy with this Yamaha NP30!
November 6th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I love my NP-30!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Hey, if you’re looking for an inexpensive electric piano, BUY THE NP-30. My biggest concern was the weighted key issue, (the NP-30 has “graded” keys…whatever that means.) All I know is the keys feel good, not weighted by any stretch, but they feel natural somehow, and after a little adjustment time I found I really like the feel. The electric and grand piano sounds are great too. Don’t know or care about the organs, strings, etc. I bought this for the piano sounds.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Economical, but cuts one too many corners
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is a nice keyboard, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The keys are very light and bounce back in an artificial manner. Spend $200 more and get something like the Privia PX130. Your muscle memory will benefit as the keys on this digital piano are much more like the real thing.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
if its features are enough for you, it’s good quality and value
, I wanted a keyboard just to enjoy some classical music on my own, at my amateur level. I wanted it to be like a piano (in how it feels and sounds) but small and inexpensive.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Before detailed remarks, here is my reference point. Having been spoiled with playing real pianos (I should say “acoustic”, for PC
PROS:
PORTABILITY – especially for an (almost) full-size keyboard. I really didn’t want another piece of furniture. NP30 just lies on the table, which (to my own surprise) ended up as the deciding factor for me. YMMV.
SOUND. All the voices (including grand piano, organ, harpsichord) are well done and beautiful. (But see “CONS” below.)
KEY WEIGHTING. NP30’s keys are something like “semi-weighted” and “touch sensitive” (but consult the official specs on this) and somewhat easy to press. But see “CONS” below. BTW I researched this “weighted” topic quite a bit and tried several options, but my practical conclusion is this. If you care about the feel, go more high-end or get the real thing (an acoustic piano, that is). Otherwise you will likely get used to what you have, even though it isn’t perfect.
SIMPLICITY. The controls are few and quite intuitive.
PRICE. It’s all relative, of course, but compared to other full-size keyboards out there, it’s among the cheapest – $300 at Best Buys. (And that’s without any sale discounds – Best Buys felt kinda thin on sales to me.)
CONS:
KEY WEIGHTING. While offering you an approximation of an acoustic piano’s feel, NP30’s keys are not quite there. First, they are hard to press if you place your fingers far from the edge of the key (i.e. towards the back of the keyboard) – I have never noticed this on an acoustic. Second, in some cases when I press several keys at once, NP30 doesn’t sense one or two of them, whereas an acoustic piano would. I have to re-adjust the pressure to get NP30 to play them.
SOUND. While individual sounds are beautiful, their combinations may not parallel the richness of an acoustic piano’s. This is probably because there is no is no resonating effect between the various strings. (Which is quite understandable at this price level.)
FEATURES (missing). The ones I cared about: additional voices (NP30 only got 10) and the 12 keys for the full-size 88-key keyboard. Again, it’s all about a trade-off against portability and price.
ACCESSORIES (missing). Power adapter and the sustain pedal are not included, and Best Buys charges $25-30+ for each. This is a RIP-OFF, people. For power, look around; maybe you have a compatible one already (12V, 1500 mA, negative is outside) – or use rechargeable batteries. And maybe you are fine without the pedal (I am still to answer that question for myself).
November 7th, 2009 at 3:37 am
Light, Feels Good,
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just bought my Yamaha Np-30 after returning 2 M-Audio keyboards. M-Audio is terrible. I like knobs and things, but the Yamaha NP-30 keeps it simple. I like it because I can turn it on and start creating something- then if inspiration strikes, I can fire up the midi to computer device and lay it down.
With M-Audio, I noticed the keys were “cheap” and just sticky feeling. The Np-30 is smooth. Not quite like a real piano, but for $300 what do you want!
It’s a great keyboard for simple ideas or practicing- that is where it all comes from, simplicity.
Try one!
November 7th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
WHAT EVERY POTENTIAL VIRTUOSO HAS DREAMED OF!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I DON’T HAVE THIS PRODUCT YET. BUT, IT IS THE EXACT TOOL I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. I’VE ALWAYS WANTED
A LIGHT, PORTABLE KEYBOARD SO I CAN PRACTICE MY PIECES, TECHNICAL EXCERCISES AND SCALES WHILE IN THE CAR OR WAITING BETWEEN CLASSES. NOW THE PERFECT PORTABLE KEYBOARD IS HERE WEIGHING IN AT JUST
12 POUNDS!!! I KNOW RIGHT NOW EVEN BEFORE PLAYING IT THAT IT DESERVES 5 STARS. THANK YOU YAMAHA! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
November 7th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
NO power adapter
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
When have you ever purchased an electrical device of this magnitude which you cannot use because a power adapter/ cord does NOT come with the standard instrument. Are you kidding me????
November 8th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Fantastic product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a beginning adult piano player and was a little hesitant to shell out 300 big ones for this piano given the mixed reviews.
But.. I am soooo glad I did!! This piano is absolutely great!! For those who complain about the feel of the keys, I really believe that the feel is terrific and you would only have a negative reaction to them if you were a sensitive life-long player on regular pianos. For those who recommend shelling out a couple of hundred more bucks for a privia, you have to realize that those things weigh 2-3 times as much, and are harder to move around and require a stand. You can play the NP30 casually without a stand because it is so light. Furthermore, the sound of the NP30 is absolutely fantastic!! My in-laws have an upright piano and after playing the NP30 for weeks and then playing their piano I was frankly shocked at how terrible their piano sounded compared to the NP30! Bottom line is, if you are a lifelong pianist or training to become a concert pianist you will probably be disappointed with the NP30 but if you are a beginning, intermediate, or casual player like me you will be absolutely thrilled! I challenge you to find a used NP30 on Craig’s List – You will not find one! I promise that I do not work for the piano company or am being payed to write this review.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Perfect practice keyboard
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was looking for a “dummy” keyboard on which I could learn and repeat difficult passages hundreds of times in succession without driving the neighbors mad. I also wanted to be able to practice late at night or early in the morning at weekends. The “annoyance to neighbors” factor has always held me back from practicing properly as I’m constantly aware how loud my real piano must sound to the poor folks next door. This keyboard more than meets the requirements.
Although the keys have a spring mechanism and not a hammer action, they feel more realistic than the keys on previous generations of electronic keyboards. If you want a basic no-frills keyboard to learn music and to drill sequences of notes into your fingers, as I do, this does the job perfectly, and there is no need to spend several times as much money on an 88-key hammer-action keyboard. The 76 keys are enough for all music up to at least Beethoven and much music later than that. The keys are marginally shorter than conventional keys, but the difference is not noticeable when playing.
The sound that comes out of those integrated speakers is surprisingly realistic (the harpsichord being particularly convincing), and the volume slider control that lets you play any dynamic from silent upwards is useful if, like me, you don’t like wearing headphones and you only need minimal auditory feedback to confirm that you’re playing the right notes. I would have no hesitation in recommending this keyboard to students living in a residence hall, as its light weight and portability make it a practical and versatile instrument which can be loaded into the back of a car in seconds. It is extremely good value for money (I bought mine in the UK, where for some reason the price is lower than in Europe or the US). If I didn’t already own a real piano I would probably buy a more expensive 88-key weighted keyboard, but as a supplementary practice tool to complement an acoustic piano, this is a perfect compromise. The power supply included with the keyboard is heavy and bulky, but at least it has a generous amount cable.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:15 am
Very handy instrument for amateur or professional musicians (not for programmers or auto-pilot cadets)
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
If you’d like a piano just to be able to fool with the hundreds of sounds, onboard rhythms and tunes, look into a comparably priced YPG or DGX series of Yamaha pianos. But if you’re serious about playing, or learning how to play, do yourself a favor and step away from the automation, the “karaoke machines with keys.” Insist on an instrument that doesn’t look like a souped-up, spaced-out toy and that will require you to actually play it. If you can manage without anything close to authentic “feel” (I remember when electrics weren’t even touch sensitive), and if you like the idea of carrying your instrument with no more hassle than a saxophonist or guitarist, the NP30 represents a breakthrough in terms of balancing cost, quality and convenience.
As a professional pianist, I normally require external amplification and keyboards that can be split to allow me to walk bass lines in the left hand (at the moment, I’m inclined to say the Kurweil SP2 is the least expensive professional instrument suitable for such purposes). But there are occasions when I’m asked simply to provide solo or background piano for a luncheon, cocktail gathering, reception, etc. In such instances, this keyboard fills the bill, and does so with style, convenience, and eminent practicality. It’s as light weight as they come, it has on-board speakers, and it doesn’t look like one of those chrome-colored, overly automated “toys” sold at Best Buy.
No, the piano sounds don’t blow me away (nor, for that matter, does the hyped “Triple-Strike Kurzweil Piano”), the touch is far from being weighted and realistic, the speakers are not the most powerful or full-frequencied. (But they’ve proven adequate for background music in small rooms, though I’ll admit I usually have a spare amp in the car, just in case.) And for classical music, as opposed to pop tunes, I’d probably accept the extra load of 88, rather than 76, keys. But those are the trade-offs for the conveniences mentioned above.
Ironically, a keyboard like this can “force” you into positive playing patterns. For instance, I like to make extensive use during solos of widely-spaced block chords (piano great Red Garland made a living doing this), but on a keyboard this light it’s not very effective to play blocked-chord solos of any sort. Instead, I’m forced to concentrate more on my finger work and to play with unaccustomed restraint which, in my case, is not necessarily for the bad.
In short, this is probably as “low” as you can go and still retain a modicum of professionalism (not to mention personal pride) as a paid performer. I should mention that I still have the lightest albeit discontinued piano stand ever made–an aluminum fold-out X-style device that uses a “fabric” belt and scarcely weighs as much as a pound. Why no manufacturer has picked up on this design befuddles me. Wish I’d purchased a couple more 25 years ago.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:07 am
I’ve been waiting for something like this for years
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Until now, there hasn’t been an affordable 76-key keyboard that weighs ONLY 12 POUNDS and can RUN ON BATTERIES!
Keyboardists who don’t need all the bells and whistles of sequencers and synthesizers will be delighted with this ultra-light keyboard. There are only a few sounds (a couple pianos, harpsichord, electric piano), but for little cocktail piano, wedding or singer-songwriter gigs, often you only need a piano sound. (Yamaha is known for its authentic piano sounds.)
No more breaking your back carrying your keyboard. Now if someone could just find a way to create a light and powerful amplifier… (This keyboard also has built-in speakers, but for most performing situations you would need more volume than they provide. However, if you’re just playing at home the volume is sufficient.)
November 10th, 2009 at 7:21 am
keyboard or AM radio?
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
It turns out that the Yamaha NP30 is also…. a radio! After playing a couple of times, it started playing AM radio. I don’t know how exactly the keyboard resonates with AM frequencies but it does and it sounds pitiful! Worse yet, the keys now sound as if they get transmitted from the station I’m “listening” to, with a lot of white noise. Very bizarre and resetting the power did not fix it, so it’s now a permanent problem….
November 10th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Nice product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Very nice product for the price; very stylish. At the price offered here – it is a steal. I bought the stand also. Mine came with the power cord.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Not bad but not great.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The sounds are not very good- quite disappointing for a Yamaha product. I wouldn’t call it a stage piano per sey, although it makes a great MIDI controller. As a music educator, I have always admired the first-rate Yamaha line of both musical instruments, lessons, and service. However, keyboards like the NP30, (as well as many of their PSR models) do not have full-sized keys. Some of my students have complained that they over-reach the keys on their Yamaha keyboard and fall short of keys on an upright piano. This is basically a toy. It might gig well, but doesn’t seem like it can take the abuse of gigging.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:30 am
A very nice, affordable instrument
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The sounds are pleasant and the action is much nicer than the PSS-480 I used to own. I wish it had a line-out and the headphones jack was in the front (preferably 2). It’s awkward to change the battery when bolted to the stand. Other than that, I’m very happy with the design choices and compromises Yamaha made.
The stand for this is: Yamaha L3C Bolt-On Keyboard Stand.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Cheap and portable, but the keys feel too light
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought this because, like other reviewers, I needed a “dummy” keyboard to practise on. I was aware that the keys were not weighted, but was disappointed to discover that they feel *just the same* as ordinary keyboards, i.e. too light. It’s nice to have 76 keys, but they are narrower than those of a real piano (by only about 3%, but it feels quite different). It’s definitely very unsuitable for someone to learn the piano on. However, for the amateur jazz or rock/pop pianist wanting a cheap and portable keyboard to play in gigs with, it’s very convenient and sounds very good for the price.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Don’t expect too many things with cheap stuff.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Though price is reasonable,there is a serious defect in this piano. KEY WEIGHTING. I’ve never played with digital piano, but this piano’s key weighting is terrible. It is so light, when compared with grand piano, so I feel like l’m playing with toy. Even though design is great, and sound is so beautiful, if you got used to playing with an acoustic piano, don’t buy it, you may not be satisfied with. Go for more high-end model, which has hammer weighting keys.