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

Sweetwater is showing $1k for the SL88 GT.

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

That seems like a great deal!

EssBrace

Price is definitely better than a VPC1. Features too.

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