Digital Piano

I'm not an expert on the electronic side of keyboards, but would definitely go on the feel and basic sound as absolutely top priorities, so suspect my choice would also be the Yammie. I've never come across a duff Yammie anything.

I love this guy's review videos - the P145 sounds great to me.

Here he is playing the Yamaha P45 and the Roland FP10

I'm the least musical person I know, however my partner of many years is the opposite, being a gifted Saxophonist of multiple types, Flutist (mispelled), Pianist, and she also plays clarinet and ukelele.

When we bought our first house some 23 years ago, she wanted a digital piano, and after going to some kind of showroom place North of London, she opted for a Roland F-100, it has pedals (Do they all?), weighted keys that iirc can be adjusted.

She really likes it, used it a lot at the time, and uses it even more now as she does some private tuition every week.

It's been faultless, no issues at all, and if memory serves cost ~£1000 back in probably 2002 or 3.

Not my expertise but, is there a supplier with all options and a return policy?

I've bought bits and pieces from Thomann, but I think if it's a special gift, the professional reputation of Roland and Yamaha are worth it... Yamaha do utterly reliable stuff right from beginner instruments up to professional, and the quality control is second to none, even on the stuff that is now made in China. There's a reason professionals use both Yamahas and Rolands.

Exactly so re trumpets & trombones too... a great second-hand buy, as they pretty much keep all their value, where the lesser brands don't, especially the 'budget' student brands that are in effect Chinese knock-offs and lose half their value as you walk out of the door with them... better than nothing, but better to get a s/h Yamaha at the top of one's own budget.

Yep, as I say, they have their reputation for a reason. Only one muso response so far - he has the Yammie, and says it's fine, but reading up (he knows his technical stuff reasonably well), thinks the Roland might be a worth the extra $s.

As you say, I think either will be fine.

On the other hand, if you've got £400k to spare, why not get three 9ft grand pianos.

That was my point really. These things are really subjective and while grateful for a present the recipient may have really wanted the other.

I'd thank you for Shimano or Canon but I buy Campag and Nikon. 😏

I do recall the biggest thing that made the difference with the Roland, was the weighted keys, and the fact you could change the weighting if you wanted, she said it made it feel very much like an actual piano.

I forgot to mention, though perhaps it is obvious and they all have them, it has built in speakers, and also a headphone jack should they want to practice in private.

You've probably got enough to go on now, but here's what one of my younger jaazz musicians said:

"I’ve owned a P125 for 5 years, now gig with it. It’s basically a P45 with some extras, and it’s solid, no complaints. Good piano sound, the feel isn’t exceptional, it feels pretty standard, but the closest I could find at the time to a Korg with RH3 (nicest feel imo).

I play an FP30 at work, you can tell it’s more expensive, and yet simultaneously I find the feel (hammer action) radically off because although it’s a heavier feel (more realistic) it’s like I can feel the hammer hit the key straight after playing a note which you don’t noticeably feel on a real piano, that’s why I went for the Yamaha 5 years ago.

But I’ve not heard anyone else complain about this so chances are it’s just me and his wife won’t complain! In sum my opinion is:

Yamaha = standard, reliable, but nothing that special

Roland = more expensive, reliable, tries to be a little extra which either does or doesn’t pay off depending on how picky you are about hammer action feel."