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lo.fi11

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okay so i play keyboard in a band with a few frends and i'm new at this buying of diffreent keyboard equipment...i have around 600 bucks to spend. heres my questions:

 

first...i like the feel of weighted keys...i cant stand those smaller lighter ones. My friend has a fender rhodes i have been using but i want one of my own because i lov eth way it sounds and feels. I am willing to buy somehting used off ebay for instance but i just dont know quite whaty i need. Would an older rhodes be better? Or something newer? i need soimething that i can move to a gig but it doesnt need to be all that small.

 

okay so i need an amp, too. is buying a keybord amp the best option? would a guitar/ bass amp work just the same? someone just give me some direction to go in.

 

thanks

alec

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Hi Alec.Some 88 note synthesizer would be great for you.It has variety of sounds(I dont know which sounds you prefer but you mentioned rhodes so i think you would like to use old vintage keyboard sounds like wurlitzer,clavinet,rhodes and similar.I think this is great one for you

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38091&item=3741885521&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

Its litle over your price but you cant get 88 weighted keys synthesizer below this price.

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Definitley NOT a guitar amp. There are some nice keyboard amps out there that can be purchased new for $300. I just got the Behringer KX1200. 120 watts for $299. I think bass amps work ok, but with the availability of dedicated keyboard amps (or maybe a small PA), that is the way I would go.

 

David

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For that kind of money and weighted keys, your options are kind of limited. Have you ever tried semi-weighted? Still, $600 isn't much - look for a used Alesis QS7.1 (76 semi-weighted keys) or a QS8.1 (88 weighted keys).

 

Guitar amps and bass amps are fine if you're just practicing with friends and someones got an extra one lying around. Fender Rhodes is often played through a guitar amp and many people have run their Hammond Organ through one as well.

 

Plugging into the PA is your best bet, if you've got one. Otherwise purchasing a "keyboard" amp will get you the best results, but you're not going to get a keyboard and amp for $600.

 

The best suggestion when you're starting out is to spend the most you can on a good keyboard and plug into whatever you can until you can afford an amp. Home stereo, computer, headphones are all great for practicing at home. Heck, when I was growing up we used to run EVERYTHING through the guitar player's amp - guitar, keys, bass and vocals.

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If you're particular about how you want your keys' to sound, I don't think you'll be happy with a guitar amp. A decent kb amp sounds much richer. If you don't really care, and just want your instrument to come out of something, then I guess you can save a little by getting a guitar amp. If there is a PA, then don't buy an amp right away, plug in thru there.
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Well, if you don't think your friend Rhodes is too heavy, I'd stick with a real Rhodes. A real instrument will always be more satisfying than digital simulations. Just because it's real. Most, like me, find a real rhodes to be too heavy to carry, unfortunately.

 

Old rhodes (pre 75) mark 1 are best, but later ones are certainly not bad either and lighter.

 

For rhodes, you'll need a nice guitar amp. Guitar amps work great for rhodes, wurlizter, clavinet and hammond sounds; they have far more character than keyboard amps. They also go louder and are often cheaper. The only reason to take a keyboard amp is for digital acoustic piano's. Guitar amps can't handle that sound.

 

Maybe you can find a Fender Twin guitar amplifier, which is one of the best Rhodes amp you can get: Rhodes+Fender Twin = Classic!

 

The original Roland Guitar Cube 60 amp has a nice sound, is rather lightweight, looks good and can be had for cheap (<200$).

 

My advise: if you are a beginner, try to play on real instruments as much as you can, since then you will learn the great things real instruments have to offer. Take compromises only when you really have to. Better one great sound/instrument than numerous so so ones.

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