Yamaha DGX505

I would recommend this if you want good sound qaulity. I used to have the DXG530, and the main set back with these models is the fact that you can only save your whole song recordings to a MIDI disk, which is all well and fine, but they are very prone to getting errors and wiping. So, if you really want this for recording purposes and you record into your keys? I wouldn't recommend it because MIDI disks and many of mine have erased because of this very fact along with other factors, but the fact of the matter is that MIDI disks are like tapes really and if they are left anywhere for any amount of time they could just erase. It's not worth it, not if you recording all your songs in whole and in bulk. I would suggest the next few models up where you can actually save to a data stick.

My Yamaha DGX505 is simple to use. Easy to record "songs". Basic accompaniments. Nice range of piano voices. Light weight and therefore easy to transport. And I appreciated the full 88 keys to play with. Have modified stand so that it can be lifted off existing stand for convenience of transporting for play-outs.

The Yamaha DGX505 keyboard is a very good instrument, apart from the aforementioned flaws, though I would like to say that it has been a great instrument for me, and it has fitted every one of my needs. It is even great if you are a pianist, as you don't have to pay someone to tune a piano each year.

Yamaha DGX505:

Oh dear, it's a Yamaha and I not only expected it to be good but I also wanted it to be good.

I had a chance to try out the new DGX505 7 octave piano based keyboard that is selling so fast. I had studied the demo. video several times and observed the demonstrator first of all plays a short passage from Fur Elise. Ok, so most kids learn to play this, so a good move by Yamaha. The piece also requires more than the average 4 or 5 octaves the average cheap keyboard can provide. The Grand Piano setting used in the demo. struck me as being lacking in tonal quality. The demonstrator's body language maybe also partially gives this away. Yes?

He then moves on to show how you can play 'Summer Holiday' with one or two fingers and have a magnificent auto backing. This progresses to 'The Muffin Man' which shows that no musical ability is needed as you can just vamp out the melody tempo with one's elbow!

My first impression of the Grand Piano setting was not good. My old Yamaha YPR-30 piano from 1990 has greater tonal quality. The organ voices reminded me of my Club playing days when one hoped to arrive to find a Hammond tonewheel instrument and cringed at the thought of a Yamaha, Baldwin etc.

Now don't get me wrong; this is a great entertainment package for families with children learning to play; or for the home pianist who prefers to spend an hour or so doing something creative rather than watch TV. I am not being a snob or elitist, - but did Yamaha intend any of the DGX series to be for more advanced or professional (ex-pro. in my case) musician? I tried all the lesser DGX models too with the same conclusion. I am almost embarrassed to admit I found exactly what I was looking for under the Casio name, in their extraordinary 'out of character' WK3500 keyboard.

I love Yamaha instruments and have a tremendous respect for them, but maybe a good way of describing the DGX is to compare it to another Japanese product, a Toyota Corolla car. Superb build quality and reliabilty, but totally lacking lustre.

I give my ratings out of years of admiration to Yamaha, but not this time I'm afraid.