The Roland RP500 digital piano is designed to deliver high-quality piano sounds while meeting the needs of the beginner student as well as the aspiring musician. The RP500 is built with practice friendly features for developing learners including Bluetooth connectivity. Connect to the latest IOS & android apps such as Roland’s Free Piano partner 2 The RP500 comes with everything you need to get started including a matching bench and Roland headphones.
We have the Casio Celviano AP500, and my mum was gifted the Roland by a friend who didn't need it anymore. Nice friend:). The tone of the Roland was good, and our piano player (AMEB grade 8) noted the keyboard action of the Roland was "a bit better".
However neither compare to our early 1900s Victor upright piano for proper key action. As an aside, it was $50 on ebay, listed as "recently tuned". Turned up to check it out and it was a bit dusty, and played 441Hz on the A above middle C when we tested it. Hasn't been tuned in 4 years since, and in humid summer dry winter Brisbane, still near enough to 440Hz not to matter.
TL;DR - if you have $1,299 to spend on a piano, can't go wrong with a Roland. Their resale value is excellent too.
Very nice friend indeed!
My musician friends around me all vouch for Roland, or Nord, followed closely by Yamaha. I ended up getting this for $850 few years ago and quite happy with it.
It’s no Steinway but is it on discount? Looking to get one
Personally I'd get this for under $500 after Casio cashback and eBay 17% plus discount.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/324808649865?hash=item4ba01aac89…
How much for a proper stand? Do they have an official one or just get a third party brand?
They do have a proper stand, but I'm happy with a $50 portable stand. Means I can move my setup around. Also I don't need a full pedal set as I'm learning.
Excellent value Roland with stand, pedals. Got the FP30 and it is comparable to our grand piano.
Renting pianos is a thing.
I pay about $6/wk for a Roland FP10 with a balloon payout if I decide to keep it at any point.
So when it's brand new it's exciting and fun to learn. But if it's not getting used in 12mo it cost me a few hundred bucks and it goes back. If the family is still playing it, then I pay for it or keep renting.
Taking a $1300 risk on someone learning to play piano seems nuts.
Brilliant idea - time to do some Google sleuthing
Has anyone got any advice on these pianos, a bit of research makes me think this is like over 6 years old and although it was pretty well rated, it’s features are a bit dated now.