Roland’s “ultra-compact” GP-3 could be the grand piano that you can actually fit in your living room
A grand design without the large footprint
If you’ve always wanted a grand piano but have never had the space to house one, Roland thinks it’s come up with the solution in the shape of the GP-3, an “ultra-compact” model.
Now, we should make clear that this is very much a digital instrument, so you’re not going to get all the sonic benefits of owning an acoustic grand, but it does have a lid that you can lift up.
What’s more, this really is the tiny grand that Roland says it is. From front to back, it measures less than 70cm. It’s a nice looking thing, too, coming with a slick gloss black finish.
Under the hood, Roland has used what it calls an “advanced sound engine”, and the 88-note hammer-action keyboard promises an authentic grand piano touch, complete with ivory-like feel. There are sustain, soft and sostenuto pedals with support for half-pedal techniques, while the stereo speaker system is said to deliver an immersive sound.
There are some clear benefits to the GP-3 being digital, too - Bluetooth audio/MIDI connectivity and compatibility with the Roland Piano App, for example. Other features include a metronome, recorder and dual headphone jacks, and unlike with an acoustic grand, you’ll never have to pay for the GP-3 to be maintained.
We’re still waiting on a price and release date for the Roland GP-3 - we’ll bring you those details when we have them. In the meantime, check it out on the Roland website.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.
MusicRadar deals of the week: Last chance Christmas savings! Score hundreds off guitars, pianos and drums - including £250 off the Dave Grohl Epiphone DG-335
“A full range of controls for instruments and DAWs, along with a semi-weighted keyboard that’ll please the players”: Novation Launchkey 49 and 61 MK4 review