Dear All,

I'm a novice keyboard player, seeking for advice and help to decide which arranger keyboard I should buy.

My budget is around $600 - $800.
Mostly I use it as a single man band keyboard, I play together with a guitar player.

My priority is the key feel and size (solid feel, not necessarily weighted, full size), the decent sound quality, and the professional styles/arrangement.

It's nice if the keyboard is expandable, but it's not a must.

My option are:
1. Used G-600
2. Roland EXR or EXR-s series.
3. Roland GW-7

Does somebody have some other suggestions?


I did consider Korg PA-50, but I don't like the key feel. I don't like Yamaha PSR either because of the key feel.

Currently I use old Roland E-10 (LA synth), and the key feel is great.

I did consider Yamaha Tyros, and Yamaha 9000 Pro, but they are too expensive. Roland G-800 is great, but I can't find it, somebody outbid me in eBay.

Thanks a lot. Any suggestion is appreciated.


[This message has been edited by RolandLover (edited 10-29-2005).]

Hi RolandLover,

If you don't like the key feel of the medium range keyboards of today, then i would suggest you try to continue to find a used top model of yesteryear, maybe something like an Korg I30 which i still think is an amazing machine, and i've seen it for so little now. But bear in mind, it has no speakers so i'm not sure if that is an issue. Maybe also look into a used G1000, the KN series such as the KN6000.

Good luck

Hi Danny,

G-1000 is still too expensive (around $1400).
I will take a look at i-30 and KN6000

What are the major difference features between i30 and KN6000? How about the sound quality?

Thanks

[This message has been edited by RolandLover (edited 10-29-2005).]

Rolandlover,

I too, am a novice keyboard player. I also used to have Roland equipment. I used a Kawai synth with a Roland RA90 arranger modual for many years and an Alesis16 drum machine.

I always had one of the less expensive arrangers in the house as well. Mainly, Casio of some sort. I went to the PSR2000 at one point but found I wanted 76 keys and went on to control that with a newer Casio WK series 76 keyboard. It was inexpensive to control the PSR2000 with these 76 keys.

Now I have found that the WK series Casio's do everything that the other equipment did in one package deal. Not so in yesteryear with Casio. However, since their introduction of their WK3000/WK3500 series boards, I found myself so satisfied that I even upgraded from their WK3500 to their WK3700 which, in my opionion sounds wonderful for the keyboard playing I do and without major equipment add-ons. While, most people are hesitant to revisit Casio products, I will say their new WK-3700 is remarkable. The sound quality and functions for the price make it for me a no brainer. You may want to take a look at that board even though I read in a previous post Casio was not an option. There are many sound demos online.

Many pros on here use that board and have found it to very useful. I do understand the key feel issue though. My old kawai synth had the best solid weighted keys. I do however, like the light touch of the Casio WK. I sold all the old equipment. I only use the Casio now.

Hope that helps.

For the record? If I should come into some money some day I would buy the Tryos2!

Take care,

Linda

I've never owned a KN6000 before so feature wise you would have to ask someone here who's owned one before. Sound quality is great on both boards, but the KN has great amplification, where as the i30 has no speakers.

imo, the i30 was a very underrated board, not quite sure why that was, because really in terms of sounds & styles, there isnt a huge difference between that and the PA80, if anything, i actually thought the drums sounded slightly better in the i30. if you liked the styles of the PA50, you will actually find many of them in the i30 as well... its touch screen also, but i didnt like the op system interface, wasnt very user friendly, but maybe you'd get on with it...

Hi linda,

I own a KN6000 with the 6500 upgrade. Currently looking at gettin a 76 key keyboard as well.
Something inexpensive but delivers good sound quality.

I use to own a CTK 731 and wasnt too happy amaturish sound quality.

Im keen to hear a few demos of the WK. Could you please point me in the right direction to hear some? I have heard some demos of the old MZ2000 a few years ago, does the WK sound better? what are the drums like?

Thanks

Hi nick_kn6500,

Here is a link to their demos of the tones and styles.
http://www.casio-europe.com/euro/emi/wk3700/sound/

I especially love the breathy sax, guitar and the drawbar organ tones. All are very good. I also like the more modern styles.


I used to own an MZ2000 and I believe most of the tones are better than the MZ. I sold the MZ2000 only because it would just not save all the internal data via standard midi. It was very frustrating. The board itself was wonderful though.

I still own my old CTK-1000! I found it in a closet the other day and have been playing with it. It used FM sound engine and I recalled after playing with it I saved it because I always loved the latin styles on it. It came out back in 1993.

-Linda

Thanks for the speedy reply!

Im very impressed with that Grand Piano sound. That is such an improvement over previous models. Casio have put their put into the range of 'quality' keyboards hehe

I might have a closer look at one in the flesh this week and think about purchasing

Rolad Lover

All suggestion given are good ones. Something else you should consider are the General music workstations such as SK760 and WK series they are pretty well built, great keyboard feel, good styles and sounds, real easy navigation and setups. There have been some real good values on EBay.

Jerry

Here's another demo of the WK series: http://www.casio-europe.com/euro/downloads/emi/CTK-900_mix.mp3

Actually it's from the less expensive CTK-900 but it has the same sound engine.

(BTW: I will buy the WK-3700 too)

[This message has been edited by sunfactor (edited 10-29-2005).]