Classenti Digital Pianos

Current models

P1

CDP1

CDP2

CDP3

GR1

Comments and Questions

Mr. Howard

Many thanks for your informative book on digital pianos.  There's nothing I've
found elsewhere matches its comprehensiveness and objectivity.   Will you
indulge a question from the US?   I'm a middle aged adult just returning to
piano after lessons as a child that didn't produce much beyond musical
interest.  After many years, I now think I can devote the needed time to
practice/learning. 

A reputable music store in the US is directing me toward a Yahama CLP 330 at a
price of $2500 US plus shipping.   While I don't mind paying a bit more to have
a relationship with a dealer, the Classenti CDP3 is $2050 US plus shipping.  
After reading your book, the Classenti CDP2 and CDP1 would appear more than
adequate for my needs until I become rather accomplished.  I'm leaning toward
the CDP2 at a price of $1500 US --- $1,000 less than the Yahama CLP 330.  The
CDP1 is even less expensive of course but for about $300, the few additional
features seem an acceptable indulgence.

I am perhaps most concerned about the resolution of problems, should any arise. 
Considering the "war" between on-line and brick and mortar music stores (you
must think we yanks see everything as a "war") how challenging would it be to
get service on the Classenti when needed?  Will I have to ship it back to the
online dealer?  Will they just send parts and ask me to install?

Many thanks for your insights.

Paul M

Reply/ Hi Paul

Classenti pianos aren't currently available in
the US...

But I've heard that they will be soon.

So, if you want a piano right now, then I
recommend the Yamaha CLP330.

The CLP330 is marginally better all-round
than the Classenti CDP1. It would fairer to
compare it against the Classenti CDP2 really.

If you don't mind waiting for the Classenti
then I suggest emailing Classenti directly:
info@classenti.com. They should be able to
give you some indication when the pianos
will be available in the US.

They'll also be able to answer any warranty
questions you have.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

--

Hi, Graham,

I'm so grateful for your valuable information in your free PDF book, which helps me
narrow down my second digital piano selection to one of the three:

Yamaha CLP330, Classenti CDP2, Yamaha CLP320.

  My current digital piano is a Casio PX-130, before which my experience in weighted
keyboards was touching a low-end upright piano for no more than one hour as a child.  Now I decide to entertain my future with joy of playing piano.  Due to limited space and
earning I decided to go with digital pianos.

  I didn't know how far I could go as a 37-year old self-teaching beginner, so I chose
PX-130 at first.  Five months later now I realized I'm so interested and advancing
smoothly.  I can play seven solo pieces without sheets and with expression now, and begin to feel that the PX-130 is a bit poor in meeting my further needs, especially the simple portable pedal and the limited key sensitivity.

  I'd like to know how far PX-130 has to go the catch up with  the above three or an
acoustic piano in terms of key touch, which is the factor I value most.  Anyhow I really
want to prepare myself better from now on by practicing on a model as close as possible to an acoustic piano, so I plan to shop around and upgrade.

  The problem is I have no chance to test a Classenti side by side with a Yamaha and an acoustic upright or grand.  But the money for value of Classenti is more inviting for
taking a risk without testing.  I found that in your PDF guide the CDP2 is still rated a
little lower than both CLP330 and 320 in terms of touch and sound.  I'd like to know if
this difference is really noticeable and worth stressing on for a forever amateur player
like me who will not hit real acoustic piano keys very often in future.  Also in my case
does the difference between CLP320 and 330 matter that much?

  And do all acoustic pianos even share the same feeling of touch so that there is a
fixed standard for refinement of touch in digital pianos?  A Classenti is
heavy-fully-weighted, while a CLP model is only fully-weighted, so we know there is a
difference  in between. Then how can both claim to have authentic touch?

  Thanks a lot for your time in my long message and question list.  I really appreciate
your advice.

  Sincere regards,

Fei, Toronto, Canada

Reply/ Hi Fei

Very sorry for the late reply. I've been away.

The three pianos you've short listed are all
very pleasing to play...

The CLP320 has a lighter key touch than the
CLP330 and CDP2. So I would rule that one out.

It's a very subtle difference between fully-
weighted and heavy-weighted.

I would describe it as this:

Upright pianos, although most of these vary in
key weight too, have a slightly lighter key touch
than a grand piano. This is due to the way the
hammer strikes the string, and also the way the
mechanism works.

The Classenti hammer action was designed with
this process in mind.

Classenti have managed to recreate the feel and
repetition of a grand piano mechanism.

The grand piano mechanism works mostly on gravity...

The hammer is pushed up to the string by (putting
it simply), the key. The hammer strikes the string
and then falls back down.

An upright piano achieves the same result but uses
a combination of springs and tapes to return the
hammer to its resting place.

The grand piano mechanism is clearly better, and
offers a faster repetition and more solid touch.

It's this 'solidness' and feel to the key when
the hammer returns that Classenti has emulated.

They call this 'Heavy-Weighted' keys.

Back to your question, I would choose the Classenti
on touch and the Yamaha on sound.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

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