Studiologic SL88 GT mk2 - TP400/W Action in a piano controller

Just as an aside really I wanted to reiterate how good the TP400W action is.

I have the Numa X Piano GT. It's having a little rest at the moment (in its box under the bed). I bought a Korg Grandstage X just before Christmas. I actually liked the action but it is definitely inferior to the Numa. I couldn't really get on with the Korg for other reasons so sent it back after three weeks. I now also have the Yamaha CP88 (I've owned one multiple times before). I also like the CP's action quite a lot. But the TP400W is better in certain ways. When you factor in price there just is nothing to touch the Numa X GT. And now for those who don't need the full range of functionality of a stage piano but who need one of the very best actions there is this SL88GT at a much lower price still. I think it is a serious bargain.

David B

That is good to know! It was for sure one of my doubts.

Cheers and… happy playing,

HZ

Asunder Sweetwater is showing $1k for the SL88 GT.

If that really is the price for the SL88 GT, it should be almost a no-brainer for anyone looking for a top quality midi controller piano action, at least if you're in the US. Hard to imagine anyone wanting to pay $2,500 for a Kawai VPC1 over this.

Outside of the US, pricing may be more competitive however.

jdg78 Outside of the US, pricing may be more competitive however.

Yes, I'd estimate the Studiologic to be at €900 to €1000 while the VPC-1 is generally priced at €1300. Still a gap but quite a bit smaller.

These prices include sales tax by the way, which is the common way of publishing prices over here. Often shipping is included as well.

Cheers!

HZ

HZPiano I enjoyed playing it when I tried the Piano GT last year. Hope I can visit Sweetwater again and test it in depth. I liked it at first play, though. Compared to a grand hybrid, if I want a space-saving setup, I'll go with slabs like this.

EssBrace ust as an aside really I wanted to reiterate how good the TP400W action is.

I have the Numa X Piano GT. It's having a little rest at the moment (in its box under the bed). I bought a Korg Grandstage X just before Christmas. I actually liked the action but it is definitely inferior to the Numa. I couldn't really get on with the Korg for other reasons so sent it back after three weeks. I now also have the Yamaha CP88 (I've owned one multiple times before). I also like the CP's action quite a lot. But the TP400W is better in certain ways. When you factor in price there just is nothing to touch the Numa X GT. And now for those who don't need the full range of functionality of a stage piano but who need one of the very best actions there is this SL88GT at a much lower price still. I think it is a serious bargain.

Good to hear. At this point I think I'm just looking for a nice to play controller to plug into a laptop, bypassing paying for unsatisfying features of slab pianos. For my purposes, playing at home with a daw, I think the SL88 GT could be a good fit. Hopefully it's not bug ridden upon release.

I could see the CP88 being a good choice for a live keyboard. It sounds very decent and has a good UI for live playing.

David B what’s wrong with escapement? I’ve never played an electronic keyboard without escapement. And it feels like what I might find on a grand piano.

David Lai I just didn't like the way it felt. For me it made the keyboard harder to play.

God Bless,
David

So you're better off with a Kawwai MP11, second hand, pivot length 24cm. Sorry but I can't see the appeal for these midi keyboard. You are paying for the action, right? At least you would expect an action as good as an acoustic one, but no, they skimp on what exactly? A few cm? 1 cm longer for them means £500 increase in the price? F.… my life…

David B I see. OK, thanks for explaining it to me!

David Lai what’s wrong with escapement? I’ve never played an electronic keyboard without escapement. And it feels like what I might find on a grand piano.

What's right with it? It seems to me it mostly doesn't matter much and just adds a little bit of friction.

Though I'd appreciate opinions of expert players 😉

Real escapement makes the hammer withdraw after the strike (needed in acoustic pianos) and takes some weight off the key after the strike.

_sem_ Well, I feel the escapement on my VPC 1 does a similar thing, and makes the down weight feel a bit easier to control for me.

_sem_ and takes some weight off the key after the strike.

"Some weight" can amount to up to half the upweight that would be there otherwise.

I'd love to have a digital piano action that does the same. I'd enjoy playing a lot more.

I recently played a 100+ year old Prussian upright in miraculously good condition, the escapement could clearly be felt and the reduction in upweight made the playing comfort exquisite.

Cheers and here's hoping…

HZ

David Lai Well, I feel the escapement on my VPC 1 does a similar thing, and makes the down weight feel a bit easier to control for me.

The escapement on the Numa does the opposite. It creates more friction right before the key bottoms out. The key press is nice and smooth until you get to the bottom then you have to press harder right before it bottoms out. To me it felt opposite of a real escapement mechanism on an acoustic piano. That's why I removed it and hope it doesn't come on the new MK2.

God Bless,
David

P.S. Also, on the white keys the sensor/note would be triggered just above the escapement/friction point. The black keys were different. With them the note would trigger more at the point of the escapement notch. The whole thing was messed up and IMO, poorly implemented.

David B I see. Thanks for the background info, David!

I just hope the black keys would be wider. It doesn't feel comfortable playing on the SL-88Grand, which was the main reason I bought my VPC1. The black keys on there felt comfortable playing. To me, my laymen language, I would say the black keys on the VPC1 are wider than those on the SL-88grand, and they also have a deeper travel.

David B

Thanks for that clear description, David.

Wow, that all sounds way off the mark for Fatar's design -- even while they call it their "finest key action ever". Even my humble little Roland does all of that quite nicely and accurately.

We'll all be curious how the SL88GT turns out, then. Availability is indicated for this March. How many nights sleep is that 😉?

Cheers and happy anticipation,

HZ

Hello,

I've seen a first (to me, at least) price for the SL88 GT in Europe:

€899,-

Which includes tax and shipping (as is usual in this neck of the woods).

Cheers and happy anticipation,

HZ

Just to point out, there may be an issue with what triple pedal unit can be used with the Numa X Piano GT and the SL88 GT Mk2 that could be a factor for some people. I read that the triple pedal unit that Studiologic offers for the Numa X Piano GT isn't the best, but that the Roland RPU3 triple pedal unit (which seems to be considered pretty good) can be used with it (I think the member David B may have pointed this out). But the Numa X Piano GT and the SL88 GT Mk2 seem to have different jacks for the triple pedal, so it's not clear what triple pedal units can be used with the SL88 GT Mk2.

(I've only looked at it a little bit, but it seems the Numa X Piano GT has 3 jacks that can work with a continuous pedal, while the SL88 GT Mk2 has only 2 jacks that can work with a continuous pedal while the 3rd jack can only work with a switch pedal.)

Numa X Piano GT:

https://www.studiologic-music.com/products/numa_x_piano_gt/

Pedals

Ped 1-2 Switch/Continuous

Ped 3 Multi Function

SL88 GT Mk2:

https://www.studiologic-music.com/products/slmk2/specs/

Pedals

Switch, switch/continuous, universal

First hands-on review of the new SL MK2 88GT

https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/3577635/re-studiologic-sl73-sl88-sl88gt-mk2.html#Post3577635

Hi folks! I spent quite a bit of time at the NAMM show demoing the new SL MK2 units, especially the GT model. I can confirm that the more premium ivory-feel keytops are not present on the SL88 GT, but rest assured that the keytops still feel great. I will probably be purchasing an SL88 GT in the near future, once they are available (likely in March from what I hear). I was also very impressed with the other units in the SL MK2 lineup. The response is good, but fast repetitions and playing towards the back of the keys were far more challenging to execute on the standard SL88/73. If I played music where fast repetitions weren't a top-priority, for $499 for the SL73/88 MK2, I feel like I would be hard-pressed to find a controller that plays and feels so good around that price range.

The lack of escapement on the SL88 GT is an advantage in my opinion, producing a lighter touch throughout each keystroke, in what limited sense I can describe it. As someone who prefers a lighter touch, especially compared to the heavier actions found in Yamaha and Roland, this is a major advantage. Around the corner from Studiologic's booth was the Rhodes booth which had two VPC1s (hooked up to sampled Rhodes instruments) to compare to directly. The RM3 Grand II action on the VPC1 is still good, but not $2500 (US retail) good. Regarding the entire SL Lineup, the brochure that I have indicates the following information, in case it isn't already fully published elsewhere:

Hmmm. So if this account is to be believed, it appears that they have removed the escapement and also changed the key surface. I don't mind losing the escapement, but it would be a bummer if they've really change the key surface, as the Numa X GT has probably the nicest feeling keys of any digital piano I've tried.

Still, for $1000 it represents tremendous value, and I'd be very tempted if I was still in the market for a midi controller.