Yamaha P-115 Digital Piano Review
Updated: 14.12.2017
Sound
Well, what can I say! I was just shocked when I played this in our local music shop. I used to own a Yamaha P-90 many years ago (previous model), and I used it as a stage piano and occasionally at home. I owned that for over 10 years, which just goes to show how long a Yamaha piano can last without the need for an upgrade.
Now that the P-115 is out, I just had to go and try it for myself. I have extremely fond memories of my old P-90, so I was excited to see the difference with this new model after all these years. I wasn’t sure if it was possible to improve on the last model as I loved it so much, but I was so very wrong!
The grand piano sound is just amazing. The additional sounds that you always get with digital pianos nowadays are also fantastic. Strings, electric pianos, classical organ and much more are available with this model. I probably sat for about an hour playing this digital piano, so it’s a good job I am good friends with the music shops owner, otherwise they probably would have thrown me out!
Getting back to the piano sound, I just can’t really put it into words. It might be cliché to say that you just have to go and play it, but it’s true. Some of the things I listen out for when it comes to the sound of a piano are the rich tones of the bass notes, and the crispness of the treble. This is exactly what you get.
Over the last few years, the technology and sampling of the grand piano sound that goes into a digital piano has dramatically improved. And it certainly shows with the Yamaha P-115.
Please click here to listen to just how great it sounds:
Touch and feel
The graded hammer action that accompanies the higher models like the Yamaha P-115 is a very welcome feature. This effect, which is extremely popular nowadays, provides the piano with an extremely realistic touch and feel – just like a real acoustic.
The keys are basically heavier in the bass, and get lighter as you move up the keyboard. This gives the player a nice balance when playing any song or style. I am an experienced blues and boogie woogie player, so this GHS effect allows me to bounce my left hand bass line with ease, whilst allowing me to quickly play the lighter notes at the top.
Another great feature that has been added to the Yamaha P-115 is the matte black finish keys, as well as the nice red velvet strip across the top. These little touches are what makes Yamaha stand out from the rest, as you can tell that no expense has been spared in making this not only sound like a real grand piano, but also play like one!
Price
At around £530, this digital piano is definitely worth considering if you’ve looked at the Yamaha P-45. You always expect to get a better sound and feel when you spend more money, and I can confidently say that spending a little more on this rather than the Yamaha P-45 is worth considering.
However, you don’t really need to even compare this to other pianos at similar prices. If you are happy to spend £500ish on a digital piano, then there is no need to look elsewhere. This is it, you’ve found the right one 🙂
Summary
I think I’ve pretty much covered everything that I can think of when it comes to reviewing this digital piano. It is such a fantastic sound for the price you pay, and is certainly well suited to any piano player.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner who has never touched the keys of a piano, or whether you’re an experienced player, performer or teacher. The Yamaha P-115 is perfect for anyone with a budget of around £500 and isn’t sure what to buy.
