Personal Keyboards for Beginners to Advanced Players | Product Review Yamaha YPG 235 | YPT 220 | EZ 200

Unlike Guitars or Bass Guitars, the Keyboards available today (through the miracle of integrated circuits technology) offer affordable instruments that are as good for learning as they are for performing. Now if you are a paid professional there may be some argument here but I would contend that for the average guy, the sound quality generated by these instruments rival the much more expensive brothers by Roland or Korg. While the key action may not be quite as weighted, they are very close. The electronics package may not be as advanced but I would contend that for a beginner to intermediate and advanced home player, or a starting band member these offer the very best in VALUE.

I have been learning the piano at different stages in my life and restarted this process in Iraq while I was working Morale Welfare and Recreation. I bought the YPG-235 and it was used not just by me but also by troop bands for performances. It is a rugged machine that had to put up with extremes of heat and dust. Never once did we encounter a problem, the maintenance I had to do could be done with a can of air, and a damp cloth. When I returned home from Iraq it was one of the first things I bought and I continue to use it daily as I explore my capabilities on keyboards.

Learning the keyboard, (piano, organ, etc) is best done on a quality instrument that will last a long time. The big differences in weighted key technology are astounding and the improved key action is the biggest improvement for electronic pianos. It feels the same to play this or an old home spinet, and very nearly for a concert Grand (a product that Yamaha is a world leader manufacturer).

One other note here (no pun intended), my Amazon research indicates that over 70% of the folks that view these instruments tend to buy it or one of the Yamaha variants. That is a high percentage and the product reviews will tell you why. So play away my friend play on!

This is my favorite of the three. The 76 key keyboard adds over an octave of capability that is needed for many classical pieces. The USB capability is a step up from the other two, and the data base is a little bigger. The internal amplifier is a little bigger as well and the difference is discernable if you are using it in a large room. This is the one of the three that could well be included in a performance setup though I would recommend an external amp or plugging it in to the house sound board. You can do this using the headphone out plug.

Aside from the extra keys, the YPG 235 also has a 6 track recording sequencer, which is a pro feature that you pay a lot more for in the higher end brands. The manual has easy to understand instructions on how to use it to build your own songs. The available drum kits, bass and strings voices allow you a measure of creativeness you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else. This really is the bridge between an intermediate player and a paid professional. The quality of the sound puts a solid steel deck under the feet of a budding pro on a budget. (At this Writing the too Low to Display price is <$250.)

The YPT 220 and the EZ 200 are essentially the same instrument electronically. The EZ 200 has a Touch Sensitive lighted keyboard which may be a good learning aid for a very young player. Is the functional equivalent of the old upright spinet home pianos that so much of my generation learned to play on. Prices on these are very good for the upcoming holiday season, the sound they offer along with the learning system are a value that just cannot be beat.

Here are a few enhancements that you may find useful for any of the three, the better sustain pedal is the M Audio one. I recommend it highly as the one included by Yamaha is functional but does not have as good a feel as the one shown here.

Additionally I would forgo the package deal with the X type keyboard stand. My personal experience is that the Z platform shown here is a much more stable and versatile stand that is well worth the investment.

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