Yamaha P250

I tend to stick to the presets, and I'd be happy with an instrument with as few frills as possible, with all the development effort put into the preset sounds. Transposing is more fiddly than on the P200. You can change the organ drawbars in the tiny display, but it is not much fun.

I thought I might use the sequencer but I never have. I thought I might use those hundreds of extra synth sounds, but I never did.
All I want is piano, electric piano, bass and organ, and once a month, I'll try some of the other presets.

I like the built-in speakers and the heavy solid construction. You feel more like you're playing a proper instrument. You get used to the weight.

You can rest your music flat on it, which is really great (they moved that button on the P200 out of the way!).

I really like the feel of the keyboard. It makes you want to play it. It's quite a heavy action, but I think that has its advantages -you have a more controlled playing, and it gives a confident feel.

I'm happy with the main piano sound - It's realistic enough for me, but I haven't made any detailed comparisons. It sounds excellent on recordings. It can sound rather harsh through my Roland KC500, and I am looking to get a better / bigger amp. I quite fancy that Hammond-Suzuki Leslie 21 setup.

The electric piano sounds on this, and on the P200 are excellent.

The organ sounds are fine for occasional use, but I would love to see more easy-to-use organ settings, controls and options.

My old P200 is absolutely faultless after 4 years of gigging. My P250 has a line of pixels in the display which fade out occasionally, but you can still read it. Otherwise, it is also faultless. I guess I am a bit of a Yamaha fan.

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Personally I think it is good value, and I would buy their latest P-Series stage piano again. I just really like the overall package - the feel of the keyboard, the sound quality, the large solid construction, the reliable make.

Easy to use

Straight forward, no messing about - simplicity is good!

Excellent claviatur!!!!!

Here is what to do:
Buy the Clavia Nord Electro Rack and run it midi with your P-250. You then have absolutely excellent electric pianos, amazing B-3, and of course the P-250 Grand1 piano and synth section/pads.

I dislike the bit like kloink, kloink sound in the upper parts of the claviatur of the Yamaha acoustic pianos, particularly valid for the grand2 sound. On low tones, it's very nice. I also run Native Instruments Akoustik piano.
Well, then you got it!!!

Else I got a Yamaha grand in my living room. No electronics beats that one.

Yamaha never let you down, quality to the bitter end!!

Never needed any. Even my 20 year old DX-7 still works.

I would like a better pedal that does not make noice, but hey, that's fixed by utilising the small metallic like yamaha switch. Works perfectly in complete silence.

By the way, what is the difference from the P-300?? Anyone knows?

I use Logic Audio Platinum, Reason, Cubase SX as midi-applications.
The loads of preset sounds are awesome, especially the piano and electric piano sounds are mindblowing. This means they actually SOUND true and REAL!
I have studied on Steinways and Yamaha U1, U3, and C3 piano's. I am very familiar with Ibach piano's as well. When you need true, living piano sounds at your gig.. this IS your baby.
(Unless your hobby is to carry along a concert grand piano, or a fender rhodes, or any other piano for that matter)
Yamaha did an excellent job implementing those robust and crystal clean thoroughly sounding speakers. I am not lying and this is not a joke!; You truly believe you hear the selected piano type as if you're playing the real thing! Now THIS IS the real thing for sure! At first glance and impression this instrument to me was already legendary.. That's just the reason why I use this piano in the classroom and during performances.
The patch editor is easy to use, but it's not to be advised editing during performance! The piano itself really makes up for it though. Who needs a patch editor anyway? Well to be honest, I do..
The effects sound really credible; When I select the 3rd electr. piano for instance,I use the 'amp simulator'. Now I can start playing 'What I'd say'like Ray..WoooHoo!
By the way; Ray would wanna have one of these for sure!

The P250 has a 128-tone polyphony. It has an outstanding piano-action; you can play or study your classical as well as your jazz pieces at professional level without having to worry about your touche. It feels and it acts just like a proper professional piano would. So if you are a(becoming)professional PIANO player.. You NEED this! Especially when you lack room, and you have annoyed neighbours and you need a piano at gigs; This piano earns your money back, and delivers a 'live-feel' experience at a gig!
This piano does what you want it to do; It delivers tremendous sounds and feel. It has enough memory to fit several songs to record with the built-in sequencer (16 channels). It's ok when you need to arrange a song on the spot. There are probably more user friendly sequencers in several workstations or synths or even stagepianos like the RD700SX. Personally I like midi-audio sequencer programms better anyway, when composing or arranging. Nevertheless the sounds this baby delivers give you goosebumps. It delivers all midi capabilities I can think of. I wouldn't want to play synthy stuff on a PIANO anyway..I do like to record or sequence pianoparts to make scores..
Cuz that is what the P250 is; a PIANO.. One that makes you believe someone has been listening to your prayers..someone Japanese!!

This piano works well for rockers, jazz-cats, classical mozarts, bachs and beethovens. (where have they gone by the way??)

Since a year I have been using this piano in daily teaching practice.
There have never been any problems. It is built like an aircraft-carrier although this one wouldn't float. In fact it would drop and make it's way to the core of the earth! In other words; it is quite heavy. At the other hand it's that much more steady when playing it! This thing won't shake under your fingers, even when playing some of Little Richard-style, or Jerry Lee Lewis boogie woogie!

Untill now, I haven't had any problems. But I am confident with Yamaha instruments equipment. It hasn't ever failed me. I also own a Yamaha U3 at my home..

To be honest, this piano is worth it's every dime. You'd be an idiot if you pay full price at any circumstance. Always negotiate, even when you buy a pack of frozen hamburgers or a new toothbrush..
I love this instrument, period! It's weight (32.5 kg) can be overcome when there is anyone with arms and legs around you who could be of any support. Unless you have a personality disorder (no offence) this should not be of any problem, dig? When you don't need any speakers you'd might choose for another digital stagepiano.. But you are mistaking..you DO need speakers..especially when you hear and FEEL these P250 speakers!

Nothing is upgradable in the P250. It is a musical instrument first and a synthesizer and MIDI controller second. Synth capabilities are very limited and I haven't used them in any meaningful way. I use software synthesizers on my computer systems and do not intend to untilize the P250 synth capabilites. Therefore most of the above questions are irrelenvant with regards to this instrument. The manual is not bad. It does not provide many details, but offers good basic information. Overall, the instrument is easy to use, in my personal opinion.

128 notes of polyphony is a great feature! Has a complete set of Yamaha's proprietary MIDI XG with tons of sound effects of all kinds. Has no expansions capabilities at all. The grand piano sound and feel is the very best on the market, exceptionally realistic (I've tried about a dozen other keyboards too). An on-board 16-track sequencer is nice, but quite limited for professional use. No 64-bit drivers available yet. Must buy a 64-bit PC Interface, such as those available from M-Audio, to use it with the 64-bit computer systems and the new 64-bit Cakewalk Sonar 5, for state-of-the art music oproduction.

The best grand piano sound and touch of all competing brands. Great organs, chorus, guitar, digital pianos, less satisfactory strings. I think it works well for all kinds of music, but I use it mostly for Classical and sometimes for some Jazz and Pop. Onboard effects seem to be great, but I haven't used them a lot. It's very responsive, dynamic, sensitive instrument, the best velocity response and aftertouch I've ever seen on any digital keyboards.

It seems very solid, sturdy, weel-built. So far I haven't used it for a gig, but I would trust it and would use no backup, should I go on a gig.

Quite lousy. No toll-free number. Yamaha web sites hide their contact information, to assure you dont' bother them. They responded to my e-mail after 11 (eleven) days only, and their response to my question regarding the present or future compatibility with 64-bit computer systems was very careless and unsatisfactory.

Being a professionally trained classical pianist with a college degree in music, I really appreciate its grand piano sound and touch, which is second to none. This may not be important if you are looking for such features like sound expansion boards (check the Roland digital pianos and synths), or storage capacity (check the new Alesis Fusion HD). I personally would replace my P250.

Ok: big buttons: but the screen: please why won't they lears from ROLAND: the RD-series screens are so much better

Keyboard action: this is where I turn around and buy a ROLAND RD 700SX. The keyboard action is limited: let me explain: When hitting a GRAND PIANO keyboard: you only have to hit it down for 2 mm in roder to preduce a sound: the hammer action proceeds its movement to produce the sound by hitting the strings. ROLAND gives you this feature; true hammer action: you only have to barely hit the keys: as long as your velocity is fast enough to get the hammers to proceed in the upward direction. With YAMAHA: ooh my; every key needs to toutch the bodemboard in order to produce a sound (try it your self!!!): I am a professional player: this was (for me) the reason to buy an other instrument instead of this one...(I hear this a lot by the way,,,)

Very good: but The ROLAND 700SX has piano samples for each seperate key: amazing! and you get more; much much more...

Ask your salesman: it tends to crack (really) when you pick it up in a diagonal way; still; its a YAMAHA: so its a very good manufactured instrument, the former models still sell on the market(!)

Ok in europe

Its a piano: and the keyboard action (read above) is nothing compared to the real ting.

Its a piano: an ROLAND has given more attention to their piano samples...(RD-700SX)

Its stil a very fine instrument: I choose another: thats all,,,

This board is designed for gigging...even if you had never laid eyes on it before, you could walk onto a stage, sit down, and play the thing, change sounds, and tweak the eq with the 5 band EQ sliders. The menus are simple and the LED is nice and bright. Setting up does require two people to get the beast up on the stand, as it weighs over 70 lbs. I've got an ATA case with caster wheels on it so it comes in at 115 lbs. By the way, beware if you plan to fly to gigs. I had to take a smaller board on an international flight because Northwest Airlines, like most airlines, won't accept checked items weighing over 100lbs. Also, just about any 88 key board may exceed the dimension limits and incur an extra fee, but anything over 100 lbs is a no go for checked bags. You might be able to have a superlight case built, but it would have to weigh under 27 lbs and you would still be paying two fees: overweight (over 70) and oversize. If you are familiar with keyboards, you won't really need the manual as it is easy to figure out what is going on.

At 128 polyphony, you would need four hands to run out of voices. The effects seem nice and clean, but I haven't tried editing them yet. No expansion :(. Nice touch and the weight of the keys feels like the C series yamaha acoustics. Really reminds me of the C3. The 5 band EQ on the board is handy. So far I haven't figured out how to boost the volume of the bass when splitting the keyboard. If it can't do this that would be a major ommission. The onboard speakers are great...I think a good deal of the board's weight comes from the keys and the magnets on the speakers (big ones obviously). The thing is built like a tank, but I advise not placing anything on top of it without a towel or something to prevent scuffs. The music stand attaches in the back and is so far back that it is not that useful in real life scenarios. This was a major screw up in my opinion. I use charts a lot on gigs. You will need to get a table top music stand and place it on the P250 (there is plenty of room).

The acoustic is the best I've ever tried. I had a P120 before and this is even better...by far. Really sounds and feels like a Yamaha acoustic. The speakers ad nice vibration, and you can use the speakers while also running into the house PA. The volume knob is nice and easy to reach and adjust. The electic pianos are ok but a bit of a disappointment. The DX sounds are great, but the Fender sounds left me feeling like I couln't dig in properly for the sound I wanted. It's too bad you can't expand by adding cards or something. The XG sounds are handy, and there are quite a few bread and butter sounds, but also plenty of usesless stuff like submarine and airplane effects (maybe somebody uses them...). The organs suck...get a Roland organ with the drawbars.

So far so good. No need for a backup...but get a good ATA case.

Yamaha is reachable. I needed a voltage converter once and they told me what to get.

Probably the best stage piano out on the market. The acoustic piano is super excellent. That is why I bought it. The electric pianos are ok but not great and the organs suck. Built like a tank. Wish I knew how to make the bass loader when you spit...it might not be possible. It is heavy...this is a big boy but it is awesome on the gig for piano sounds...

This is more like a "player's instrument", so pretty simple to use. Tweaking is simple too, despite it's small led screen. You only need the manual for MIDI Controlling. (or tweaking patches if you're newbie at it)

Grand Piano 1 sounds realistic, Grand Piano 2 is good for people looking for a dry piano sound. Electric Pianos are very impressive, containing classic Rhodes sound, as well as some vintage and DX Eps.
Most presets are statisfying, and you'll probably find what you're looking for in XG sounds. I wish there were some more organ and synth patches, but this is not an Motif ES!

Polyphony is 128 notes, ensuring you won't run out of notes. Keyboard action is same as a "grand piano" (-you'll feel a little heavy if you're used to uprights), quite impressive.. I think this monster is the nearest electronic instrument to an acoustic piano.
It has some built-in effects like Phaser, Auto-Wah, Delay(which you can't control delay time), Rotary, and of course Chorus and Reverb. Again, this is not a Motif, but still good.
No Expansion.. Get a secondary board (like a motif :) ) and expand it.
It has a 16-channel sequencer. Use a workstation or computer for composing, this baby just collects some ideas coming thruogh your fingers.

Grands, EPs, Vibraphones are outstanding. Strings, Organs, Choirs are OK. In Xg sounds, you'll find a lot of good patches, but Brasses didn't impress me at all.
Very ideal for Jazz. In a quartet, you'll sound cool with it. Good for classical music, too.

If you're not going to depend on a 32.5 kgs instrument, what're you going to depend on ?

Back-up is not necessary, but if you want some more sounds, it's best to use it with a sound module or secondary synth ( did i mention that Motif ES is a good ane for that?)

Didn't use the customer service at all.. hope i won't need them :)

A burglar won't steal it.. He'll prefer your laptop, TV, someting ligter. price/performance ratio is 1 for this product. If you're looking for a piano with some more sounds, this is it.

It?s a very easy of use instrument. You only have to read the owner?s manual if you want to use the controller functions, just to know how to connect and the sounds organization. It also is very simple to edit patches and to control the sustain sampling depth, key off sampling depth, and the string resonance sampling depth. The manual is very complete, and easily understood.

The poliphony is great, You have 128 notes poliphony. And on the contrary as someone said, the action is great, and if he has ever played a grand piano, he must know that the sound is produced when the key hit the bottom, and is ready to hit again when it?s been released at least at the half of the key. That?s half key playing and for example it?s useful to play the beggining of Beethoven?s Sonate known as Waldstein. It also has an onboard 16 tracks sequencer, very flexible to use, and it allows you to change the sound you have used to play a track without playing that again and just pushing one button.

The Grand Piano 1 is excellent, if you edit the 3 layered sampling depths (sustain, string resonance and key off) you can make it more realistic too. The rest of the panel voices are quite pretty, for example the electric pianos, that are the most realistic i have ever heard. The onboard effects are very useful and the pitch and modulation bends are very useful too. It has a graded hammer action, and it is more realistic than the GH3 Yamaha?s action. It doesn?t have aftertouch. If you need it S series has got it.

Very Reliable.

I haven?t have problems. Im not thinking of having it. But Customer support of Yamaha is very helpful. I have called them in two opportunities and they answer quickly and helped me to solution my C3 hammer problems.

It is the best piano available. I?ve tried RD700SX (very expressiveness sounds but not a great action as this one), Korg SP500, Kurzweil PC88, and this was the best option. I?ve been playing since I was three years old, and now I?m 19, and I had two Clavinovas, a Roland Fp8, and now this, and obviously an acoustic (C3). I love the depth that the sound has. It?s very realistic and with the onboard speakers that also sound great, you?ll feel that you?re playing a Yammy Grand, believe me, I?ve got one and it?s like that.

Now, Go to a shop and purchase this, You?ll never repent!

There's no other electronic piano easier to use than this one. For example: You can pre-select XG sounds along with your original Grand in order to create great performance settings for live playing and more.

The polyphony is the best around for a board like this, 128-note polyphony, Come on! Very few others can challenge it. The effects are just right, and the sequencer is good enough for capturing creative moments. Not for orchestrating master pieces on the spot like a Korg Triton or a Yamaha Motif, but it's great for composing.

I own both a P-250 and a P-60. I like the P-60 sounds better just because the P-250 sounds a little bit too bright despite editing the sound. Both pianos sound equal after recorded. If you want more expression, go for the P-250. If you want a more realistic sound produced by an electronic piano, go for the P-60. In conclusion both of these two combined would make the best ever electronic piano.

No complaints.

The best!

This is not ONE OF THE BEST pianos. This IS THE BEST electronic piano.

KEYBOARD ACTION: -----!IMPORTANT!-----

-- -- -- -- -- -- --!!!!!!!--- --- -- -- --- -- --
As you hit the keys of a normal grand/piano (or any ROLAND RD)you only have to hit the keys down by 2mm in order to produce a sound... With Yamaha each key has to hit the BOTTOM (all the way) before it produces any sound(??). To me: this puts me back into the 80's...
I play classical- & Jazz music (for 12 years now), I cannot affort to 'miss any keys/notes' because of Yamaha's catastrofic design on basics like this... Any pianoplayer will notice it in his/her playing: the ammount of keys that you don't totally puch down to its full extent is huge... If you take your playing seriously; this might be a reason not to buy this stagepiano...

This is a very impressive machine; the thing i like most is the fact that you can feel what you are playing because of the build in speakers... I own a ROLAND RD-700; no speakers there...

I own a Roland, But I really wanted this instrument because of the internal speakers; your fingers Feel the vrbration of your music: I love this part...

As I mentioned: the keyboardaction is totally outdated.. try is: you'll notice this big (BIG) mistake in its design...
I'm not telling you not to buy the P-250... It's all very personal...
I got myself a Roland RD-700sx (in shipping now...) instead of the Yamaha...