Action Regulation & Key Return Speed

[MannyKeen09]

Hello all.

I've been on the hunt for a new digital/hybrid piano, and I need one with good same-key repetition (Thibaudet's Alborada del Gracioso or Argerich's Scarlatti K141 levels of speed). I was considering the purchase of a Casio GP, based off this fun little demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhbkRYVPkSc.

However, when I went down to my local dealers to try out the demo units, I found the same-key repetition behaviour to be lacklustre in comparison not only to somewhat well-regulated grands, but also other digital pianos of the current generation from other makers. While the hammer heads certainly did bob up and down with each press (I saw them do so from the top), it felt like the key return was too slow, such that either most of my presses amounted either to (close to) silent strikes if I played a bit deeper into the key, or this resulted in an inability to smoothly control the dynamics for passages of same-key repeated notes. I initially assumed that the Casio GP action simply wasn't able to keep up; but if it could handle the beating it took in the demonstration video, I don't see why it can't in theory.

My suspicion is that the demo units at my local dealer have been sitting around, and the action has deteriorated somewhat, allowing friction to get in the way of repetition ease. I should mention that this is something I've observed not only at my local dealer, but also in other countries' dealers I've visited when I travelled, so I don't think this is just an isolated case of a poor demo unit. My questions are as follows:

 

1. Does the Casio GP action need regulation and maintenance? Could this help improve the repetition behaviour I experienced?
2. How far is one able to regulate or tweak the action? If the Casio GP key return is simply not as quick by default, is it convenient and possible to modify the action?

 

The action of the Casio GP is relatively light, substantial, and the slightly shallow key-dip all adds to my enjoyment of the instrument; but the repetition behaviour is really a deal-breaker for me.

 

Thank you.

[Brad Saucier]

Welcome to the forums!  Well, I've never heard of one of these needing maintenance or anyone ever doing any modifications. These may simply not be the piano for your needs.  Actions can be a very personal thing, so I can certainly appreciate your experience with it.  I haven't tried one personally, but my experience on the forums says that people really like them.  Maybe you just need a little more time to get a feeling for the Casio?  It's worth a try.   

[Jokeyman123]

If any adjustments are possible, I would think an acoustic piano technician the only person capable of modifying the feel of this action-if you can find one-and based upon what I see (diagrams below at posted link) doesn't look easy if possible at all.

 

The critical aspect comparing digitals to acoustic grands  is not only the variations even with acoustic grands, but the fact that it must be almost impossible to duplicate the nuances created and experienced by a felt hammer hitting a physical string or strings, since the tone produced can even be (theoretically at least) varied based upon the player's physical makeup, although I've always been dubious of this. Could be-if you play anything by Lizst, then compare it to anything played by Mozart-maybe not a stylistically valid comparison-a case could be made that their approach to playing might sound different given the same piano, and same piece! I wish i could hear that.

 

Recently listening to piano pieces by Eldar Djangirov, I thought it was Chick Corea as their touch and approach to playing must have been quite similar. I think Corea preferred acoustic Yamahas, not sure about Eldar.

 

I have not played a GP Celviano so cannot speak from experience but have kept my PX560 and other digital pianos and have played grands specifically Steinways. Key repetition is such a huge debate on many user groups, and personal preference is hard to quantify. Fatar alone (OEM for many of the major digital pianos) has at least 4 variations of their 88-key piano action key assemblies, including a new escapement action. I have had trouble with carpal tunnel from years of playing digitals, I never experienced that on the Steinways, even after hours of playing. I do recall-repetition even with an 8 foot Steinway was not particularly fast due to its mass I suppose, and didn't feel quite as heavy as some digitals surprisingly but was definitely more capable of execution of repeated notes with finer nuance (softer dynamics) than any digital I've played, but no experience with the GP series.

 

https://www.casio.com/us/electronic-musical-instruments/celviano/technology/