expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Feb 2, 2023
Feb 2, 2023 8:15 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Feb 2, 2023
Feb 2, 2023 8:15 PM
Korg LP-380 88-Keys Grand Digital Piano (Rosewood Black)
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$1,350
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Top Comments
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...
28 Comments
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Personally, I love the Rolands in the $3.5k+ range but don't care for the cheaper models at all, while I think the sound on this Korg is in the top tier of pianos under $1.5k. I'm mostly talking about headphone (or external speaker) sound since you aren't going to find truly good speakers on a piano under $2k--the question is more, "what is the least bad."
In either case, if you like the feel (or look) and aren't crazy about the sound, you can use it to control a software synthesizer on your computer/phone/iPad that can go head to head with the most expensive digital pianos.
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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...
Kawai in general has a lighter action than Korg. On the KDP75 I believe it is identical to the action on the ES110 which is highly regarded by many as the best action under $1000 and some even think though it is better than far more expensive ones. It's a very responsive action, however some people complain that it can be too bouncy.
Sound is very subjective, but Kawai is favored for their featured piano sounds, and this model has the Shigeru sample. Whereas Kawai can be kind of mediocre on the other sounds. Korg generally has much better samples than Kawai for Rhodes, Wurlitzer, etc. and probably a brighter sound overall.
The stretch tuning on Korg can make it sound a bit out of tune, similar to Roland.
Kawai KDP75 comes with an adjustable bench, Korg LP380U does not. Also the lid on the Kawai is a slide-out lid which is much nicer in my opinion and probably more durable. You can place it against a wall. The Korg will need a little bit of space behind it to accommodate the flip up lid.
Both suck at holding up music books. I have seen people talk about modding the Korg lid to hold music better. With a flat surface like the Kawai has you can use a cookbook stand or similar if needed.
One of the major selling points on the Korg LP380 is it is made in Japan and therefore should have a higher build quality. I'm not sure that it really makes a difference here.
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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...
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...
At any rate, I don't know if there are any rubber parts or other components that might need replacement after such a long time. To be honest, given the two options I'd probably get this Korg just because of the age difference. The Yamahas, especially from that time, are very well built, but they're still electronic devices that I suspect will all fail at some point.
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