Keyboard Purchase Advice - Please

[Rob_dup6]

I used to play the Piano a VERY LONG time ago and I am looking to start again and stay with it this time. I wanted to get a keyboard that has a full 88 keys but is also the best value for my buck. I like some of the Kurtzweils and the Yamaha P200 but I don't really know what else is out there. I don't want to get too few features, I would rather grow into something nice. So, best value 88 key keyboard?

[b_3guy]

Check out all the threads in regards to the Alesis QS-8.

[DrMarkAndersenexcite.com]

I used to play the Piano a VERY LONG time ago and I am looking to start again and stay with it this time. I wanted to get a keyboard that has a full 88 keys but is also the best value for my buck. I like some of the Kurtzweils and the Yamaha P200 but I don't really know what else is out there. I don't want to get too few features, I would rather grow into something nice. So, best value 88 key keyboard?

 

Like b3_guy, I'm very partial to the Alesis QS8.1.

Very high bang-for-the-buck.

 

cheers,

Mark A.

[SolipsismX]

My first keyboard was the 2500Xs and I love it still. The 2600s are kinda expensive, but they're worth it. They have a lot of oprions and are super midi friendly. If you don't want the sampling option you can also just get the 2600X (no s). Are you interested in getting into more complicated programs and technology? What I mean is, you might be better off saving money with a digital piano or controller that just has presets if you don't want to do any serious editing. But if you want more options. it's a very good keyboard overall and I'm happy with its piano sounds. Many consider it to be the best workstation or wave table/sample based keyboard. I'm in that group

[Rob_dup6]

Good point! What I want it for mostly is to relax after work so really, a keyboard/digital piano that presents itself well little to none electronic editing. Not to say I don't eventually get into the editing and creation but initially a good to great sounding piano.

 

Originally posted by SolipsismX:

My first keyboard was the 2500Xs and I love it still. The 2600s are kinda expensive, but they're worth it. They have a lot of oprions and are super midi friendly. If you don't want the sampling option you can also just get the 2600X (no s). Are you interested in getting into more complicated programs and technology? What I mean is, you might be better off saving money with a digital piano or controller that just has presets if you don't want to do any serious editing. But if you want more options. it's a very good keyboard overall and I'm happy with its piano sounds. Many consider it to be the best workstation or wave table/sample based keyboard. I'm in that group

[bodayguy]

too many guys on this board love kurzs.

they are TOO expensive.

Get a nice roland rd-600 or yamaha.

Go to a music store and pick one that feels good to play,

that has a key response that encourages your style of play to flourish.

Nothing is worse than spending a fortune on a board that is too

complicated or that feels chintzy.

[Kevin M]

Check out the E-synth by EMU. I used a K2000 and then the K2500 and they are great keyboards (both had the sampling option) Then I got the E-synth for 1/2 the money and it is just as good as if not better than either of the Kurzweil. The even have ports for an ASCI keyboard to make it easier to name you file/songs but they incorporated hotkeys to control the E-synth. Also they have a program called EOS link that allows you to connect The E-synth to you computer via a SCSI port that allows you control of the E-synth from your computer. And the icing is.... you like the planet Phatt sounds you can get a rom chip installed and load them right on the keyboard. I assure you that the sound quality is just as good as the Kurzweil boards as well. Most music stores don't have the keyboard in stock but they usually have the rack mount so go check it out but remember with the keyboard you get the controllable midi faders and other goodies so don't be discouraged.

 

http://www.emu.com/products/esynthKeys/esynthKeys.html

 

Hope this helps.

 

Kevin Maynard

http://www.thestudiobox.com

[soapbox]

I use the "USER 00 Pure Stereo" piano sound on my Alesis QS8 a lot! For a semi weighted keyboard, I like the action. It is much less expensive than the Kurzweils listed above.

 

You might want to check it out while you can still buy new Alesis products.

[Guest]

Do I just have a lemon???

I have a QS8 that I am seeking to replace.

The Pure Stereo patch sounds great as well as my Jazz Piano card.

 

But, I gotta tell ya... that action is gonna give me arthritis.

 

I've had it in the shop a couple of times and it checks out OK.

 

I can comp cords on it, but when I go on a tear with it I have actually bruised my fingertips trying to pound out solos that I can do with ease on most acoustic grands.

 

Recording at home I can get by, but I just can't play it live without getting hurt.

 

Anybody have any clues? JW

[Steve44]

I can't quite tell what kind of keyboard you want, as you have only mentioned the Yamaha P200. There are basically 3 categories of 88 key keyboards: Digital Pianos, Synthesizers, and Workstations.

 

For Digital pianos, there are units that come with speakers like the P200, the Alesis DG8, and the Korg C1500 (which looks like an upright piano) or ones that come without speakers like the Roland RD-150 or RD 600, or the Kurzweil SP88X. I highly recommend the roland RD 600, as it has a great action and lots of nice sounds, and is becoming rather cheap because there is an RD 700 in the works.

 

In the Synthesizer category, the main competitors are the Alesis QS8.1, and the Yamaha S80, both of which go for about $1300. They both feature many many sounds, a good action, good piano sounds, and several onboard sliders for tweaking the sounds.

 

The last category is the really expensive units like the Kurzweil K25/2600X or the Korg Triton ProX, both of which are in the $3,000 range. What makes these keyboards different is that they also have music sequencing ability and many other professional features, wbut I think that this is probably overkill for what you want to do.

 

If you just want a digital piano, there are many good options out there, but in the same price range (albeit without speakers) you can get a Yamaha S80 or a Alesis QS8.1 and have lots of other sounds to play with.

[Guest]

Originally posted by bodayguy:

too many guys on this board love kurzs.

 

Perhaps there is a reason. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

 

------------------

--Smedis,--

[makalei]

If you are looking not to spend alot of money I'd look at the yamaha s-80's for the money it's a great board . You can pick one up for around

$1400.00 . DO the research and buy what you like everyone has different tastes

 

If you are looking for a great board that's not to much money ,check out the yamaha s-80's they go for around $1400.00

[Intense Jim S]

Kurz PC2X is 88 key and weighted. It sounds great. It doesn't have a lot of sounds or expandability (2 ROM board slots) but it sounds dynamite and is very, very user friendler. The manual is well written and I have found their tech support to be phenomenal.

 

Also consider the Roland XV-88.

[murph]

From the 'Throwing a wrench in the works' Dept:

 

Don't forget about the Yamaha P-80, the Korg SP-100, and the Roland RD-100. All pretty good, inexpensive, no-frills pianos.

 

Bottom line: how it sounds, how it feels, does it do everything you want it to do. The only three factors in buying a board, period.

[guestuserguestuser.com]

Originally posted by Rob:

I used to play the Piano a VERY LONG time ago and I am looking to start again and stay with it this time. I wanted to get a keyboard that has a full 88 keys but is also the best value for my buck. I like some of the Kurtzweils and the Yamaha P200 but I don't really know what else is out there. I don't want to get too few features, I would rather grow into something nice. So, best value 88 key keyboard?

 

Someone else mentioned a Roland RD-600, which might be a good choice for you. But wait a couple of week, Roland is coming out with a new version called the RD-700. I'll have to actually try it in person before I can truly recommend it, but based on the press release, it sounds very promising indeed. The RD-600 (and RD-500 before it) was quite nice, very performer-friendly, so the RD-700 promises to continue that tradition. I would take a look at it if I were you. And also if I were me, and I plan to! Here's an URL for a press release:

 

http://messe.harmony-central.com/Musikmesse01/Content/Roland/PR/RD-700.html