MotiDave

I believe I have the same SKB. Its been a tough road warrior. However, you are mentally unwell if you don't buy a model with wheels. 12% of my current hobbling comes from hauling that wheel-less thing through airports and the like. I can't speak for the hardiness of Gator, but no problem, as my touring period ended about 400 chiropractor visits ago. My SKB case has wheels. Couldn"t agree more with the advice, I wouldn"t get a hard case that didn"t have wheels. We"re not animals.

Lol. One time I played an LA gig (I"m San Diego), I offered our lead guitarist to go with me if she drove home (so I could snooze - not predicting how !@#$ wired and chatty she would be after a gig on the strip). I meet her at a parking lot off the freeway so she can load up in my car and she showed up in her lil Toyota with crap spilling out of each and every car opening. Two guitars, a broken carryon suitcase of stage clothes with one good wheel and one bad zipper, a pedalboard effects sim rig (she runs direct XLR straight to FOH, no amp - which is actually cool and sounds great) stuffed in a cloth beach bag, and 3 grocery bags of miscellaneous cables, power supplies, accessories and other shit. The shopping bags at least were plastic so they didn"t tear apart, but they had all tipped and spilled out all over her car, so she had to repack them just to transfer to my car. the only thing missing was a stolen shopping cart for her to push all her crap around in. I just looked her and said 'you gotta be shitting me?'. Took her 4 trips to load in once we got there. I walked in first trip with my keys on my back, stand in one hand, and tote bag with all accessories and stage clothes in the under. I flipped her my keys so she could work through her issues without me staring and laughing. So no - I can confidently say this does not work pretty good She has since upgraded her travel rigging ... one new medium rolling suitcase that holds all of her crap except guitars, and a proper pedal board case. I gave her a hug.

MODX7 brothers - can we talk cases? anyone buy an aftermarket keyboard gig bag? I have the Yamaha one. Fit is perfect and its ok but imo padding is way too thin, no bolster edge at all, etc. to offer much protection. I use it on local gigs as i want backpack carry. But i dont trust it protects so I really baby it, very careful where I put it., worried when i do mult-band venue gigs.... I eyed this one - wonder if anyone can recommend or dissuade (or has another?): Gator 76 Slim Pro Gig bag For travel gigs I got an SKB 1SKB-5014 TSA molded case. Not sure its still in production, i found it on amazon. #Endorse if you need a hard case. It has an alum lip on top and bottom shells for nice secure closure, very good torsional stiffness. I upgraded internal padding - i went to an upholstery place and had them custom cut me a foam piece for bottom - the 4 Velcro/plastic corner cleats that it comes with can pop loose in travel (be warned). Otherwise I fully trust it with airline baggage monkeys, it"s taken a half dozen flights with no issue. I previously had the 61key version for my MOXF6, same design concept, loved it too. Its significantly smaller exterior dimensions than the equivalent Gator TSA model, better stiffness, better latches, just better design (once you correct for the corner cleat design flaw). I first got the Gator TSA one and sent it back, it was huge and not as well designed, wouldn"t even stand up on its edge well without falling over.

What"s your favorite for a gig bag? Ive just been using an old spare (school type) backpack, never got motivated to buy a special purpose gig bag. its ok but ... meh. A couple small front pockets but otherwise it"s really just the typical one big pocket with everything just stacked on top of each other. Doesn"t open up wide enough to get to all things and of course stuff is just stacked atop, so i try to think about order of setup need and pack in reverse order. I prefer backpack straps (hands free) if I have a travel gig that requires TSA rolling case. Most local gigs i carry a backpack kbd bag so a backpack gig back is carried by hand anyway. Maybe an upper line photographer backpack might be the ticket for me? I carry the typical unless I strip down and leave some stuff at home: - two stereo 1/4' instrument cables (10", 25") - two mono 1/4' instrument cables 25" - a few short mono 1/4' cables, for pedals or short runs 6" - 10" multi-plug extension cord - one or two stereo DI - sustain pedal - latching switch pedal - small zipper pouch with 2 wall warts, and small mp3->1/4' cord - USB flexible 'desk' light - roll of gaff tape - misc small stuff (USB flash sticks, batteries, ear plugs, that sort of stuff) - small Vornado (?) fan - rockstar sunglasses lol Another topic. My stand bag for Ultimate Apex AX-48 is wearing holes from the sharp bits at both ends of the stand. Still ok but as many have noted, these have a finite use life due to inadequate strength vs cyclic stress the stand imposes. Alternate Bags that work/fit well? Another nother - MOX7 gig bag - i"ll Take that over to the MODX thread

lol ...

I wouldn"t rehearse twice as a sub either, i would do one if i could fit it in. Seems like a miss in communication all the way around - not sure i can pin it on any one person. Who knows, maybe guitar-friend was the one who forgot to share details?

I used to play this song in a Cars tribute. Actually, its trickier than just 5/4 as the keys and vocals are in 4/4 time while the bass and drums run in 5/4 in the intro/verse and constantly trying to kick you off of 4/4. Wiki says guitar is in 4/4 but i recall the guitarist hitting random strum chords - he seemed closer to the 5/4 clique than the 4/4, it always felt to me that keys and vocals were alone in 4/4 while the rest of the band was somewhere else. I could nail it fine but the damn singer kept fucking up his entry spots - I had to start throwing stuff at him. The song comes together in 4/4 time in the chorus and everyone syncs up. Weird beat in that one.

Most of the "expert recommendations" are prompted by the thought that a single keyboard violates the combination of requirements #1/#2/#5. So if you can't successfully meet all requirements, what's the best compromise? Cheers, Mike. I"m just playing - i don"t care what people recommend. But since you ask me ... ... obviously, clearly, without doubt the laws of sequential order demand that we prioritize the first headline title requirement as supreme. Modifying the foundational criteria to 'what 2 keyboards will ...' is a fundamental violation of OPs question. Sounded like OP needs a lot of groovy B3 to me so my one-board MODX rig isn"t the right one for him. Tis a shame as its 1/3 the weight and half the cost of where he will end up and it nails everything else quite nicely imo. I"m sniffing a Kronos solution here.

Ive been asked to do one rehearsal, never two. As often, i"ve done no rehearsals but usually with bands i"ve already subbed with .. i think? if you"re home Friday morning, why not offer Friday night, one rehearsal? Or just let it go and don"t sweat it. Cest la vie. BL should have mentioned it but did you speak to BL? maybe it was guitar pal that forgot to mention it sooner? Or maybe just bad communication. Asking for a rehearsal if they"ve never played with you isn"t automatic but its not the most extraordinary thing i"ve Ever heard either. Sorry you lost the gig.

I"m not expert like some of the gang here and I agree MODX (Phantom?) is short of great for B3 ... but I"d just note that many of the expert recommendations are Board X + Controller and that violates not just requirement #2, it violates the entire thread title. Single keyboard is single keyboard. No cheating here ...

The trick is to just not care. We all have past friends or acquaintances we don"t like for reasons small or large. The key to divorce is emotional - once you do not care, you are never again affected. I truly dislike the guitarist from my first band that became popular in my town back in the 80s. I won"t describe why other than i"m at my core a good and opinionated person and i don"t like people who are not good to other people. There are certain people that are only good to people they want or need something from. Then there"s us that are just naturally good to all people unless someone gives a specific reason to no longer be good to them. We did a reunion show about 10 yrs ago and i was reminded of all of my prior opinions. Since I have ran into him a few times while i was out playing the last decade. He no longer plays, i imagine nobody would want to lol. I couldn"t care less if I see him or not. i"m not going to hang with him or sit with him or drink a beer with hi. he says hi, i say hi back. Where ya goin? Good to see ya, I have other people to be happy with over there. Hasta brah. Just. Don"t. Care.

I played a Cars band, a David Bowie band, a Bon Jovi band, a General Covers band, a UFO band, etc ... I play all of them with a one board rig and they all sound spot on after extensive sound programming. I did it all on Yamaha boards (Motif XF, now MODX7). It all depends on how picky OP is on keybed feel - I'm not picky. the big weakness is an OP priority = B3. B3 can be tweaked to get a usable voice but I'd bet over half here hate it. no way it meets OPs stated need. I wouldn't overthink tonal purity in an a 9-piece rock band. you need to first just cut thru the mix and that right there is going to subtract from any hypothetical tonal purity. Most of the boards recommended will all work. I currently ride a MODX7 as mentioned. it works great, I program every song specifically and crowds adore my sound. B3 is not the best, but get no complaints on the few B3 songs I play. then again I don't do alot of blues-rock where B3 stands uniquely tall in the soundscape. its is not a priority sound for me. but as a bread and butter platform of APs, EPs, synth sounds, natural instruments (string, guitar, wind, percussive, etc.) - its a great all in one at its price point. Splits, layers, switching, ease of arranging for the night's set list ... very usable. I like in can flip it around easily (very light) for those quick stage changes. I will just recommend OP buy the new Phantom so we can get another review posted

Lol - Trying to make each other screw up is kinda fucked up. I"d be annoyed by shit like that, I"d definitely be plotting live stage revenge. I don"t sweat an occasional slip - crowd almost never knows and usually not more than one in the band knows. I don"t make that many slips, i make a lot more sweet music so the balance of chi is firmly on the side of love. What cracks me up is i know I"m not really that good because i know what really good is. I know I"m not as good as most of you. but people think i"m a fantastic phenomenal keyboardist. Most bands think i"m fabulous and i"m always asked to join new bands. I just got drafted into a No Doubt project, not sure i even want that. In general I just shrug, and say naw i just play rock. I don"t care i"m Not as good as you as i don"t have the time to become you. I"m having a blast and rocking out on weekends. Meanwhile my family enjoys a luxurious 6 figure lifestyle and tolerates my rock illusions lol. Im sure OP is already over it, right? Just go play, have fun, don"t demand absolute perfection - just be good like you are and deliver a solid professional performance, and you"re fine.

Lol - nice rig but that doesn"t qualify for the OP criteria of small stage. You could do most anything (in reason) you want on that separate keyboard riser. Me - I ride naked. AX-48 stand, 1.MODX7 board, a dual stereo or mono outs to the DI. 1 sustain and one latching switch pedal. Boom. I use the FOH monitor for my sound, so i can bring in some band mix with my keys.

If you were playing rock n roll .. just shrug it off. Rock n roll is dirty, its all good. 2 mistake hardly make a tragic gig - how many songs did you play? 12? 40? I agree / paraphrase with above - for one, one a couple people even notice, and they notice the 100 great things more than the 2 bad. Second - it"s about energy and attitude. People don"t want a live show to be an mp3 recording. They want some human inflection. Don"t sweat it, you"re fine.

Hoy shit - they"ve armed the double crossing bastards with wheels!

You"re running mono?

huh, i hadnt noticed. i'll have to check this on my 7 ... i'm not the most observant and have never been as hyper-critical of keys "feel" as many are. it plays great for me, i press keys and it sounds great - yup, its great.

Keep us posted, OP. I have a MODX7 too .... just under a year with zero issues of any kind. good luck, bro! Hope it was just venue power...

never let me mock bassists again - he just sent me a link to a live version which is what they reportedly do. clear organ chords in the bridges and chorus. As Sir Moonglow advises ... hold a few chords and call it a day. Let the duals guitar shine in the verses with the tri-harmony vocals. No need to muddy it up with keys, less is more. Class dismissed, thank you for your attention. Edit: oh, and there really isn"t a bridge. I guess i just always say that. Just verse straight into chorus. One lil break at one point/

Hey gang - sorry to bug. I was asked to learn 4 songs for some 'rock n roll all star' charity event (set aside the pretentious title - I"m clearly no all star, just a guy with a keyboard). 3 are no problem, keys stand out and easy for me to hear - hence learn. But the 4th is Fleetwood Mac - The Chain. I"ve listened to it a half dozen times and i swear i"m not hearing keys other than some held organ notes / chords in the chorus/bridge parts. I called the bass player, who was the guy who recruited me for the songs. yeah - as you would guess -asking a bass player about the keyboard parts didn"t go anywhere lol. Are there more keys in The Chain that any of you with still-functioning ears can hear? Anyone happen to play it and able to offer tips, chord/cheat sheet, transcript, anything/other? I just hear a couple guitars and bass thru most of the song I don"t have to be literally authentic to the original, if you have a creative way you play keys on it, btw

I played in a Cars tribute for a couple years, now ended about 4 yrs ago. Great material - very simple to play (keys) but great tone designs and clever licks. Truly an original band.

Ive read a lot of guys here using 8"s. for me, i"ve never found one to have the low end balls. I play more synth or organ than piano except one band but even piano doesn"t sound full or rich to me. i have an EV 12, love it. 10 is as low as i"d go - keep thinking of getting a pair of 10s in lieu of 12 but almost every gig i play has house sound and I dont need that for stage monitoring. 80% of gigs i don"t bring anything, just use a channel from FOH monitor system and one of their wedges. Sometimes in small clubs they only have 3 wedges up front - then the bass player gets to share in my keys monitoring lol. Thats my real preference which explains a lot about my dedication and investment in personal sound. I"m not the guy who knows anything.

I helped start the break up of one band i was in over misunderstood emails. I didnt care, i was sick of the female co-singer who wanted to turn a rock band into a Katy perry / Lady Gaga / country mashup band of confusion. no knock on either of them - i"m 100% impressed with their success and career. Its just not for me as a rock band rocker playing classic to 80s to a few newer rock songs. She started sending posts of how many views some new LG song had gotten on YT - as if that had anything to do with what we should add. I, uh ... sorta went off. I proved to the band that we have to play Justin Bieber. Then I proved we have to add an N"Sync song and I recommended they all start working on their dance moves before rehearsal. That didnt kill the band. She started a shit storm after we played a gig at the big county fair and instead of 4 sets we only had 90 minutes. She only got to sing 8 of 18 songs and had a total fit. My guitarist buddy stepped up to quit, and i quickly joined him and exited stage left.

Exactly. I haven"t heard a single key in 9 years...