Author: Hickies Music Store

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CATCH THE WAVE! HUGE £200 SAVINGS ON YAMAHA’S FLAGSHIP DIGITAL PIANOS

Yamaha’s Agent Summer Campaign has arrived in the UK, and it brings a wave of savings you won’t want to miss. From 17 June to 31 July 2025, you can save a full £200 on three of the most sought-after instruments in the legendary Clavinova range:

Recommended products

• Yamaha CLP-875
• Yamaha CSP-275
• Yamaha CSP-255

Quick link: View the offer banner & claim your voucher » /images/catch-the-wave-banner

Whether you’re a beginner, an advanced pianist or a music educator, this is the best time of year to bring concert-quality piano sound into your home studio or lesson room.

WHY THE YAMAHA CLAVINOVA STILL LEADS THE DIGITAL PIANO MARKET

  1. GrandTouch and GrandTouch-S keyboards – authentic pivot length and natural wood keys provide the same leverage and balance you experience on a 9-foot concert grand.
  2. Binaural CFX and Bösendorfer samples – recorded with specialist dummy-head microphones for a three-dimensional sound when practising with headphones.
  3. Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) – recreates the sympathetic resonance of strings, soundboard and casework for astonishing realism.
  4. Smart Pianist and Flowkey integration – Bluetooth MIDI/audio lets you stream backing tracks, access interactive scores and analyse your favourite songs instantly.
  5. Built-in recording and USB Audio – capture practice sessions, export WAV files and transfer stems straight to your DAW.

MODEL-BY-MODEL BREAKDOWN

Yamaha CLP-875 – Flagship realism for traditionalists
• GrandTouch keyboard with synthetic ivory and ebony toppers
• Spruce-cone speaker system for sharper transients
• Grand Expression Modeling for nuanced tonal control
• Robust 256-note polyphony – perfect for complex classical repertoire

Yamaha CSP-275 – Touch-screen guided learning for modern creatives
• Colour LCD touch panel guides you through chord charts and “Stream Lights”
• 45 premium voices plus 495 XG voices for endless creativity
• Mic input with vocal harmony and effects – livestream-ready
• 16-track recorder ideal for songwriters and content creators

Yamaha CSP-255 – Entry into the Clavinova ecosystem without compromise
• Stream Lights above each key for intuitive, gamified practice
• Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand voices
• Lightweight cabinet makes it easy to fit into flats and teaching studios
• USB-to-Host and USB-to-Device for quick MIDI/Audio connectivity

WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM A CLAVINOVA UPGRADE?

Beginner-to-Intermediate Pianists
Pain point: Difficult to practise quietly
Solution: Binaural sampling and headphone out deliver true grand-piano feel at any hour

Classical Students
Pain point: Limited expression on budget keyboards
Solution: GrandTouch keys and VRM provide full dynamic range for exams and recitals

Singer-Songwriters
Pain point: Need to record vocals and keys quickly
Solution: CSP mic input and built-in recorder act as an all-in-one studio

Educators
Pain point: Desire to motivate students
Solution: Stream Lights and Smart Pianist keep practice fun and structured

Home Enthusiasts
Pain point: Space and tuning costs of an acoustic piano
Solution: Slim cabinet, zero maintenance and authentic sound

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR £200 DISCOUNT

  1. Visit our product pages
    – Yamaha CLP-875 /digital-pianos/yamaha-clp-875
    – Yamaha CSP-275 /digital-pianos/yamaha-csp-275
    – Yamaha CSP-255 /digital-pianos/yamaha-csp-255
  2. Add your chosen piano to the basket and proceed to checkout.
  3. Enter code CATCHTHEWAVE200 (automatically applied if you click from the banner).
  4. Enjoy free UK delivery and our standard 5-year warranty.

Offer ends at 23:59 BST on 31 July 2025. One voucher per piano. While stocks last.

5 QUICK REASONS TO UPGRADE NOW

• Buy once, play forever – digital pianos hold tuning and never need expensive maintenance.
• Invest in authentic touch – Yamaha’s natural wood keys build proper finger strength and technique.
• Future-proof with connectivity – Bluetooth MIDI keeps pace with iOS, Android and desktop DAWs.
• Save money and the planet – energy-efficient standby modes cost pennies per month to run.
• Boost creativity – onboard rhythms, accompaniment and multitrack recording spark new ideas.

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Pre-Owned Acoustic Pianos: Buy or Rent in Reading

For more than 160 years Hickies Music has helped generations of Berkshire musicians find their piano. Today our ground-floor showroom at 153 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1HE houses a hand-picked range of refurbished uprights and baby grands, each regulated and voiced by our own technicians before it reaches the shop floor. Whether you’re ready to purchase outright or prefer to start on a flexible rental, every instrument here is tuned, warranted and ready to play.

Why Choose a Pre-Owned Piano?

Choosing a pre-owned piano gives you beautiful sound and excellent quality at an affordable price, and at Hickies we’ve made the process of buying a pre-owned piano as easy as possible.

We carefully select each of our pre-owned pianos for their quality, tone, and playability. Every piano is thoroughly inspected, serviced, and tuned by our expert technician, who has been caring for Hickies pianos for over 30 years.

Not sure if you’re ready to commit? You can rent any of our pre-owned pianos first, and if you decide to buy within six months, we’ll credit your full rental payments toward your purchase. It’s the easiest way to try out a piano without purchasing upfront.

We personally deliver each piano to your home using our in-house team, ensuring safe and professional handling every step of the way. Plus, every piano comes with a free tuning once it has settled into its new home and a warranty of up to five years.

At Hickies, buying pre-owned means choosing quality, flexibility, and complete peace of mind.

Our Current Stock & What to Expect

Explore our regularly updated selection of pre-owned pianos, including trusted brands such as Yamaha, Kawai, Bentley, Kemble, Knight, Grotrian-Steinweg, and Weinbach. Every brand we stock is known for their exceptional tone, quality craftsmanship, and responsive touch.

Whether you’re looking for a dependable upright piano ideal for family practice, a refined grand piano to inspire advanced musicians, or a modern silent piano perfect for quiet practice, you’ll find outstanding options here.

Should You Rent a Pre-Owned Piano?

Not ready to drop the full price on an acoustic yet? Renting lets you start lessons on a real piano with almost no risk. Rather than a single large outlay, you secure the instrument with a refundable deposit and a modest monthly fee, typically £50–£85 for uprights and premium models, so you can decide whether piano playing truly belongs in your life before committing significant funds.

Our Rent-to-Buy plan makes the trial period free if you fall in love with playing: up to six months of rental payments plus your deposit come straight off any acoustic piano you purchase, and you can upgrade to a different model, not just the one you hired. If you decide piano isn’t for you, you’ve only paid the rental, nothing more.

Flexibility goes further: there’s no maximum rental period, your monthly rate never rises, and every piano is fully maintained by our in-house technician with 30 years’ experience, so tunings and repairs are covered. Brands like Yamaha and Kawai headline the range, meaning you’re practising on the same makes trusted by teachers and exam boards.

Ready to try it? Just click on the acoustic piano you like, hit “Rent this piano” on its page, and follow the checkout, done!

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Jackson JS22-7 Dinky – Affordable Access to Extended Range Riffing

If you’re curious about 7-string guitars and want something that won’t break the bank, the Jackson JS22-7 Dinky is a brilliant place to start. Designed with metal and hard rock in mind, this guitar gives you access to lower tunings, aggressive tones, and fast playability – all without a hefty price tag. Whether you’re stepping into the extended range world for the first time or just want a solid backup guitar, the JS22-7 delivers way more than you’d expect at this price point.

Built for Speed and Comfort

The first thing that stands out is the guitar’s slick satin finish and classic Jackson styling. It looks mean, in the best way, and feels even better in your hands. The body is made from lightweight poplar, which keeps things comfortable whether you’re standing for a full set or jamming at home.

The bolt-on maple neck features Jackson’s signature “speed neck” profile – slim, fast, and designed for effortless riffing and soloing. You also get a compound radius fretboard made of amaranth, giving you a curved profile down low for chord work and a flatter radius up high for faster leads and bends. Add in 24 jumbo frets and you’ve got a neck that’s built for metal.

Extended Scale for Lower Tunings

With its 26.5-inch scale length, the JS22-7 handles lower tunings like a champ. Whether you’re in standard B, drop A, or going even lower, the extended scale keeps the low strings tight and defined. No floppy low B here – just punchy, percussive low end that holds up under heavy gain.

The hardtail bridge with string-through-body construction adds sustain and keeps everything locked in. It’s simple, solid, and gets the job done.

High-Output Sound and Simplicity

The JS22-7 comes loaded with Jackson’s high-output humbuckers, which are voiced for thick rhythm tones and cutting lead work. They’re ideal for distortion-heavy genres and give you everything you need to chug, shred, or dive into some prog riffage. Controls are kept simple – one volume, one tone, and a three-way switch – so you can focus on playing, not fiddling.

Reliable Hardware, Ready to Rock

Tuning stability is solid thanks to Jackson’s sealed die-cast tuners, and the overall construction feels far more robust than you’d expect from a guitar at this price. It’s the kind of instrument that invites long playing sessions, whether you’re practicing, recording, or playing live.

Final Thoughts – Is It Worth It?

The Jackson JS22-7 Dinky is one of the best value 7-string guitars on the market. It’s got the look, the feel, and the tone to make it a serious contender – whether you’re just starting out or need a reliable second guitar. It’s comfortable to play, holds tuning well, and handles heavier styles with ease.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly entry into the world of extended range guitars, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

Swing by the shop and try it out for yourself – you might be surprised how much you like it.