Roland FP-40 BK digital piano

General

That Roland FP series, eh? If we stacked up every FP box we've ever sent out to customers, we'd end up with a mountain you couldn't see over. The numbers are huge. Clearly, customers find the FP series an easy and convincing choice, and for good reason. Thankfully, all those qualities are back in this brand-new Roland FP-40 – with a little something extra besides! It all starts with the sound. You may already know the story: while some brands rely on piano samples, Roland is particularly well known for its physical modelling technology. In other words, it sounds like a piano because, technically speaking, it behaves like one. That's exactly what you get with the FP-40 too. Its Piano Reality technology delivers an impressively convincing piano sound – and let's face it, that's exactly what our customers are looking for!

Features of the Roland FP-40

Roland has fitted the FP-40 with speakers that face directly towards the player. Does that matter? Absolutely. When speakers are positioned at the rear and therefore face the wall, the sound can feel less direct and lose some of its sparkle. A real acoustic piano, after all, is a substantial instrument whose entire body contributes to the sound. It's also a difference that customers regularly point out when speaking to us in our showroom. Long story short, Roland invited several concert pianists to put the FP-40 through its paces during the testing phase, and they were extremely impressed with its sound projection. Aside from that, it's still unmistakably an FP, with a clean and straightforward interface. Roland has moved plenty of additional options – and sounds! – into the app. There's therefore quite a bit more going on beneath the surface, and moving more and more features into an app is quickly becoming the norm. Not least because it means there's no need to build an expensive display into the piano, which helps keep the price nice and sensible.

Realistic keyboard

The keyboard also offers a highly realistic playing experience thanks to its triple-sensor system. Explaining exactly how the mechanism works would take us a little too far, so let's just say that repeated notes and trills are handled exceptionally well by the FP-40 – certainly better than the dual-sensor systems used by other brands in this price range. As for polyphony, you get 256 notes, so you can really go all out. Chances are you'll never need all of them, but for the more adventurous players who fancy throwing both forearms across six octaves... the polyphony is there! At the same time, it's still highly portable, weighing in at around 14 kg.

A trip down memory lane

Who wouldn't want to revisit a few fond memories and indulge in a little nostalgia? The truth is that many people used to play the piano. Then life happened: studying, going out, getting a job, settling down, the whole package. At some point, you get settled, and the thought starts creeping back in: playing the piano used to be pretty good fun, actually. That's exactly the kind of player Roland has in mind with the FP-40 and its accompanying app. Free songs, piano lessons, progress statistics and personalised advice – the app is essentially designed to get your piano mindset and playing skills back on track. Of course, the FP-40 is perfectly suited to serious piano lessons, but it's also ideal for giving those who already know the basics the boost they need to pick up their old hobby again. And, staying true to the FP tradition, we expect the sheer number of units leaving our warehouse to cause another gradual dent in the tarmac outside!

Tips or comments about this product

• Please note: some of the features mentioned, such as temperament settings, are only available when using the app.