Kurzweil SP88 Stage Piano

The Kurzweil SP88 is part of the new Kurzweil series of stage pianos.  While this has 88 keys with semi-weighted action, versions of the same keyboard are available with 76 semi-weighted keys and 88 fully weighted keys. The SP88 has all the usual characteristics of a stage piano including portability, a hard case for transportation, and a limited number of voices that are frequently used in performances. 

It does not have a built in amplifier as it is designed to be used with a stage setup and external amplifiers. This Kurzweil instrument comes with 32 pre-recorded voices, which is actually quite a high number for a stage piano. 

They include 6 real piano voices which many piano keyboard reviews report to be exceptionally realistic.  One customer complained that there was no possibility to edit the voices, but that they were so good to start with this did not matter. The only negative review of the SP88’s voices suggested that the sound, whilst being perfect for electric pianos, strings and harps, was a little too bright for the grand piano. 

This is surprising given that Kurzweil is famous for its superbly realistic grand piano sounds.  However, it is something you should checkout for yourself if you plan to buy an SP88, particularly if you will be using it for solo piano performances. The SP88 may appeal particularly to pianists looking for a simple and straightforward stage piano. 

Both in look and functionality it is much less complicated than many of its contemporaries, and the minimal controls are intuitive and easy to navigate. Although the SP88 is MIDI enabled with MIDI In/Out jacks, it only receives on one MIDI channel, and is therefore not multi-timbral. 

Other features include 9 preset effects, 8 reverbs and one chorus, and 32 notes of polyphony. The SP88 retails at around $700, but if you are looking to save money and purchase a smaller lighter keyboard, the SP76 is available for around $600. If you want to upgrade to the fully weighted SP88X you will be looking to pay in the region of $900, but this may be worth the extra if you want an instrument that really feels like a piano as well as sounding like one.

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