The market is filled with great choices of console pianos. Amongst the best choices, you always find very attractive models by Roland. I’ve always been a fan of the manufacturer’s keys and their feel, the sound quality and options. The FP series features different models with increasing features and specs. The line is aimed at discerning aspiring or established piano and keyboard players. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned pianist, you will be well served in the long term with the FP’s powerful processing and realistic feel. I’ve received the FP10—the entry model in the line, and put it through its paces. Keep reading to find out if this console keyboard is the perfect model for you, no matter your level.
I’ve filmed a short video detailing my impressions and featuring a few different sound samples.
High quality sounds and features
The FP10 features Roland’s PHA-4 keyboard, a highly detailed set of keys. The construction closely simulates a real acoustic piano, but with a little upgrade: moisture-absorbing material. Not only does the keyboard feel like the real thing, but everything will stay dry no matter the temperature or your intensity. The weight is also very well replicated; escapement permits fast note repetition, and the weight is subtly reduced as you go higher in the register.
The tones are generated by Roland’s Supernatural engine. You get 15 different sounds, including 4 different pianos, 2 electric pianos, 2 organs, 2 sets of strings, 2 harpsichords, a vibraphone, a jazz scat sample, and a synth pad. A 10-step ambience (or reverb) and brilliance adjustment are available to slightly customize the tones. The sound is projected by a set of 6W speakers mounted under the unit.
The FP10 has a USB connector, enabling you to transfer MIDI information between the keyboard and a DAW, effectively using it as a quality MIDI controller. There’s also a headphone output for silent practice. The sustain pedal jack is equipped to support half-pedalling techniques, which will probably interest more experienced pianists. Just plug in a compatible sustain pedal (such as Roland’s DP-10 pedal) to make use of this function. The included DP-2 pedal doesn’t support this option, unfortunately. An interesting internal function is the twin piano mode. This mode splits the keys into two equal parts, allowing a teacher and a student to play simultaneously in the same register on the same keyboard. This is a great way to practise and focus on those harder passages with your educator.
Additional accessories
While the FP10 isn’t shipped with a stand, it is compatible with universal stands with no issues. Roland makes one of these called the KS-12. In the videos and pictures, the FP10 I received was mounted on the optional KSCFP10. This is the compact furniture-style base made exclusively for the FP10. It is very easy to assemble, and its slick and minimalistic design will fit in with any type of décor. I also had the RPB-100BK, a very comfortable bench.
An excellent console keyboard
The first thing you notice when playing the FP10 is the fabulous keyboard. The sensation of the faux-ivory texture is simply pleasant, and the material doesn’t accumulate moisture. These characteristics compound into a great grip and feel that puts you in control. The weight of the keys is heavy and gives you the impression of playing a quality, wooden instrument. The hit and the return of the keys feels very realistic.
The sound of the keyboard is excellent. Although you are limited to 15 built-in tones, these are very good sounding ones. The first piano option is a rich-sounding sample that is very deep and satisfying. With the addition of the ambience and brilliance setting, you can really massage it gently and manipulate it just enough to cover a large amount of ground. The other tones are usable, but they may be underwhelming for fans of different organs, Rhodes, etc. If you’re looking for a wide variety of samples and deep editing, you’ll have to plug the unit into a sound library to have access to more parameters and satisfy your need for tweaking knobs.
While the speakers aren’t rated very high in power, they reproduce the sound in a very convincing way. They are powerful enough to cover a large room, and they are very defined while still producing a decent amount of low-end. You can always use the headphone out to plug into a bigger, more detailed speaker system if you need more volume and control. I highly recommend the appropriate stand, or at least a universal stand. It frees up the speakers and will keep the sound from getting muffled if you set it on a desk or bed.
Not just for beginners
If you are in the market for a first keyboard, it will be hard to find better value for your money. Thanks to high quality specifications and features, the FP10 will last you a very long time. I started playing on this type of product, and, even after 20+ years of use, it is still being used by my niece. Beginners will be well served by an excellent set of keys and high quality sounds.
For more advanced players, this might be an excellent practice (or even possibly teaching) tool. Thanks to such a well designed keyboard, you will have the closest thing (feel and sound-wise) to a real piano without all the necessary maintenance that comes with the latter. If you happen to have students, the dual piano function will serve you well. It might possibly even improve your results thanks to its advantages.
I also like the idea of using this for recording, thanks to the USB connection. With a very attractive price tag, this is an affordable way to create convincing piano performances while using high quality, editable samples. If you are the type of keyboard player that has been producing on light-keyed MIDI controllers or other synths for a while, this might be an interesting option to have in the studio.
Check out the Roland FP10 at BestBuy.ca.
I hope my daughter Sophie will play Jingle Bells. She’s a bit of a beginner, so we’ll have to start with an easy one!
My little sister would use it a ton and I hope she plays Jingle Bells.
My Daughter Brianna. I would love to hear her play ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ watching Meet me in St.Louis is a Christmas staple in our home.
I would get the most use of this! (As I currently live alone)
I used to play piano for many years when I was younger. Skipped 2 piano grade levels and had some talent with the instrument. I was a kid and was more interested in videogaming however, so I lost touch with my piano skills. This seems perfect for my apartment space, and would be absolutely amazing to reconnect with an old talent of mine during lockdown!
Oaklin and hopefully jingle bells!!!
We would love this piano! My son Josh loves to play Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
My son Josh would love it, and he’d play Silent Night!
I would like Kaleigh to play Silent Night for me.
I used to play as a kid, and would love to share this with my son Charles. He loves Deck the Halls
This sounds like a great keyboard for beginners and more advanced players alike! I would love to win this for my grandson Daniel to learn to play all kinds of music. I would enjoy hearing Silent Night.
This keyboard looks awesome! I would love to win this for my boyfriend Ajay so we can learn how to play Christmas songs together
My son will definitely get the most use of this. We already have a piano, but what about second piano? I can imagine him playing lots of Jingle Bells on this thing 🙂
Derek would be first to use this to play Silent Night
My nephew Noam would play Jingle Bells for us
My nephew Niibin would make great use of this piano, as he has been practicing and experimenting with music digitally.
Katelyn would love to play Jingle Bells!
Jenessa would play have yourself a merry little Christmas!
My daughter would love this and would play Jingle Bells.
Thanks for the review! My 6 yr old son Jack would love to play Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
Le son incroyable avec tous les instruments de la bibliothèque nous permettrait de jouer la musique du « final countdown » avec mon mari Christophe pour les fêtes de noël avec l’arrivee Des vaccins.
My wife would use it and instead of playing a holiday song, she would play “Holiday” by Green Day.
I think this Roland keyboard would be awesome for my son. He’s creative and very musically inclined.
The first thing I’d ask him to play is “Mary, Did You Know” which is his mother’s favorite song.
My daughter, Aubrey, would get the most use out of this! Would start with her favourite, twinkle twinkle little star.
My wife, Carole would be the first to play and the first song would be Jingle Bells! Thanks for the opportunity and Happy Holidays!
Who doesnt love Christmas music
My wife Sarah would love this keyboard. Id look forward to jingle bells.
Awesome review Nikolai!! I have a 14 year old who is an amazing piano player – she would love this beauty!! (we have a stand up piano but no keyboard)
I would be the one to play it since I play piano. I would probably play All I want for Christmas
Great review! Very detailed! This would be a great addition to my home and my family would really enjoy it.
I (rishabh) would be playing it the most! Hoping to learn how to play, and it would be awesome to play something like silent night!
The twins would love to play this and learn. They are 9.
I would probably get the most use and I would play Jingle Bell Rock to get everyone in the Holiday mood.
Very interesting review, I’m really interested in the fact of the weighted keys! I think the person who would enjoy the most out of this instrument in my house it’s me, David. I would love to relearn how to play the keyboard and play Last Chrsitmas.
This is fantastic because space in our house is limited but more important the keyboard mimics an action/feeling of an actual piano. Too many others in the past were like toys and not designed for experience pianists like my wife
I would make the most use out of this and I want to play my favourite Christmas song, Mele Kalikimaka!
this would be for my hubby Brandon and he could play Silent Night
My niece Mila would love to learn how to play. I’ve got 2 Roland keyboards and love them.
I would absolutely love this! I have wanted one of these for quite some time and I would play jingle bells on this
I would play it. I’d try ‘It Came Upon A Midnight Clear’.
My Sister could use it the most and I hope she would play Jingle Bell Rock. Thanks to Bestbuy for this super contest!
Thank you Nikolai for such an awesome review and I’m certain this would be something I would enjoy learning over the holidays as I’m on my own, Marilyn. This would be fun to watch and learn a few songs through videos and then share them with my “Circle of Friends” on social media. Thanks for the chance!!! Merry Christmas!
My wife Natalie would get most use of the piano and the first song she would play first would be Silent Night.
I (Stan) would get the most use of this piano in my house. I would play Jingle Bells first.
Daniel would love this because he likes to copy what i do, in this case playing the piano. He would live to learn Oh Holy Night and Joy to the World.
Myself and my son Zakari would be playing this in our home. The first song I would play is O Holy Night. The first song I would teach him is his favorite: Jingle Bell’s!
Alyvia has just started to learn music notes through playing a recorder in school and she is really very engaged in learning more. Love to win this for her to encourage her in her music journey. Would love to hear her play the Come All Ye Faithful someday.
My son, Elio, would probably play it the most, and he would probably not play a Christmas song at all. He would probably play something like Hikaru Nara.
Félix just mentioned he’d like to have a keyboard, so I think he’d get the most use out of it! I hope he learns to play Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring because it is so beautiful. Thanks for the contest!
Myself and my nephew would get some use out of it. He’s 2 years old so we’ll have to work together to create some jingle bells!
I think I, Tannis, would get the most use out of it and would play Jingle bells.
Comments are closed.