I need a keyboard, please help

[In Trance]

Let me say first I have tried the search, and was not able to find what I am looking for, so please bear with me ...

 

 

I've been a guitarist for 20 years or so, and now that I'm somewhat comfortable with my abilities, I'm now ready to move onto keyboards.

 

So, here's my question ...

 

I'm looking to buy a keyboard, what I want is a classic, "analog" type of sound. I'm not interested in all the bells and whistles, what I want is a very good, piano and organ type of sound, with a nice, Leslie / vibrato option. (I have a killer pedal board with all analog effects which I can plug into but still, if these effects are possible within the keyboard, all the better ...

 

I haven't heard much but I like the Oberheim OB-8, I'm open to all suggestions, within the context of the sounds I'm looking for.

 

My budget is somewhat flexible, in that if it is what I'm looking for, I'll put down the cash, but obviously, Id like to save as much as I can.

 

 

Thank you very much for your suggestions (I know these type of questions have been asked a gajillion times), remember I'm a guitarist and have answered these types of questions countless times, so please bear with me.

[retrokeys]

If you are just looking for classic keyboard sounds..Hammond and leslie, Wurlitzer, Rhodes etc. then a Nord Electro will do the job well. The merits of the acoustic pianos are endlessly debated here but Nord is always upgrading its sample library so you may find something you like. Synth voices like the Oberheim are a different story. Don't really know who emulates that well. Good luck.

[mate stubb]

OB-8? No pianos or hammonds or leslie sounds on there.

 

It does classic analog synthesizer sounds, which is completely different. Need more info. Also, budget?

[In Trance]

Well, I heard the sounds of the OB, but I assumed it produced piano sounds too ... I told you guys I'm kinda clueless when i t comes to keys.

 

I just checked out the Nord, pretty cool!

 

As for budget, uhhh, I'm willing to go up to $500.

 

What I like about the OB was the warm analog sounds, which I can use, but I will need piano also.

 

Thanks for the help.

[CEB]

Ooops. All my suggestions that will do what you want are about 3 grand.

[In Trance]

Ooops. All my suggestions that will do what you want are about 3 grand.

 

Oh boy, being a guitarist, I know that you can't put a price on quality of sound, and it is usually well worth the money, but being that I'm new to keys I want to work my way up. However,I do not want junk.

 

Lets say I can go up to $1000, is there anything in that range which will give me those soft, warm piano / organ sounds, with a nice warm swirly, vib. effect as an option?

Does anything pop up on Craigslist, by any chance?

[retrokeys]

Since the Electro 3 is out I guess you could find an Electro 2 well inside your budget.I have one and gigged with it for eight years at least. Reliable and still, to my mind the best of the classic key emulators.

[CEB]

This year I saw 3 different Korg Karma on the St. Louis CL.

 

2 were $400 and one was priced at $500. Something like that cover a lot of sonic ground. Craigslist is sort of catch as catch can. If you see anything let us know what the model is and you will get some opinions I'm sure.

 

The Electro is great for organ/ piano/ electric pianos or clavs. But it only does one sound at a time and will not sound like an analog synth. If you are good with laptop computers an Electro with a software synth could be neat.

[In Trance]

Thanks guys, I will check in when I find something.

[NoahZark]

I'd stay away from the Electro 2. One MAJOR -- repeat, MAJOR!!! -- advantage of the Electro 3 vs. the Electro 2 is the ability to download sounds form the Nord sample libraries onto the Electro 3, which is something you cannot do on the Electro 2. Nord is constantly releasing new sample libraries -- including new acoustic pianos -- and the significance of being able to replace sounds cannot be understated. The Electro 3 also loads synth samples, and although the ability to manipulate those samples is pretty limited on the Electro 3, it's still very nice to have access to Nord's synth sample libraries.

 

 

[Synthoid]

This year I saw 3 different Korg Karma on the St. Louis CL.

 

2 were $400 and one was priced at $500. Something like that cover a lot of sonic ground.

 

The Triton Classic would be a better choice vs. the Karma. It has a better build quality, touch screen, more insert effects and sampling. Neither one has the best piano sounds though...

[retrokeys]

Somebody should have told my electro 2 it couldn't do that when the piano samples were upgraded about five years back. Had no cause to go beyond the Steinway since. Maybe the new samples won't let you do it but the 2 did have upload capability back in the day.

[J. Dan]

I assume that what you meant is that you want a keyboard that emulates more classic keyboard instruments - piano, organ, electric piano.

 

Just so you know, "analog" means something completely different. These are more of the typical electronic synth sounds - synth bass, fat synth bass, filter sweeps, blips, bleeps, and buzzes. Think techno. Or if you're talking classic rock, think VH jump, Any Cars song, etc. That's analog.

 

If you do in fact want analog AND piano/organ, most keyboards don't do both well unless you're ready to fork out some serious jack.

[mahinty]

Somebody should have told my electro 2 it couldn't do that when the piano samples were upgraded about five years back. Had no cause to go beyond the Steinway since. Maybe the new samples won't let you do it but the 2 did have upload capability back in the day.

Yeah, but Nord are only updating the sample libraries for the Electro 3, and Stage 2 (and Wave), these days. There were never any analog synth sounds for the Electro 2.

 

An older generation second-hand Nord Stage may fit your budget, and will give you both pianos, electric pianos, Hammond organ and some analog synth sounds

[mahinty]

As mentioned already, it will be hard to find something that does all of what you want well. I guess a microkorg XL or Korg R3 could work for you, but the piano sounds aren't much chop.

[Lord_Nord]

If you want to spend $1000, you can get a Nord Electro 2 used on Craigs List or Ebay. That will meet all your needs. Piano is passable if you add outboard reverb (not included on the keyboard). It does have some cool effects like Tremelo, Chorus, Wah, Autowah, Flanger, Phaser, and Leslie built in. The organ is top notch, the Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and Clavinet are also fantastic. I've been using mine for 6 years now, and it's still running strong at every gig.

[Lord_Nord]

As mentioned already, it will be hard to find something that does all of what you want well. I guess a microkorg XL or Korg R3 could work for you, but the piano sounds aren't much chop.

 

Microkorg XL REALLY? I own one, and I'd be embarrassed to use any of the "vintage organ/piano/EP" sounds in a live setting. Not to mention the little keys. Pretty much only good for leads, pads, strings, and effects IMHO.

[mahinty]

As mentioned already, it will be hard to find something that does all of what you want well. I guess a microkorg XL or Korg R3 could work for you, but the piano sounds aren't much chop.

 

Microkorg XL REALLY? I own one, and I'd be embarrassed to use any of the "vintage organ/piano/EP" sounds in a live setting. Not to mention the little keys. Pretty much only good for leads, pads, strings, and effects IMHO.

 

Just putting it out there. It's kind of hard to tell exactly what our guitarist friend is trying to do here. My Electro 2 has also served me incredibly well over the last 5 years, and of course, if you need good wurli and rhodes sounds in a live environment, it's hard to top. I just get the feeling that Mr "In Trance" is not looking to break out Ray Charles's "What'd I say" anytime soon, and is perhaps looking for something he can use to add colour to his existing sonic palette. Just guessing.

[In Trance]

I assume that what you meant is that you want a keyboard that emulates more classic keyboard instruments - piano, organ, electric piano.

 

Just so you know, "analog" means something completely different. These are more of the typical electronic synth sounds - synth bass, fat synth bass, filter sweeps, blips, bleeps, and buzzes. Think techno. Or if you're talking classic rock, think VH jump, Any Cars song, etc. That's analog.

 

If you do in fact want analog AND piano/organ, most keyboards don't do both well unless you're ready to fork out some serious jack.

 

Yes, these are the sounds I'm looking for, piano / organ / electric piano.

 

My nickname, 'In Trance' has nothing to do with the music style of 'Trance' LOL, its the name of a Scorpions song from the '70s. (I'm heavily influenced by Uli Jon ROth) Trance is not , at all, what I play. I was actually thinking VH when I mentioned the OB.

I want the sounds of Yes, ELP, Deep Purple, etc., and YES, I was thinking also about that beautiful Ray Charles 'What'd I'd say', electric piano sound. I 'm not looking for the '80s 'New Wave' type of sounds, also I don't want any of the other simulations; guitar, clarinet, bass, violin, etc.

 

Also, I'm not looking for midi, or 'downloadable sounds', I just want a simple bare bones keyboard that is a self contained type of thing that will produce the sounds I mentioned.

 

Sorry I should have gave more details about what I'm looking for.

 

 

What do you guys think of the Nord C2 organ? If it costs an arm and a leg is there anything that will get me close, until I can scrape together some cash t buy it.

Again, speaking from a guitarists angle, I know some of the digital amps which claim to produce, Vintage Marshall / Fender / Vox / Mesa / ??? all sound really sterile and lame, so unless its a different story with keyboards I' convinced that you gotta have the real thing if you want authentic sounds.

I'm starting to believe what someone of you guys said earlier ... if you want the real deal, there's really no way around it, you gotta lay down some serious cash.

 

The only thing is I'm gonna have to wait a couple of months before I have the money though, and like everyone else, I'm impatient, but if I have to I'll just wait, because as we all know sound is everything for inspiration ... how can you really get into it if your sound sucks, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to spend $1000, you can get a Nord Electro 2 used on Craigs List or Ebay. That will meet all your needs. Piano is passable if you add outboard reverb (not included on the keyboard). It does have some cool effects like Tremelo, Chorus, Wah, Autowah, Flanger, Phaser, and Leslie built in. The organ is top notch, the Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and Clavinet are also fantastic. I've been using mine for 6 years now, and it's still running strong at every gig.

 

The bands that I'm into mostly use the keys you mentioned; Rhodes, Wurlitzer (I dont think I've heard of the Clavinet though), Hammond, etc. I haven't paid much attention to the gear of the keyboardists.

 

As far as effects, I have my effects (all analog) wired onto a pedal board which I run into the effects loop of my [all tube] amp, so I can just plug the keyboard itno my pedal board and go into the amp, that would work, I think ...

[Joe Muscara]

Clavinet:

 

[video:youtube]

 

 

[Synthoid]

I want the sounds of Yes, ELP,

 

Then you need one of these:

 

http://cdn.synthtopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/moog-minimoog-voyager-xl-synthesizer.jpg

 

 

Deep Purple,

 

Gotta get a Hammond:

 

http://www.musik-produktiv.co.uk/downloadbar/008/8702/Detail_V.jpg

 

 

[mate stubb]

A Nord C2 is just an organ. The piano and electric pianos are included in the Electro and the Stage models.

[resigned]

A cool keyboard for everything requested in the OP is the Korg SV-1. It not only does acoustic pianos but is great at Wurlis plus organs and other basic/useful sounds. It has an analog-ish patch similar to the OB-8 but it does not have synth controls. There are 73 and 88 note versions available and there is a $500 rebate going on now so it may be within your budget. It is something you won't outgrow too quickly either.

[CEB]

It would probably be cheaper and more effective to find 2 used board to cover everything wanted rather than trying to buy cheaper rendering of the Kronos or PC3K.

[mate stubb]

A cool keyboard for everything requested in the OP is the Korg SV-1. It not only does acoustic pianos but is great at Wurlis plus organs and other basic/useful sounds. It has an analog-ish patch similar to the OB-8 but it does not have synth controls. There are 73 and 88 note versions available and there is a $500 rebate going on now so it may be within your budget. It is something you won't outgrow too quickly either.

 

Good idea. In fact, Sweetwater has a demo right now for $1599, which if you apply the $500 rebate comes out just over the OP's $1000 budget.

 

Edit: organ is the weak spot for this board. It is hard finding an all in one board that does everything well.

[CEB]

That is cool maybe I should get one as a practice board. That is the same price MF is selling the M50-61 for.

[Bob L]

I have a Casio Privia PX3 and I love it. Nice action, great acoustic and electric piano sounds. Very flexible split and layering capability. If you outgrow it, buy a rack mount module as the Casio is also a great midi controller.

 

I use a clonewheel for organ but some of the organ patches on the PX3 are very good (however playing organ on a piano style keyboard is not fun in my view). Well under $1000 and also very light to carry to gigs. Worth consideration in my view if you have a limited budget.

[resigned]

A cool keyboard for everything requested in the OP is the Korg SV-1. It not only does acoustic pianos but is great at Wurlis plus organs and other basic/useful sounds. It has an analog-ish patch similar to the OB-8 but it does not have synth controls. There are 73 and 88 note versions available and there is a $500 rebate going on now so it may be within your budget. It is something you won't outgrow too quickly either.

 

Good idea. In fact, Sweetwater has a demo right now for $1599, which if you apply the $500 rebate comes out just over the OP's $1000 budget.

 

Edit: organ is the weak spot for this board. It is hard finding an all in one board that does everything well.

 

True dat, about the organs. And yes it's hard to find an all-in-one with the full range of controls that pro kB players want or need, but for a guitarist who wants to cover a range of basic sounds and wouldn't want/need or even know how to use all the drawbars and filters etc of high-end kb's then an SV-1 might be the ticket. Heck I've played kb's all my life and I use an SV-1 on some gigs because it'll do just what I need at times, no more no less. Helps me to focus on the music actually.

[scales]

I know a guy who has a nice Korg Trinity for sale for $500.

[tucktronix]

+1 on the SV-1,

 

It's a great bare-bones board some authentic-sounding Rhodes, acoustic pianos, Wurli's and clavinet sounds. It has built-in amp simulation, so you can dial in some of that ol' skool dirt. Very easy to navigate through, there are no menus to dive into. Everything's accessible with the touch of a button. As others have mentioned, the organs are not very good, as is the Leslie sim. If you're looking for something with the authentic Hammond sound, it would best to look elsewhere, or save the dough for a Hammond SK1.