Aloha Bill; "What I see is parents choosing a $200 Casio keyboard instead of the Lester spinet. The student will play on this for a couple of years and as one piano teacher puts it,"the (students) hands tense up because a very light touch produces a sound immediately". Right now the going price for a Lester Spinet (in my area) in working order would be about $300. Can you find a keyboard with piano touch for that price? In 5 years the Lester Spinet will still be worth $300, what would the keyboard be worth? Don't get me wrong, I understand the point you are making, I'm just adding my observations. Bill Springer, RPT Honolulu" _________________seperator_______________ Bill; Honestly I was not making a point, although after rereading my post I see where that might be construed. This is really an ongoing conversation with music teachers in this area and some equally excellent teachers have very diverging views on the subject. A Lester spinet in this area sells for from 700 to 900 dollars privately and from 1200-1400 at a dealer. In no way would I ever suggest that any student start with a Casio, or any other keyboard without 'piano touch'. Used Keyboards, with 'piano touch', in this area can be purchased in the 900-1500 price range. Now 'piano touch' does not feel like a spinet, but a spinet does not feel like a console, and a console does not feel like an upright, and an upright does not feel like a grand. However 'piano touch' does simulate the touch in as much as it has a "let off point" and is sensitive to pressure as is a piano key. Only keyboards that have this feature are considered in this question. Good point about relative value Bill, the Lesters selling for 700-1400 are 40 &50 years old whereas the keyboards selling for 900-1500 are three or four years old. The Lesters sold new for aprox 450.00 and the keyboards sold new for aprox 2700.00 . Regards Jim Bryant (FL)
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