[RICH87]

hello, can anybody tell me when the above model was launched as i,ve a chance to purchase one for my daughter as a first "real" piano. ive read that the clavinovas are the choice of teachers but just would like some feedback before i choose to buy, also what sort of price should i expect to pay, many thanks, richard

[markymark]

I don't know when the CLP120 was introduced, but I can tell you that it was discontinued by Yamaha around 2005. I know that there was a CLP121 around during the early 90s but the fact that you can still buy the CLP120 online would suggest that this is not associated with that range - I mean, there is no way they kept the same digital in production for the past 15 years or so.

Yamaha tend to use CLP1XX and change the first number to show the beginning of a new range. When they get to CLP9XX, they go back to CLP1XX and go through the number system again.

I would say it's a post 2000 model. The current CLP220 is a descendant.

[RICH87]

thanks for reply, thought the 120 was the predecessor of the 220 as the 320 is due later this year i believe, ah logic is a wonderful thing!. what sort of price should i pay?, my intended purchase has had little use and is in excellent condition. as a new 220 is £700 if i have to pay say £400 to £500 am tempted to buy new or wait until the new 320 arrives, but am hoping to spend £300 as my daughter is at the first stages of learning. thanks again, richard

[markymark]

The seller is being a little optimistic in hoping that he'll get 700GBP for the CLP120 he has. When they started, they were introduced at 1199GBP or so. It really depends on how long he has owned the keyboard - judging by the cut-off date, we can guess he has a three year old piano.

However, the CLP220 has been out for a couple of years now and is about to be updated. I can find suppliers who are selling CLP220s for 650GBP and the CLP220 is a far superior digital piano!! By the time the CLP320 comes out, that value will decrease even more - how much cheaper then, should the CLP120 be?

Be wary about waiting for the CLP320 for the reasons stated already. New models tend to be over-priced and then settle before a complete windfall towards the end of it's novelty.

Perhaps your seller needs to think about his price again!

Aside from this, you can pick up YDP131 or 151 cheaply at the moment as the YDP range is also due for an immenent update, probably due to be released before the CLP range. They are entry level digitals and the 151 model is practically the same as the CLP220 save for the casing. These keyboard are selling within the 350-500GBP price range, brand new that is.

[RICH87]

sorry i haven,t made myself clear. the seller hasn,t indicated a price of 700GBP but if i have to pay between 4-500GBP i am tempted to get a clp220 like you say at 650-700GBP, If i could pay 300-350GBP would this be a fair price to pay, thanks , richard

[markymark]

If you can get a CLP220 in the 300-400GBP range, it'd be more than reasonable - you'd be flippin' lucky.

I would say that the CLP220 will devalue substantially over time as the CLP320 establishes itself, but it is both a waiting game and a gamble to an extent. You can see that the CLP120s are still being sold at 700GBP and they really shouldn't be as they're technically obsolete.

What you could do is continue to monitor online prices for the CLP220 and wait for the launch of the 320 (which should be out really soon) and compare the keyboards. I hear that 5 layer sampling features in the new pianos (or at least some of them) which may be worth considering. They will be dear when they first come out and it will be hard to get a reasonable price (note, not a cheap bargain!) in the CLP3XX range, so take that into consideration before pinning too many hopes on getting a bargain for a new CLP320.

Beside internet, consider secondhand models too. Many fanatics may be willing to part with their CLP220 cheaply for a quick sale in order to get the newest model. Sounds strange, but those folks are out there! Check your local paper too. I'm reluctant to recommend Ebay purchases in digital instruments, as I always advise people to try the instrument before buying and this is even more the case when purchasing secondhand! If you decide to go down that route, be careful that the piano is really what you want and that it is in good condition. There is no substitute for trying the piano out yourself, though!