Advice on buying an electric piano?

[eppur_se_muova]

I'm looking for something fairly cheap and simple for home practice, with good sound. Really just a substitute for a real piano, not a synthesizer (and sure as hell not a karaoke machine). I see Yamaha has a 76-key portable (YPG235) I could almost afford and now and an 88-key (YPG535) I might be able to afford later. Or I could even settle for 61 keys, but is that a toy? I listen to classical and jazz and worry that 76 might be the minimum for serious practice.

I was browsing the Kraft Music site ... anyone have experience with this dealer?

http://www.kraftmusic.com/catalog/index.asp?brand=37

[libnnc]

1. do you want weighted keys

feels more like a piano and will be more expensive

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I have a Casio electronic piano.

It has a full 88-key keyboard and a stand. The keys are weighted so it feels like a real piano. I like it a lot.

[Critters2]

3. I have a casio 61-key keyboard,

that I use some for piano practice. But, more and more, I practice on the acoustic pianos at the church. The keyboard gives one no control over dynamics, which is my biggest complaint. So, make sure you get one that has weighted keys. I'd also get 88-keys. And will, some day.

[Lethe]

4. Used Alesis QS7 would be good

a couple years ago i got one on craigslist for $200. (you could get one around that price easy, maybe less)

the piano sounds are not bad at all.

76 keys

it is a sample playing synthesizer (rompler), sounds better than the low end yamaha/casio keyboards. It's a solid hunk of metal, virtually indestructable. (but it is lighter than most 76 key boards because of the placement of the mod/pitch wheels)

also the QS8 is a full 88 key, if you really need the total range.

here are some sound examples:
http://www.synthmania.com/qs8.htm (qs8 has exact same sounds as qs7)

it has much more than piano, but the piano is still good. The effects processor on this synthesizer is the exact same as the pricer Alesis units. (very good reverb for the price)

you can't get a better keyboard for under $200