Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano

10 Responses

1. Byron K. Guernsey :

   (May 24th, 2010)

   Rating

   I found several reviews of other Yamaha keyboards that had a grand piano built in, and several of them pointed to this one as a huge value for the price. The internal Piano sounds are very good, but you only have about 5 or 6 sounds. I didn’t buy it for the internal sounds. I bought it because of its semi-weighted and graded keys, and the fact that it had a Midi in/out port. Many of the current generation of entry-level Yamaha keyboards now have just a USB port for interface with a computer over a midi chipset, but lack that actual MIDI ports for connecting to other midi equipment. This keyboard has the midi ports.

   Its also very lightweight and genuinely portable. My only complaint was that the description said it shipped with a power adapter, and it did not. Most of the sites I checked said the power adapter was sold separately, so I was surprised that it was listed here on Amazon with it…but then it wasn’t included.

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2. Matthew :

   (May 24th, 2010)

   Rating

   Does the NP-30 represent a compromise? Yes. If it’s in your budget to spend $1,000 to $1,200 more – then you will find that something like the Yamaha YPD223 or the Yamaha P-155 has noticeably better sound, true weighted hammer-key action, etc. But if your budget is around $300, then the NP-30 represents an excellent choice. The default “grand piano” voice is very good. No, not as good as the YDP223, for example, but still very good. Several of the 9 other voices are also very good – particularly the vibes. You won’t confuse the key action with weighted hammer action for a moment – but on the other hand, it’s much better than the completely non-piano feel of some keyboards I’ve played. Again – yes, it’s a compromise… but it’s excellent for the price range. I’m quite happy with it. And I love the fact that it’s so light-weight and portable. (I do recommend getting the separate sustain pedal, since it doesn’t come with that.)

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3. Robinson Jeffers :

   (May 25th, 2010)

   Rating

   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.

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4. Ariel Goldschmidt :

   (May 25th, 2010)

   Rating

   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.

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5. Trecarra :

   (May 25th, 2010)

   Rating

   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!

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6. Michael MacGuinness :

   (May 26th, 2010)

   Rating

   After regretting quitting piano lessons when I was 11, 42 years later I decided to start again. Not having a piano, I decided to buy a keyboard. I didn’t want a ‘toy’ or one that had a bunch of extras, but I wanted quality. While this keyboard can’t duplicate the feel of a real piano, it comes very close. The sound is perfect, I love the portability, and I like the professional look (it doesn’t have a bunch of flashy colored panels, lights, and buttons). I wish Yamaha made a model just like this but with all 88 keys.

   I suppose that someone really serious about their music would want to have a real piano or spend a lot more for a more full featured keyboard, but I love this one! My piano teacher was impressed with the keyboard and my lessons are going very well! My son-in-law was very impressed with it… and unlike me, he actually can play! Now he wants one.

   The sound produced is fine for my purposes. I haven’t tried external speakers with this yet, but I think it would improve the sound quality. It does sound awesome with headphones!

   I would recommend this keyboard to someone just beginning or for someone who doesn’t have room for a piano or wants portability.

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7. Intuitions :

   (May 28th, 2010)

   Rating

   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!

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8. FoxMom6 :

   (May 28th, 2010)

   Rating

   I spent days researching the best keyboard to purchase for my children. We have four children taking piano lessons and only one piano! They were fighting over piano time. We had a Yamaha that had 61 keys, but they soon outgrew it. We wanted an 88 key keyboard, but they were out of our price range. The piano teacher thought the 76 would suffice for the vast majority of songs, so that’s where my search began. This keyboard has 76 full sized graduated keys. It sounds just like our real piano. It doesn’t have all the extra stuff we didn’t need or want. It fits in the kid’s rooms and is easy to move. This solved all our piano problems! I knew that Yamaha was the desired brand, but there were so many choices. I am so happy with this keyboard! It is perfect for our needs and is worth every penny! If you are looking for an affordable, high quality, and the next best thing to a full sized piano for your students – this is the keyboard for you! Oh, make sure to buy the power adapter and a foot pedal! (Head phones are great too when your siblings/ parents are trying to read!)

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9. anon-new-yorker :

   (May 28th, 2010)

   Rating

   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.)

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10. C. Orde :

    (May 30th, 2010)

    Rating

    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.

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