SW or HP keys for light electric piano

[Jon Lukas]

I bought an Electro 73SW a week ago...I love it (though I'm exchanging it because the power supply was pretty loud).

I got it because I wanted a nice light feel for playing electric pianos...a lighter, quicker feel than my Kawai MP6. The Electro SW works great for that and it's lots of fun, maybe it's exactly what I'm looking for.

I wondering, though, if I should return it and get the Electro HP (or Piano HP)...I have heard from some that the key action on the HP is considerably lighter than a typical digital piano...but I've also heard it's not that light. If it is nice and light to play, I might like it as much as my Electro SW, and maybe even more, and acoustic piano would be better I'm sure.

The only way I can try the HP action is to order and potentially return the keyboard...so I'm trying to find out if it's worth the trouble.

I have tried the HA action a little, and I could go back to guitar center and try it again...is the HP action lighter to play than the HA? That's what I'd be looking for.

Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can provide.

[Marlowes]

HI!

What is your "background"?
That might be an important input for selection of keybed.
Acoustic piano? Synth? Real EP? Organ grinder?
Myself, I was 50 years ago (!) a classical piano student.

I found the HP not as "heavy" as the HA. I switched from a E3HP to a Piano88 (HA) to a Stage2 HA. Totally love them all!
The Piano and the Stage seems to differ, but they both have HA type keybed. I've read that the after touch makes a bit of a difference.
But - I can also enjoy playing synth and EP style sounds om my plastic Lead 2X keybed.

I guess it's also a matter of adapting to the character of the sound/style/feeling. And let the music carry you away ---

[anotherscott]

I actually find the HA to be a lighter feeling action to play than the HP (or, at least, than other boards that are based around the same Fatar TP100 action).

[Marlowes]

Interesting, Anotherscott ... you are probably and totally right - different manufaturers might order different versions of TP/100 & TP/40 (LR, GH, H, M, L ,AFT, ES ... )

[Jon Lukas]

Marlowes, I played some classical piano in college (real acoustic pianos), and I've messed around with various kinds of low-end keyboards. I had a real rhodes for a little while a long time ago. I'm playing jazz and soul/pop, hoping to get into a little funk (clav). The Kawai MP6 is the first good keyboard I've owned, except for a brief encounter with the Korg SV1, which I loved except for the key clacking on some notes.

While I love my Kawai MP6, I had a vision of playing electric pianos on a quick light feeling keyboard...that it would have the feel and sound I'm going for. The Electro 4 73SW fulfilled my vision for the most part, but it's a little difficult for acoustic piano. But if the HP is not considerably lighter feeling than a more standard digital piano action, or the HA, then the SW is probably what I need. So far, most people seem to think I won't get that easy, light feel with the HP.

Thank you for your input!