I bought an Yamaha NC30 in silver and it's a beautiful keyboard. I wanted a keyboard that was inexpensive and was easily portable, and it's almost impossibly light. I can jam round the camp-fire, or easily lug it to a gig. It runs off six batteries, and the speakers are loud enough for the camp-fire jam, or a jam at a house party.

The two in-built pianos (classic and rock) are fantastic, as are the two electric pianos, as are vibes and strings. The two organs are church/Baroque organs and I would have liked one or two "pop" Organs (e.g. Vox and Hammond, esp over the two Harpsichords). As it is I tend to stick to Electric Piano. The NC30 permits the layering of two voices at once, so putting a low-level strings or vibes in the background of a piano fills out the sound beautifully.

They key action is not the same as a high-end piano simulation, but it is far and away better than a plastic MIDI controller of the same price.

At a gig I use it as a MIDI controller, into a Laptop running Hammond and Vox Organs, Electric Pianos, Clavinets, and various effect units. It's handy having a larger keyboard (six ocataves) as I can split they keyboard into two instruments (e.g. two octave Clavinet D6, four octave Hammond B3).

It could do with some MIDI contollers (e.g. pitch wheel, buttons, dials, faders) but I guess that would have put the price and weight up.

I'm not going to give full manufacturer's specifications on this Piano as the web is full of Yamaha dealerships doing just this. I'd rather give my impressions of this instrument as a musician of advancing years.

First of all the NP 30 is NOT a Kurzweil, a P85 Yamaha, or even a Casio Privia. If you want this type of action then you'll have to pay for it. However, it is an amazing lightweight six octave Piano that can be carried with one hand. It can be used simply anywhere, and gives a Pianist the freedom of a guitarist in that it can be played in the garden, on the beach etc. using batteries. Of course to use it for musical engagements you'd also need a stand. Either a X-Stand or Yamaha's own screw on stand. You'd also need an adaptor, small amplifier in anything bigger than the tiniest of venues, and a sustain pedal.

But for a musician working say a dinner piano engagement in a City centre hotel with no car parking close by it would be feasible to carry the accessories in a back pack, the piano in one hand and the stand in another. Even public transport could be an option with this instrument. A carry bag would be essential though. The adaptor strangely enough is one of the heaviest keyboard adaptors I've ever come across!

The instrument is constructed to the standard musicians expect of Yamaha. The box keys are slightly shorter than many pianos, and have an unusually wide gap between each one. Nicely finished with a strip of red felt. The touch is Yamaha's "soft touch". The bass section is heavier to the touch than the treble. It by no sense of the imagination compares to a hammer action digital or acoustic though, but does provide a pleasing resistance to the fingers.

Usual selection of Yamaha Digital Piano voices, - harpsichords that very few people use etc. The standard Piano tone is excellent. I have a Clavinova and there is very little difference in tone. Obviously the speakers not the same though. Organ no. 2 would be ideal for outdoor wedding ceremonies, Vibes are really nice as is Electric Piano no. 1 and Strings. There is the usual reverb, tuning, key transposition etc.

You can buy this Piano in either black or silver and it looks really attractive and businesslike.

Some people have detected a buzzing noise on certain notes on these Pianos. I have not detected anything as yet. The speakers are quite remarkable. They point towards the player. If you put a demo. song on full volume and then walk away from the NP30 you realise just what great output these tiny speakers give. I put mine through a small Marshall amplifier (you'll need to adjust to avoid too much "top" sound). The Music Stand is really good in that it has substantial depth for placing band scores etc. Would also be a boon to learners who are sometimes distracted by insubstantial stands and sheet music falling on the floor.

There are some bargains to be had online. I bought mine new including an adaptor for just over £160!

Back in 1965 when I was a teenager thumping away at a stiff, out of tune old Knauss upright Piano for kids dancing lessons I could have only dreamed about something like this. I use mine for Quartet work playing Ballroom Dancing.

Every Pianist should have one! Ten out of ten to Yamaha.