YAMAHAP115 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano with Sustain Pedal, Black

I've only had this for a week and I'm already loving it.The first thing to note is its action. Yamaha calls this Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), which is the most entry-level of Yamaha's fully-weighted systems. The keys tend to be heavier than most uprights, and comparable to the average grand piano (a little heavier than Yamaha but lighter than Steinway). The lower keys are weighted more heavily to simulate the physics of a real piano. It took me a day or two to get accustomed to the weight, but now it feels totally natural. GHS is not going to be as good as GH/GHE/GH3 for repeated notes. For playing middle C as 16th notes, it starts to get muddy around 120 with somewhat sloppy technique (but is fine on good technique), becomes significantly more difficult to play around 160, and becomes almost impossible at 200 even with the best technique. I'm sure a higher-end keyboard will be better at this, but in practice there just aren't that many pieces that require 16th note repetition above 120, so it's not a dealbreaker.The sound quality is very good. Turning up the volume to max with touch sensitivity set to normal produces a response which is most similar to an acoustic piano. If you use headphones, you might want to turn it down a bit, or it will hurt your ears. Throughout the range, the response is very realistic, down to a pianissimo, though fortissimo could be louder and have a more brilliant timbre. You can choose from a regular grand piano or a mellower or brighter version of it. Initially I found the default to be a bit too mellow, but I eventually got used to it; it's only a matter of personal preference. There are other voices but I don't know if I'd ever use them (except perhaps the harpsichord). If you want tons of voices and fancy features then get the DGX650 instead.As for accurately recreating the sympathetic effects of an acoustic piano, it has the basics down. A note played and held without pedal sounds different from a note played and held with pedal. With a good pedal like the LP5A, half-pedaling is supported. If you press the pedal, play a note, release the note, press the note again without making a sound, and release the pedal, the note will still be sustained. However, if you hold down one key without making a sound and play the same note an octave away (and release), the key will not sound, suggesting that sympathetic resonance is only simulated locally without regards to other keys which are pressed.This keyboard is for beginners who want a piano with realistic action but don't want to shell out thousands for an acoustic before deciding whether to continue learning piano, or advanced amateurs who used to play piano growing up but have now moved out and can't fit a real piano in their new place or justify the expense. I'm the latter case, but I wish I had such a piano when starting out. We got an upright piano about 2-3 years into my learning, and before that I was playing on an unweighted Yamaha that couldn't even produce dynamics. If you're considering a $100 piano, I highly urge you to get this one instead. If you can afford the tuition, then you can afford the $400 difference in price to get a vastly different learning experience.The weight is substantial but still portable. The best way to describe it is: I wouldn't want to drag around all the time to perform, but it is very easy to set up in a small apartment and put away in storage when it is not needed.EDIT: I stopped by Guitar Center the other day and tested out some other pianos for fun. Compared to the P-115, the Casio PX-160 (its main competitor) has somewhat heavier action and synthetic ivory/ebony keys which some people prefer, but the sound quality of the P-115 is better in my opinion. The pedaling effects are quite similar. Ultimately there are many more similarities between the two than differences and you can't go wrong with either.

I’ve had the Yamaha P115 Digital Piano for a little over two weeks now and I’m loving it! As an intermediate classical pianist who grew up using a baby grand piano, I was skeptical about owning a digital piano since nothing compares to the real thing. However, with the P115, I can confidently say it feels very similar to the keys of an acoustic piano, delivers beautiful sound quality, and is easy to move.Keys/Action - The keys and or action feel like an acoustic piano thanks to what Yamaha calls Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), which allows for a fully weighted system across the keyboard. This means the lower keys are heavier and the higher keys are lighter to stimulate the physics of a real piano. As for the finish, Yamaha opted for a glossy feel which competes against some Casio models that use textured keys to provide better grip. If you’re anything like me and your hands sweat profusely during long practice sessions, this may be a concern. Fortunately, I’ve had the pleasure of playing on both finishes and I prefer Yamaha’s gloss finish because it’s more authentic to a real piano, despite occasional finger slips.Sound - According to the product description on Amazon, “The Pure CF Sound Engine faithfully reproduces the tone of a meticulously sampled Yamaha acclaimed 9' CFIIIS concert grand piano.” In other words, if you’ve ever played on lower end digital pianos, you’ll notice a difference immediately. In addition to pure sound quality, the P115 resonates beautifully at all volumes. If you’re like me and live in a dorm, it’s fun blasting full volume during the day but also being able to keep it down during quiet hours. The P115 also comes with a standard headphone jack so that’s always available for you as well. From my use, I’ve noticed the sound is clearer when using headphones, however, I personally don’t like using headphones in general, which may not be a problem for you.Portability - As previously mentioned, my living space is severely limited so having a digital piano is like getting the best of both worlds. I’m able to enjoy quality-built keys and sound while still being able to move it around easily, as opposed to an acoustic upright/grand piano. Depending on how often you plan to move it, you can either choose from a simple X-stand or opt for Yamaha’s custom upright stand. I chose an X-stand, simply because I love being able to pack up and go whenever I want to play piano at a new place.TLDR; I highly recommend Yamaha’s P115 if you’re on the market for a digital piano that feels authentic, sounds authentic, doesn’t take up too much space, and is easily portable.

I moved from an upright to this keyboard after spending a fortune on tuning and repairs over my years of being a pianist. After some reviews and playing one at a local music store, I decided to throw caution to the wind and purchase this beauty. I am very far from being disappointed. The more I play it the more I regret not making the purchase sooner. It feels very very close to my upright and it sounds even better! The dynamics are sensitive enough to achieve a great deal of expression.The three piano choices are all very beautiful and can go towards many different styles of music. The harpsichord is authentic in that it doesn't allow changes in dynamic like many other keyboards I've tried in the past. This may be a plus for some and a negative for others. Regardless, it is perfect for playing various baroque pieces. The three pianos and the harpsichord far exceeded my expectations for the price. My one complaint is the strings. If you've ever heard Garritan on Finale before, it is similar to the strings there.I can't say much for the rest of the sounds. I suppose they are authentic enough, but I don't have enough experience to say anything of value hereOverall, if you're looking for a keyboard, I would highly recommend this. Beginner, intermediate, or maybe an advanced player on the go, you should definitely try it out if you're considering a purchase that won't break your savings. I feel like I recieved MUCH more than what I payed for.I received this product from Music Direct as a refurbished product. It came with the original packaging, a sustain pedal, and a music rack. The product looks and feels very new.