Good Deal on Beginner Digital Piano?

kiwijunglist on 16/10/2025 - 19:19
Last edited 16/10/2025 - 19:51

Hi all

Looking for some advice.

My 6-year-old starts piano lessons soon, and I expect our 4-year-old will learn when starting primary school, so we’re looking for a good beginner digital piano. I’m based in Wellington.

Budget & preferences:

  • Prefer to stay under $1,000 NZD.

  • Prefer weighted / hammer keys, but space is limited — so I’m considering either an 88-key weighted (hammer action) or a compact 61 / 73-key non-hammer keyboard.

  • May need to buy an adjustable height stool and piano stand

Models I’m considering:

  • Yamaha P-45

  • Korg B2 Plus

  • Casio compact non-hammer, 61 keys
    e.g. Casio CT-S1 — $529 or Casio CT-S400 — $549

I’m heading to shops this weekend to try them out and I’m hoping the Casio option will be sufficient as it's cheaper and more compact.

Additional asks:

  • Does anyone know if Rockshop (or other NZ music stores) offer membership discounts, student/teacher pricing, or promotions for digital pianos?

  • What are some good music shops in Wellington / NZ you’d recommend buying from (for keyboards / digital pianos)?

  • What are good adjustable piano stool / bench options (decent quality, good value) that fit in with beginner setups?

  • Any tips for negotiating in stores (getting free stand / pedal / warranty), timing discounts or clearance sales in NZ, or importing?

Would love to hear your experience or suggestions.

General Discussion

Comments

Search through all the comments in this post.
  • Alan6984 on 16/10/2025 - 21:20
    +2

    I know nothing about pianos, but I would have thought that it was the sort of thing that you could pick up second-hand at a fraction of the cost of new, especially if you are patient / in no particular rush, and could be tuned up (which I think needs doing periodically anyway)?

    • kiwijunglist on 16/10/2025 - 22:29

      Digital pianos don't need tuning generally 😂

      • Alan6984 on 17/10/2025 - 00:12

        Digital pianos don't need tuning generally 😂

        Good point!

        Apologies - my bad :-(

        Maybe consider a second-hand real one!

  • jimpappa on 17/10/2025 - 09:10

    Buying second hand music gear is the best option.
    Also you could find a good MIDI controller with weighted keys.
    That would be much cheaper new, but you need a computer to make use of that.
    I can recommend Arturia MIDI keyboards and software.

  • mrhale on 17/10/2025 - 14:13

    I’m in a similar position and have been reading up online as well as popping into a MusicWorks. I think if the aim for your kids is playing the piano (and I mean an actual piano) and they are getting lessons on an actual piano, then you’ve got to go weighted keys.

    Of those, between the big brands - Yamaha, Kawai and Roland, then they are pretty similar and people tend to just prefer the particular feel of one over the other, based on their own preferences.

    Casio makes ones that tend to be smaller and lighter (the Privia range) but most say the feel/action of the keys is slightly compromised as a result - this might not be noticeable to you (I haven’t been able to track one down in a store myself) and depends on your priorities re size/space.

    Equally, there are some other brands that make cheaper ones, Medeli, Alesis (again, I haven’t managed to be able to try one in store) - but usual caveats on smaller brands apply, unknown quality/support etc.

    Can definitely look secondhand, if you’re not after fancy advanced features like loads of sounds/voices, Bluetooth to connect to speakers, USB interfaces etc then the basics haven’t changed too much over the last decade. From what I can see on Trademe, there are some good buys but also a bit of the ‘my $1400 keyboard 8 years ago must still be worth $1000 now’ overly-hopeful sellers.

    • kiwijunglist on 17/10/2025 - 17:57

      Spot on about the trademe / Facebook market place expectations. Additionally a lot less for sale in Wellington compared to Auckland/chch.

  • mrhale on 17/10/2025 - 14:19

    Also, a lot of the ones for sale people seem to have gone the whole hog and gotten the more solid built in stands/pedals along with the keyboards - for most of these, you can still take the keyboard out and put it on a regular X stand that you can more easily pack away if space is a big concern (there are some which are specifically more ‘piano-like’ and it’s all integrated and you can’t).

  • Stoffel on 17/10/2025 - 20:30

    Our daughter just started lessons and we bought her a second hand Casio CDP-120 off Trademe recently for $400 including a stand. I know nothing about pianos but her music teacher said it needed weighted keys and it does have that.

  • Baagin on 19/10/2025 - 06:07

    I bought one when on holiday in Australia a few years ago, they were a lot cheaper there. eg the P45 is around A$500 but around NZ$900 here. Got Australian GST refunded at the airport when leaving too.

    Then, like kids do, didnt want to play piano anymore. So sold for more than I bought it for.

    • kiwijunglist on 19/10/2025 - 07:35

      Yup. I've noticed this too. I'm used to the NZ price premium, but for digital pianos the difference feels exaggerated

  • CheapAzChips on 19/10/2025 - 21:42

    We have the Korg B2 (don't think it's a Plus), bought it in 2020 and have mostly been very happy with it, though one key has died recently. Haven't looked into repair costs yet.

  • kiwijunglist on 21/10/2025 - 20:18

    I bought a near new (2023 manufactured) Korg C1 Air and Korg piano stool for $1200. Hopefully if the kids stop playing it, i won't take too huge a bit in the resale.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join