BlackandWhite Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I'm looking for a light, portable, keyboard with a wide range of decent sounds for me and my son to knock around with. One candidate is a Casio WK-3800. However, as with most of these Costco-type kbs, the plastic key action is pretty awful. Does anyone know of a way to improve the action on these? By "improve," I mean to render less awful. Thanks. "I never knew that music like that was possible." - Mozart ( Amadeus movie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/hammer-1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackandWhite Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 I doesn't have to be hammer action, just something more substantial. "I never knew that music like that was possible." - Mozart ( Amadeus movie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I think you missed the joke, though there's certainly a double entendre there. Maybe even triple. http://www.synthtopia.com/interviews/images/jan_hammer_portrait.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 http://www.newlaunches.com/entry_images/0707/26/Trebuchet.jpg Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/4258/375442-gas_can.med_large.jpg + http://www.pjcj.net/yapc/yapc-eu-2006-enigmatic_perl/slides/images/match.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Link Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 As an incurable smartass, I love the replies, but your best bet is likely to look on eBay or CL for something used that meets your both your criteria and budget. aka âmisterdregsâ Nord Electro 5D 73 Yamaha P105 Kurzweil PC3LE7 Motion Sound KP200S Schimmel 6-10LE QSC CP-12 Westone AM Pro 30 IEMs Rolls PM55P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 If there is a way to improve a cheap plastic KB action, I'm guessing it will cost you an order of magnitude more than simply buying what you really like the first time...used or otherwise. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I'm looking for a light, portable, keyboard with a wide range of decent sounds for me and my son to knock around with. One candidate is a Casio WK-3800. However, as with most of these Costco-type kbs, the plastic key action is pretty awful. Does anyone know of a way to improve the action on these? By "improve," I mean to render less awful. Thanks. Mr. BlackandWhite, that's a great question! It seems to have an answer where the compromise in finding what you want is thwarted by its own design. What I mean is that for $200 / $400 range it's tough to find a keyboard that meets all the following: * it's cheap * it runs on batteries or AC power * it's self-contained (built-in speakers) * it has authentic voices - particularly acoustic piano * it has weighted action that feels somewhat close to a real piano * it's lightweight * it's small enough to carry without much hassle ======================================== Chances are that if you're spending two or three-hundred dollars, you'll be able to find a new Casio or Yamaha keyboard that fits most of the criteria above. Spend a little more though and you can get a Casio Privia (for instance) that has a good weighted action, good acoustic piano sound, and built-in speakers. Unless you MUST run on battery power sometimes, and unless you don't have the extra room to set it up, for a little more money you can get a LOT more keyboard - one you will be satisfied with for a much longer period of time. And, when you finally put it on Craigslist to sell it, you won't have a problem. I bought a Casio WK-200 at Best Buy for $200 a couple of months ago. For what it is, it's a lot of bang for the buck; it's small, lightweight, self-contained, has a decent acoustic piano voice, and even runs on batteries. It's portable. It's $200. But if I had to do it over again, I think I would spend the money and get a Privia. For example, $420 gets you a Casio Privia PX-130 from Amazon.com. And that's only $20 more than the Casio WK-3800 you're considering. Good luck. Tom "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 You usually can find Privia's real cheap on used on craigslist. I recently saw a PX-320 for $200, great piano sounds and 250 sounds total with a great action. Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Summers Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 All the obvious ones were taken http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/460438/2668389/0/1156900829/Chain_Saw.jpg "Music should never be harmless." Robbie Robertson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 You usually can find Privia's real cheap on used on craigslist. I recently saw a PX-320 for $200, great piano sounds and 250 sounds total with a great action. Actually, I'd argue that the 'great piano sounds' didn't show up until the PX-n30 series (PX-130, PX-330, PX-830, and now the PX-3). The 320 sounds were... ummm... not great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I haven't played the PX-320, I assumed they weren't too much different than my PX-330. I stand corrected. Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackandWhite Posted September 17, 2010 Author Share Posted September 17, 2010 Thanks for the replies; I now understand why we don't have get-togethers, the way guitar forumites do. I think I'll buy an even cheaper all-in-one kb, take it apart, and see what can be done with the action. Worst case, I'll post the gasoline-and-matches vids... "I never knew that music like that was possible." - Mozart ( Amadeus movie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 The guitar guys have get-togethers? Copycats. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Thanks for the replies; I now understand why we don't have get-togethers, the way guitar forumites do. I think I'll buy an even cheaper all-in-one kb, take it apart, and see what can be done with the action. Worst case, I'll post the gasoline-and-matches vids... It seems like everyone was having a bit of fun with this one, but their points are that there's really nothing you can do. Let's say that you actually take the time to take the whole keyboard apart, replace each spring with heavier ones (and where are you going to find them?), and glue weights to the undersides of the keys. That still doesn't solve the fundamental problem that all cheap actions have - namely that they are too short from end to pivot, which means that it's impossible to get consistent velocity responses when you are playing. Good actions have become more and more affordable over time. It wasn't too long ago when you couldn't get a fully weighted controller for much under $1000. Now you can get fully weighted pianos for half that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackandWhite Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 take the whole keyboard apart, replace each spring with heavier ones (and where are you going to find them?), and glue weights to the undersides of the keys. Ah, some suggestions. Thanks, Bill. Good point about the pivot point/length; hadn't thought of that. "I never knew that music like that was possible." - Mozart ( Amadeus movie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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