piano/keyboard for money

[Bnatural]

Those of you that tend to shop on a small budget; What is the cheapest you've seen a piano or keyboard that gave a decent tone and feel (I would much rather a piano... but, on the budget of a teenager who lost his job... that won't happen) Any specific model that was affordable? They have a yamaha at samash for $129.99 that is the best I've seen unless we are talking $400+.... From what I've played I would much prefer a Roland do to the feel of the keys.

[azulpurpureo]

not counting the feel of the keys, a good sound card and computer (which you may already have) will give the sound of any synth existing with reason or other similar programs (software synths trigered via midi)... i'd buy a soft (and rather cheap) feeling midi keyboard and not worry about their sounds since the computer can be used as the sound database. A good soundcard with a relatively powerful processor will give you 8 - 12 ms delay, the best setup will give you 4 ms, a machintoch designed for the purpose will give you 2 ms (wich is faster than most synths out there)...

Remember to get a keyboard with touch sensitiveness, control wheels (pitch and modulation, and these can be configured to gather different effects of the computer), and midi output / input. I doubt that the $129 kbrd will have any of those features (wich you'll desire when learning.. they make the difference between the sound of a predictable machine and the sound of a machine controlled by a competent human). There are lots of pages in the internet that describe how to configure midi to trigger the computer using those programs, and just downloaded a program that makes a perfect wah efect with my joistick =).

Well, that's it, if you already have a decent computer you might want to try with a good condition used midi keyboard... otherwise, i'd wait.

[HC]

Check the classifieds section of newspapers for people trying to get rid of pianos. Be sure to get a tech to check it over since they have A LOT of moving parts.

I'd recommend to save your money and stay away from those 130 dollar keyboards. They offer neither the feel of a piano nor the sound of piano. The only good thing about keyboards is that they have numerous rhythyms. Also 61 keys versus 88 keys is like... would you buy a car that is missing the passenger door? I have a keyboard at home, but never prefer to play on it, there is no dynamics at all. The keys are way too sensitive, it feels more like a computer keyboard than a piano. There is not enough keys for a typical classical piano piece.

A decent keyboard that has a feel and sound of a piano costs as much as a piano itself. I have no troubles with Yamaha Clavinovas and expensive keyboards. However no matter what, they just never feel right to me, no matter how expensive some of those models are.

Save your money, since you'll end up buying a piano sooner or later. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. howard0528(at)gmail(dot)com

[Bnatural]

Thanks for the help. I now have an offer of a wurlitzer keyboard from the 70s. Any one have any knowledge of them (it's a model 305 purely electronic) I've found a few things but pretty much no one has stuff about whether or not it would be suitable for the first few years of my learning. Is this any better then a midi keyboard I would get today?

It (the organ) would require some repair which would be part of the equation. It isn't touch sensitive so I'm leaning more towards letting it still sit over at the grandparents house. But if I can have that now or wait until the beginning of the year to even discuss getting a piano, it changes it a little bit in my mind.

I didn't mention this before but this is to better prepare me for college and a career (music ed.) Piano is also just something that I've wanted to undertake for ages. So while more plausible right now, the midi keyboard wouldn't help me as much in the long run (I believe tell me if you agree azul) I also have the support of my parents after we discussed it and they've seen how dedicated I am to the idea.

Thanks much guys your a big help

[Gordon (NZ)]

are we talking about an electronic piano here, which implies a keyboard 'feel' like a piano? Doesn't this require a piano-type action, and speed of pressing sensitivity like a real piano? Where the memory is dedicated to a large number of samplings for each note, such that the tone properly alters with how hard the keys are pressed? and a similar number of keys to a real piano?

They don't come too cheap.

Or are we talking about a 'keyboard', i.e. memory has been dedicated to a multitude of instrumental sounds and rhythms, bells and whistles, auto this and that, but a rather inferior piano sound, especially if cheap.

[Bootman]

Check out the new Casio Privia models, these are great value for money and sound good, feel good to play and are well under half the cost of the Clavinova or Roland examples.

Irecently spoke to the head of the importers here in Australia and they told me that new models are coming out again, so look at the local musiic shops and see wether they are running out the older models which are no slouch as far as an electric piano is concerned. Note that these instrumetns arent toys but well designed hard wearing pro instruments. I have been playing with a prop player of note here who has been using these for the last several years. They handle the rigours of gigging well.

[Gordon (NZ)]

Thanks Bootman. I may be on the look out for one of these for my 8 yr old son in the near future. It's good to have a locally relevant tidbit. :D