Yamaha P60 Digital Piano

Feature:
I only wish that this board had a "variation" feature like some other boards of Yamaha's do, so that perhaps there would be a pipe organ with some massive rumbling in it, like the P90 has. Other than this, I don't have a problem using the keyboard keys to switch reverbs, adjust octaves of the dual voice, etc. The only thing I dislike is that there are no labels inscribed on the board for accessing these features; thus, I've had to put sticky tape labels on the front to remember which keys activate the features.

Quality:
High quality construction. The unit itself is constructed of a hard plastic frame and body similar to a Kurzweil synth or PC88, for instance. Keys move accurately, neither stiff nor too flimsy or fast, and feel like a real piano.

Value:
Considering what it does for the price, this is an unbelievable value. I can't believe that they managed to make it produce decent quality sounds for this class of retail price. I've compared it side by side with some much more expensive acoustic pianos and I hate to say it, but the P-60 is actually acceptable as a substitute if you are on a budget. Sampling technology is advancing by leaps and bounds these days.

Desirability:
The P90 looks better and is lighter in weight, but this product is a nice one as well. Nothing's perfect and keyboard players should not expect an ultralight titanium surfboard for under $1000! ;-)

Sound:
As good as you can possibly get in a budget digital piano without paying much, much more. Useful only for the first two grand piano voices, which are really splendid (especially compared to the p90, for some odd reason that I cannot fathom), and maybe the strings for mixing w/pianos. Everything else voicewise is mediocre, especially the weak organ sounds (unlike the incredible, deep pipe organ sample in the p-90) but that's not what you buy this board for. Built-in speakers are very nice to have, a little lacking in bass but otherwise very accurate and crisp. What a gem! I played this board and a p90 side by side for over an hour and I still can't justify a trade-up. The salesman kept trying to convince me that the piano samples sounded better on the p90 but my mother and I are semi-concert pianists and I can hear the difference quite easily. The P-60's piano sound is rich and full compared to the light and weaker P-90.

Support:
I have no experience with Yamaha technical support (yet).

Overall:
The problem here is that many keyboardists want 1) good pianos 2) good organs 3) a few good strings & choirs to mix in with 1). I think that I will be upgrading as soon as I can do it, because this keyboard does not have the features I really wanted. However, it gave me great piano sounds at a great price. As long as I am financially constrained, I'll keep this board, then I will probably move up to a P-90-type unit, for no more than $1200-1400. I'm hoping that by that time, the best of both boards will be available in one unit. Yamaha should really devote a little more research into putting all the best representative sounds of each class of instrument into one keyboard rather than making some models good at only piano, and others good at only the organs, etc. This brings to mind the TG33 module back in the old days. It was a relatively short-lived product whose main claim to faim was an excellent organ sample and some synth sounds, out of hundreds of available voices. Yamaha products are typical for having hundreds of near-useless XG voices when only 8-10 of the voices are really beautifully constructed. The lesson here should be: focus on quality, not quantity!

Quality:
I FEEL THE CASING FOR THIS KEYBOARD COULD BE STURDIER. I TAKE MINE ON THE GO SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND I DO HAVE A FEW BLEMISHES ON IT NOW.

Value:
I THOUGHT IT WAS WELL WORTH THE PRICE, BUT IT DOES MAKE MORE SENSE TO BUY IT AS A PACKAGE DEAL FROM DEALERS WHO OFFER THAT.

Desirability:
THERE IS NOTHING GREAT ABOUT ITS APPEARANCE. IT IS JUST A GREAT KEYBOARD IF YOU DON'T WANT ALL THOSE UNNECESSARY BELLS AND WHISTLES.

Support:
HAVE NOT DEALT WITH THEM ON THIS KEYBOARD BUT YAMAHA IS GREAT QUALITY AND YOU REALLY CAN'T GO WRONG.

Overall:
I LOVE THIS KEYBOARD AND WILL USE IT UNTIL IT WEARS OUT. THE SOUND AND FEEL OF THIS KEYBOARD WAS AS CLOSE TO MY PIANO AS I COULD FIND. IT IS LIKE BEING ABLE TO TAKE MY PIANO WITH ME.