YAMAHA P71 88-Key Digital Piano & Stand

This piano is awesome. I’ve been playing piano for nearly 25 years and did some pretty thorough research about what kind of keyboard I was gonna get. As far as I can tell, the action between the P-71 and the higher numbers is the same, the price difference being about the bells and whistles which come with the piano.

I got the home bundle which came with the Yamaha bench and stand. The bench is really sturdy, much more sturdy than it looks to me. I’ve been using it for tricep dips without a care in the world lol. The stand is very good and will really only wobble from outside factors like uneven floors.

This piano’s action is wonderful. I was building up hype for a long time and was happily surprised to not be disappointed at all when it finally arrived. It’s definitely feels pretty meaty and it’s got a bit more tendency to go up than a normal keyboard would, but that’s fine by me. The downward motion feels fantastic, like a very good upright piano. I am amazed that there is a point in the downward push that resists a bit more, that must be why the hammers are there. This really helps to add even more to the authentic piano feel. It’s fantastic! I couldn’t believe it at first and was wondering if it was some weird placebo effect.

The sound is definitely good enough for me. The way the pedaling works stands out to me because ‘bad pedaling’ is very very easy to notice on this piano, which is really kind of a good thing.

If you’re looking for a piano that allow for some good practice then I say go for this. The action is great and the sound is good. I’m blown away by the price point on this keyboard. I could’ve gone for a used upright starting at around 750 or this keyboard which is much easier to maintain, move, and keep for about 200 dollars less. The choice seemed pretty good at the time of purchase but now I am a real believer. I would make this purchase over a used upright any day.

I have played piano for 18 years now and recently moved into my own place. I desperately missed having a piano to play on a daily basis, but I do not have the space for a real piano. I did a SIGNIFICANT amount of research before settling on this Yamaha digital piano, because I wanted a high quality instrument that also did not hugely break the bank. As a professional musician, here is why I decided on the P71:

-The weighted keys on this instrument truly feel like the real thing. I’ve played on “plasticy” keyboards before and nothing is more unsatisfying if you’ve played on a real instrument throughout your life. The P71 feels just as genuine as playing a real piano. In fact, depending on piano brand, it feels smoother. The touch sensitivity is wonderful as well, and also adjustable to your liking!

-The sound is beautiful with a large volume range. I especially love the way the bass rings out with a gorgeous fullness. The higher octaves seem to be a little thinner, but that’s to be expected since it’s up the keyboard.

-There is so much variety on this instrument to play with! There are many customizable options on this piano and I haven’t even dived into everything it can do yet. Sound changes, sound combinations, sensitivity adjustments, tempo adjustments, etc etc etc. I love having the ability to experiment and find what I like for any given piece of music! However, I also liked the simplicity of the customizations; Sometimes, less is more with the amount of buttons and gadgets.

-Weight and travel. This piano isn’t “light” per say, but it’s not insanely heavy or difficult to travel with either. It’s a full 88-key size, but I can easily pick it up on my own (unlike some other digital piano brands). I was able to load this piano up into the back seat of my Honda Civic for a gig along with the stand and bench I bought separate. I was able to load all my gear onto one hotel cart and make it up to the rooftop bar in a single trip. Super convenient for me and the staff, since I didn’t have to bother them with setup assistance.

-Price. If I truly wanted to, I could’ve shelled out the cash to get a fancier digital piano. However, I felt confident that I would get almost the same experience with this one as well as the convenience factor of being able to travel and gig with it. You can pay more, but you’re most likely sacrificing the ability to leave your home with it without extra arrangements (because at that point you’re paying for something like a Clavinova, for example). I also appreciated the fact that I could set up a short-term payment plan with Amazon to afford this instrument. I am paying 80 bucks a month for 5 months and it’s mine to love on forever. If I did that with a more expensive digital piano, I’d be locked down for a solid year or more.

-Brand. Yamaha is a reputable brand in the music world and I trust their products. My professional model flute is a Yamaha (approx. $4000), and it plays better than some of the $8000 flutes I played on while selecting which instrument I would purchase in college. Yamaha=quality and I trust their pianos just as much as their other instruments.

Overall, this is among one of the best musical purchases I’ve made for myself. My piano is my self-care as well as a part of my profession, and I enjoy this instrument on a daily basis. You won’t regret it!

UPDATE, 8/3/2021: I’ve had this digital piano for almost two years now and I still love it SO much. I continue to play regularly and the quality is exactly the same as the day I bought it. This Yamaha is a winner!

UPDATE TWO, 11/22/2023: My beautiful Yamaha P71 is still going strong as ever. I lug this keyboard around for every big band gig I play, and it’s a staple in my music room at home. It continues to perform perfectly for me and has been consistent and reliable over the past four years.