In 2015, Casio presented two home pianos produced in collaboration with piano manufacturer C. Bechstein: the GP-500 and GP-300 models marked the launch of the manufacturer’s new top-of-the-line “Celviano Grand Hybrid” series. The successor to the top model is now called the Casio GP-510, indicating a careful further development of the predecessor.
Casio’s two digital piano series Privia and Celviano focus exclusively on the budget and low-cost mid-range of the market. The GP-510, on the other hand, crosses the 4000 euro mark. You can see it in the hardware: Not a single screw is out of place on the nearly 80-kilogram instrument.
The glossy black finish, the brass feet on the front, the brass Bechstein logo, and above all the upright-piano-looking case give the GP-510 a high degree of elegance. Even the sliding keyboard cover consists of two solid, heavy wooden parts. Due to its slide-type design, the music rest is attached to the top of the piano instead.
Casio created an outstanding keyboard with the “Natural Grand Hammer Action” – a graded hammer action keyboard. The grand piano sounds of the GP-510 are incredibly expressive and precise. No wonder: long wooden keys are used.
The hammer action is set up exactly like an acoustic piano. Hence, the hammers here also trigger the sound, just using electronic elements instead. Balanced in weight and equipped with a total of three sensors, the keyboard delivers excellent repeatability. Moreover, the key tops feel just like on a real piano. What is missing is a let-off mechanism, but the playing characteristics are far superior to those of conventional digital piano keyboards.
Compared to the predecessor GP-500, Casio greatly improved the relationship between the grand piano sounds and the keyboard on the GP-510. This has refined the dynamic expression possibilities. In addition, the player can vary the touch sensitivity of the keys using five dynamic curves.
Casio’s high standards are also evident in the pedals. With the sustain pedal, the player can even adjust the half-pedal function. In addition, the pedals have a realistic resistance that increases as you press them. Hence, the mechanical behavior of the pedals is very similar to that of an acoustic instrument.
Comparing the GP-510 to the predecessor again, the use of longer samples has resulted in a slightly improved decay of the three grand piano sounds. This causes a much better feel and fuller sound. Casio also used some sample loops in the decay phase – sometimes noticeable with individual notes, but not a flaw overall.
Casio’s flagship model commits to a purist home piano concept, which limits the sound equipment to 35 selected sounds. As with the previous model, the focus is on the detailed sample sounds of the three different grand pianos: the “Berlin Grand” is the sound of a Bechstein, the “Hamburg Grand” was modeled on a Steinway grand piano, and with the “Vienna Grand”, you also get a Bösendorfer.
The sound character of the original instrument is clearly audible in all three grand piano samples. The sounds were recorded cleanly and well-balanced across the entire keyboard range, with very good dynamic characteristics. What I like most is the bright and clear Bechstein sound as a trademark of the GP series and the beautiful, well-rounded Bösendorfer.
Both show their assets in classical and jazz music. But the powerful “Hamburg Grand” is also a real enrichment for the GP-510 and complements both other sounds convincingly with the unmistakable Steinway timbre. The home piano comes with three versions of each grand piano sound – in addition to the original, there is a more subdued as well as an especially assertive version.
The remaining 26 sounds of the GP-510 are divided into the sound groups “Various Piano”, “Electric Piano”, “Harpsichord/Vibes”, “Strings”, “Organ” and “Bass”. The first bank offers additional acoustic piano sounds, as known from other Celviano home pianos. These often bright, lively sounds are perfect for rock and pop, and moreover, the bank also includes a dance piano and a piano pad layer.
The electric pianos offer three good Fender Rhodes variants and a nice Wurlitzer and FM piano sound each. The strings offer a natural ensemble with long and short attack as well as a synth pad. Two pipe organs and four universal electric organs, a harpsichord and a vibraphone as well as an electric bass and a contrabass, the latter as a variant with ride cymbals, complete the selection. Although these additional sounds cannot quite match the quality of the three grand pianos, they still sound appealing and make for a reasonable selection.
The player can freely create splits and layers with all 35 sounds, and even use both functions at the same time. A double bass in the left hand, plus a piano/electric piano layer? It’s no problem for the Casio GP-510, creating a richness of sound that makes playing even more fun.
Its sound configurations, including octave, volume, and effect settings (reverb & chorus), are stored in so-called Scenes, of which there are ten user memories. In turn, 15 unchangeable preset Scenes, named after classical composers, are dedicated primarily to the three grand piano sounds.
The ten parameters in the Acoustic Simulator menu are available only for the three main sounds: Berlin, Hamburg, and Vienna Grand. They provide access to adjusting string resonances and sound effects of the grand piano action and pedals. These parameters also include special features such as Aliquot Resonance, which simulates the resonance of the upper additional strings on an acoustic piano. You can precisely adjust the intensity of such sound details, contributing to the vibrant, resonant sound of the Casio GP-510.
The “Lid Simulator”, the virtual piano lid, has a special feature: you can choose between the closed, half-open, and open settings not only using the control panel. As is now common in Casio’s Celviano series, the GP-510 also has a real piano lid that influences the lid parameter in the corresponding position. For the sound of an open grand piano, the player simply needs to open the GP’s real lid. Closing the lid is a bit tricky and works best when the music stand is removed.
At first glance, Casio’s top-of-the-line model gives the impression of sitting at a real piano, thanks in part to its outstanding sound system. The GP-510 has three pairs of speakers driven by independent 30-watt and 20-watt stereo amplifiers for the midrange and treble and for the bass speakers. The wooden floor under the keyboard also contributes to sound characteristics (soundboard effect). Sound from the upper speakers reaches the player through fabric-covered openings at the top of the piano.
The overall sound is powerful, transparent, and very spacious across the entire range. Compared to its predecessor, the GP-510 uses new bass speakers that make the successor appear even more voluminous in the bass range without compromising the transparency of the sound.
In addition to the obligatory metronome, Casio’s top piano also offers tried and tested practice aids. These include the 60 MIDI songs in the “Music Library” – classical piano pieces on two tracks each so you can play the left and right hands separately for learning purposes. In addition, there are 15 “Concert Play Songs” – audio recordings of symphonic music, some of which are fully orchestrated. Using Time Stretching, you can also slightly adjust the tempo here.
The pianist can record their own performance either as a MIDI song on two tracks or as an audio song in WAV format onto a USB memory stick. There are also ten internal user memories for MIDI songs. You can also play any WAV song from a USB stick through the piano’s sound system. Finally, the well-known Duet function allows the keyboard to be split into two independent halves for four-handed playing.
Bluetooth would have been nice – this wireless data technology is still not included in the new GP generation. The GP-510 is also not compatible with Casio’s own Chordana Play for Piano app, not even via USB-MIDI. Remote control via a mobile device is therefore (currently?) not possible.
However, since the GP-510 is designed as a home piano with a manageable range of functions, operation via the function keys and display is not too difficult. Of course, you can connect the GP-510 to a music computer via USB-MIDI or use it to play piano applications.
Casio GP-510 vs. GP-310: The inexpensive sister model GP-310 offers almost the same high-end hardware as the GP-510, including the same excellent keyboard and powerful playback system. Only the high-gloss finish and the brass caps on the front legs have been omitted from the 310, which is available in satin black and white.
The main differences concern the software: The smaller GP has 26 instead of 35 sounds, does not offer registration memories (Scenes), and the virtual parameters for individualizing the three grand piano sounds are not quite as detailed as on the top model. The price difference to the GP-510 is more than 1,000 Euros, which makes the GP-310 an attractive alternative.
The Casio GP-510 is an elegant hybrid digital piano with clear references to the acoustic model. The excellent wooden keyboard and the elaborate hammer action, as well as the high-quality foot pedals with realistic touch response, demonstrate the hybrid piano approach that Casio is pursuing with this model. In addition, the powerful sound system reproduces the equally high-quality sounds of three very different original grand pianos almost perfectly.
The other functions and the sound selection of Casio’s top home piano also provide a well-rounded picture. The only minor weaknesses are some additional sounds of slightly lesser quality and the lack of app support. But if you are aware of these flaws and make a conscious decision to buy the GP-510, you will get a top-class home piano with a real eye-catcher: a clear view of the hammer action, effectively staged with a sophisticated mirror effect.
Available since: 11.2019
Keyboard: 88 keys, Natural Grand Hammer Action, triple sensor
Polyphony: 256 voices
Sound generation: Sampling, AiR Grand Sound Source
Included accessories: Power supply unit, headphone hook, score book „Concert Play/Music Library“
Special features: Three grand piano sounds, excellent manufacturing, 10 User Scenes
Manufacturer/Distributor: Casio
Henrik Bruns
The excellent wooden keyboard and elaborate hammer action, as well as the high-quality foot pedals with realistic touch response, demonstrate the hybrid piano approach Casio is taking with this model.
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