I actually have both, this LP-380U and the FP-10 (FRP-1 from Costco). Here's what I like about each, and don't like about each:
FP-10 Like:
Heavy action (that's a personal preference)
Action simulates hammer touching the string, has a unique feel when you press down the key
Dynamics are decent to control
Ivory touch of the keys, feels like provide a bit better grip
MIDI over USB - great for using with a VST
FP-10 Dislike:
Keys are a tad slow to return, makes it difficult to play very fast repeating keys or certain trills
Pedal is very annoying. Gotta chase it like a mouse. Quite literally. Can be upgraded for ~50 but I believe it's still only a on/off pedal. Which means you can't do half-pedaling
Keys feel plasticy. Not the touch of the keys, but they lack the mass of a solid wooden key (to be expected)
Action a tad noisy (if you care about it)
No lid. I've had mine for a year and it's gotten quite dusty. Dust is not good for the sensors
Music stand lacks a bit of a rail to keep printed sheets from sliding off. Books might be ok. I put double-sided tape on the bottom and stuck cabinet liner to it. Now sheets don't slide off anymore
LP-380U Likes:
Keys return more rapidly, allows playing faster pieces
Action is more quiet compared to the FP-10
Keys feel a tad more solid, but don't have the ivory feel
More realistic pedal which can do half-pedaling
All 3 pedals (ok, you don't get all 4...) and they are fixed to the frame
Built-in lid
MIDI over USB - great for using with a VST
LP-380U Dislikes:
Keys feel a bit springy, as in they seem to require too little force to push down
Dynamics are much more difficult to control. It does have 3 sensitivity settings, but I'm not really liking any of them. The "hardest" is in my opinion the best, but still hard to control dynamics. Basically, how "loud" or "hard" a note sounds depending on how soft or hard you press a key.
Doesn't save settings, every power on reverts almost all settings to the default
Music "stand" isn't great for printed sheets as there isn't anything backing the paper, so it just curves and falls off. Might be ok for books. I just put a piece of card board behind the printed sheets, which solves the problem
Note that I use both pianos with Pianoteq, so I don't use the built-in speakers. Pianoteq allows me to customize the velocity curve, and I have found a curve that makes controlling dynamics on the LP-380U more reasonable. Still harder than it should be in my opinion.
I am also a bit spoiled as I also have a Yamaha Clavinova with wooden keys. None of these two come even close to the feel of playing on the Yamaha. But that's to be expected, it's a totally different price range. Note that I haven't touched an acoustic piano in decades, so I honestly don't know anymore how all three of mine compare to real ones. But action is wildly different on those anyway, so...
I think this goes down to this price every 2 months or so. I bought it last time and it is very nice and compact. Our piano teacher thought it was a ~$2k piano when she used it. Happy with the purchase so far but there are 2 things I don't like about it (not a deal breaker because these also make it compact). Book stand it work just ok but it may be difficult to keep the book in pace sometimes. The other is when you sit you may hit your knee to the speaker mounted underneath the keyboard so you may have to be careful.
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Is this a good price point to consider? Have been planning for a while to get one. I am at a beginners level to make a decision. Suggestions will be appreciated.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank hko
02-02-2023 at 04:38 PM.
I think this goes down to this price every 2 months or so. I bought it last time and it is very nice and compact. Our piano teacher thought it was a ~$2k piano when she used it. Happy with the purchase so far but there are 2 things I don't like about it (not a deal breaker because these also make it compact). Book stand it work just ok but it may be difficult to keep the book in pace sometimes. The other is when you sit you may hit your knee to the speaker mounted underneath the keyboard so you may have to be careful.
I think this goes down to this price every 2 months or so. I bought it last time and it is very nice and compact. Our piano teacher thought it was a ~$2k piano when she used it. Happy with the purchase so far but there are 2 things I don't like about it (not a deal breaker because these also make it compact). Book stand it work just ok but it may be difficult to keep the book in pace sometimes. The other is when you sit you may hit your knee to the speaker mounted underneath the keyboard so you may have to be careful.
Get some slick amps and big speakers, it'll sound better than a $10k piano.
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FP-10 Like:
Heavy action (that's a personal preference)
Action simulates hammer touching the string, has a unique feel when you press down the key
Dynamics are decent to control
Ivory touch of the keys, feels like provide a bit better grip
MIDI over USB - great for using with a VST
FP-10 Dislike:
Keys are a tad slow to return, makes it difficult to play very fast repeating keys or certain trills
Pedal is very annoying. Gotta chase it like a mouse. Quite literally. Can be upgraded for ~50 but I believe it's still only a on/off pedal. Which means you can't do half-pedaling
Keys feel plasticy. Not the touch of the keys, but they lack the mass of a solid wooden key (to be expected)
Action a tad noisy (if you care about it)
No lid. I've had mine for a year and it's gotten quite dusty. Dust is not good for the sensors
Music stand lacks a bit of a rail to keep printed sheets from sliding off. Books might be ok. I put double-sided tape on the bottom and stuck cabinet liner to it. Now sheets don't slide off anymore
LP-380U Likes:
Keys return more rapidly, allows playing faster pieces
Action is more quiet compared to the FP-10
Keys feel a tad more solid, but don't have the ivory feel
More realistic pedal which can do half-pedaling
All 3 pedals (ok, you don't get all 4...) and they are fixed to the frame
Built-in lid
MIDI over USB - great for using with a VST
LP-380U Dislikes:
Keys feel a bit springy, as in they seem to require too little force to push down
Dynamics are much more difficult to control. It does have 3 sensitivity settings, but I'm not really liking any of them. The "hardest" is in my opinion the best, but still hard to control dynamics. Basically, how "loud" or "hard" a note sounds depending on how soft or hard you press a key.
Doesn't save settings, every power on reverts almost all settings to the default
Music "stand" isn't great for printed sheets as there isn't anything backing the paper, so it just curves and falls off. Might be ok for books. I just put a piece of card board behind the printed sheets, which solves the problem
Note that I use both pianos with Pianoteq, so I don't use the built-in speakers. Pianoteq allows me to customize the velocity curve, and I have found a curve that makes controlling dynamics on the LP-380U more reasonable. Still harder than it should be in my opinion.
I am also a bit spoiled as I also have a Yamaha Clavinova with wooden keys. None of these two come even close to the feel of playing on the Yamaha. But that's to be expected, it's a totally different price range. Note that I haven't touched an acoustic piano in decades, so I honestly don't know anymore how all three of mine compare to real ones. But action is wildly different on those anyway, so...
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Is this a good deal?
(but that nit aside, Korg does make some good keyboards!)
750 lowest on record, idk, if you guys want slicker, maybe wait for $700
Edit: found it. 82 lb including stand.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank hko
But most new ones sold are the USB version. Including this one.