Roland 2800 Digital Piano Features

The Roland HP2800 digital piano, manufactured in 1992 by the Roland Corp. in Japan, features a Brazilian rosewood finish. With 88 weighted keys, polyphonic sounds and a compact design, the Roland HP2800 offers the full key range of a regular piano without taking up as much space in your home.

The Roland HP 2800 offers eight distinct sounds, including piano, grand piano, harpsichord, electric piano, honky-tonk piano, strings, pipe organ and vibraphone. With the exception of the honky-tonk piano sound, all other sounds have a layer option, which allows you to play two sounds together. The Roland 2800 plays in stereo sound, with chorus and reverb digital effects available, and has two 30-watt speakers for sound output.

The HP2800 offers a selection of tuning options, useful when an alternate pitch or tune is needed for a musical piece. A master tuning control changes the overall pitch, while a classical tuning control changes the temperament of sound. For example, the piano can be tuned to a baroque temperament, which was the primary temperament used during the baroque period at the start of the 18th century. Baroque pitch is a partial tone lower than the standard pitch used today. In addition, the HP2800 has a stretch tuning function that allows for higher upper range pitches and deeper lower range pitches.

The HP2800 includes an on-board two-track recorder for recording and playback of two tracks, and MIDI connectors used for connecting to other musical equipment. A metronome, available in seven volume levels, counts time in 0/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 6/4 beats and counts a tempo ranging from 40 to 200 beats per minute. The included damper pedal works both fully depressed and half-depressed, simulating the pedals on a traditional piano. The HP2800 also features weighted cantilever keys, adjustable to four touch sensitivities: light, medium, heavy and full. The touch variations allow for keyboard recognition in a variety of situations. For example, a child playing might use the light touch feature, while an adult could use the full touch feature.

Optional accessories available for the HP2800 include a keyboard stand and a piano chair.

Because the Roland HP2800 has been out of production for many years, finding a new one is very difficult. However, the occasional dealer will have a gently used one in stock, typically acquired through auctions or estate sales. As of 2010, the cost for a gently used Roland HP2800 in good condition is about £585.