Naive and buying keyboard/synth
GinGentlmn
I'm getting back into music after an unfortunate absence and am
looking to buy a keyboard since an upright is out of the question
being in a college dorm and all.
I'm looking for a keyboard with decent piano feel and sound. I
would like it to have MIDI capabilities as well. The more knobs
and buttons the more I will like it. It also must have more than 70
keys since it will be used extensively for classical playing and I'm
going to need the full range. It will be for personal use only - no
performances or anything like that. My price range is up to $2000
but if I can get what I want for less I will pay it. Unfortunately I know
that you get what you pay for so this quality requirement will push
the price back up again.
I am quite clueless when it comes to electronic keyboards. I've done
a little research at company homepages and various newsgroups and
hear the Yamaha P-200 and the Roland RD-600 mentioned a lot.
Sometimes the Korg SG ProX is thrown in there too. I also saw the
RD-600 priced around $1800. Other models I've considered are the
Roland XP-80, Korg N-264, Yamaha EX-5. Other manufacturers
mentioned are Alesis and Kurzweil.
I'm lost!! Too many choices!! First of all, am I looking at the right
models and manufacturers for what I want? If not, which ones should
I consider? Am I going to have to buy an amplifier for some of these
and not for others? I don't want to buy no stinking amplifier. Then
where do I go to buy one of these and maybe try them out? I haven't
found a decent keyboard store where I am (Lafayette, Indiana). Help
is much appreciated.
Pauly
ginge...@aol.com
pTooner
GinGentlmn wrote:
Let me save you some time then. If you don't want to buy no amp then the only
choice is the Yamaha P200. Aside from that the reasonable choices are the
Roland RD600, the Alesis QS8, and conceivably the Korg N1. The other models
you mention have organ keys.
Gerry
mpf...@uclink4.berkeley.edu
> ginge...@aol.com
>
I have recently been in this position myself. I was deciding between the
Kurzweil PC88, Korg SGProX, Roland RD-600 and Yamaha P-200. The Kawai
MP-9000 has not arrived in stores yet so I have not tried it. I narrowed my
search to these because they all had 88 keys, hammer action, and multiple
pedal capability. Here is my opinion: -Nothing comes close to the feel
(graded hammer action) of the Yamaha P200 -Sound is a little better on the
other models mentioned above (but each of these did not have the feel of a
piano) My decision: Yamaha P200. The feel of the keys bothered me on all the
other models ..... I could upgrade the sound with a piano module (say the
Alesis Nano Piano). If you are not so worried about the feel, and want a
great European piano sound go with one of the others.
Try Woodwind and Brasswind (South Bend, Indiana). They have great prices (at
least on the Yamaha and Roland) and are quite helpful.
-Michelle
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Victor Levy
>(at least on the Yamaha and Roland) and are quite helpful.
They ship mail order too. Look at www.wwandbw.com or phone 1-888-348-5003.
According to Yamaha's Web page's dealer locator,
("Cities in IN. with Authorized Yamaha Dealers [of portable digital
pianos] - ANDERSON, BLOOMINGTON, EVANSVILLE, FORT WAYNE, FT WAYNE,
INDIANAPOLIS, JEFFERSONVILLE, KOKOMO, SOUTH BEND, TERRE HAUTE, VINCENNES")
it looks like the closest city to Lafayette with a Yamaha dealer is
Indannapolis, 60 miles from you. Here is the listing:
- Authorized Yamaha Dealers in INDIANAPOLIS, IN.-
DRUM CENTERS OF INDIANA, INC
5874 E. 71ST STREET
INDIANAPOLIS , IN 46220
317-594-8989
IRC MUSIC, INC.
5911 E 82ND ST
INDIANAPOLIS , IN 46250
317-849-7965
MARS, INC.
8284 CENTER RUN DRIVE
INDIANAPOLIS , IN 46250
317-585-2796
IRC MUSIC SOUTH, INC.
8811 HARDEGAN ST
INDIANAPOLIS , IN 46227
317-849-7965
MERIDIAN MUSIC COMPANY, INC.
9401 N MERIDIAN ST
INDIANAPOLIS , IN 46260
317-575-9588
Hope this helps, Vic
Victor Levy (not affiliated with any music dealer)
South Bend, Indiana, USA
XXv...@skyenet.netXX <- Remove XXs for correct address
Ron Jette
>
> Here is my opinion: -Nothing comes close to the feel
> (graded hammer action) of the Yamaha P200 -Sound is a little better on the
> other models mentioned above (but each of these did not have the feel of a
> piano) My decision: Yamaha P200.
I recently dropped into a "musician's" music shop (as opposed to a
plinker's music shop and was told that the Yamaha "P" series is the
stage series as opposed to the Clavs which are home/furniture models
and, therefore, cost a lot more.
Do you (or anyone else) know if the two lines are comparable? Frankly, I
would buy the less attractive model for two reasons. First, I don't
really care how pretty it is and second, I don't have (although I am
wavering) as much need for the bells and whistles.
--
Ron Jette, Writer and Wrider
tri...@cyberus.ca
Writer: http://www.insites.ca/tristan
Wrider: http://www.insites.ca/ride/
zZounds
All of the keyboards you mention have MIDI in and out.
With the exception of the P200, the keyboards you reference don't have
speakers. However, for about $85 you can get some decent powered monitor
speakers that will do the job without an additional amp.
The P200 is a very good choice for someone who wants a good action, good
but not extensive sounds (i.e., the sounds they have are really good, but
they don't have every keyboard sound you can imagine), and the convenience
of having the speakers built in.
The RD 600 has great sounds, and includes beyond the solid piano sounds
some other great Rhodes, B3, etc., keyboard sounds. The variety of sounds
is greater than with the P200, but still stays with the traditional
keyboard family as opposed to the whole General Midi range with flutes,
trombones, strings, drums, etc.
The Alesis QS8 has a nice Bosendorfer sample grand piano, plus it has the
full General Midi sound set, plus some additional sounds. It's also a bit
smaller even though it has 88 hammer weighted keys and a bit less
expensive.
The XP-80 and the EX5 are both great keyboards, but are not really piano
substitutes if you are into the hammer weighted action. For versatile
sounds, though, the XP80 offers great sounds, an onboard sequencer, a disk
drive, and the ability to expand the sounds further through expansion
cards. It's great for home studio use or for the gigging musician. The
EX5 has some awesome sound creation options (sampling, physical modeling,
MIDI, you name it) and is extremely, extremely cool, but, again, it ain't a
piano substitute. It's a really, really cool synth.
Last but not least, you can put together a system with a MIDI controller
and whatever sound modules we like. We sell a piano pack system with an 88
key hammer weighted controller and a piano module at less cost than the
other options you have mentioned above.
Ray Campbell
zZounds Music Discovery Center
125 W North Avenue Chicago IL 60610
312/280-4664 1-800-996-8637
http://www.zZounds.com
mailto:in...@zZounds.com
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