Save your money.

I would never buy a Casio again because of the limited polyphony and the lack of higher end features like a 16 track sequencer, etc. but I saw the WK-8000 (88 keys) at GC and decided to check it out for fun. Even though it has 88 keys (the kind most manufacturers provide the 'wider' keys for) the Casio had the smaller key size. The key action was poor also in my opinion and the sounds were mediocre plus the speaker system was rather ordinary with the volume less than adequate in my opinion. I suppose the WK-8000 would be a good starter keyboard for students in school who need 88 keys because the price is really low at only $399. But forget about using the WK-8000 for gigging. It just doesn't provide the necessary quality sounds you need for convincing, realistic live performance work.

That's how I see it anyway.

Best regards,
Mike

Next?

[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 10-20-2006).]

Mike,
First, the price for the WK8000 is $499, not $399. The retail price is $649 and Casio doesn't allow stores to post prices less then their MAP price which is $499. If you really saw it for $399, GC made a huge mistake and would actually be loosing money on this product. The mark up on these inexpensive keyboards is really small. Also, at this price point there is no competition for an 88 key digital keyboard with all the features. Did you try the drawbar organs? Did you try using the modulation button to add realistic leslie simulations. Also, if you edit the stock piano and take away some of the digital reverb present in the stock piano and store it in a user voice, you would have heard a very good quality piano. I agree with the 32 note polyphony, but even the Yamaha YPG 525 which sells for $629.00 and has the same kind of action and features only has 32 note polyphony.
As I state often here, if you tried the keyboard at GC and didn't get a knowledgeble sales person, you probably didn't get to hear the Casio at it's best. My only disappointment with Casio is it's ride and crash cymbals. These are not up to todays standards.
I can't argue with your opinion of the feel of the keys because at this price point, you can't expect too much. But I do think that for it's price, it's a lot of keyboard.
Again, I get to play around with these boards everyday of the week so I have the advantage of knowing the in's and out's and can tweak things you might not of had time or the knowledge to try out at GC.

great read guys,thanks for the share!

You are right George. I got the price mixed up with the WK-3800. The WK-3800 is $399.

George I did play probably a hundred or so of the voices going from one to the next. I think one of the best voices is the Grand Piano voice. I also didn't do any EQ'ing or customizing of any of the voices. It was just the stock factory settings so I suppose layering and adjusting the EQ could really enhance some of the sounds. But to be truthful I finally had to stop playing after going through about 100 of the sounds. I lost interest because the sounds to me were mediocre at best and I became disenchanted. I guess I've been spoiled with my Tyros but some people might find the sounds on the Wk-8000 to be adequate for them.

There was a few bright spots like a few of the Organs and also a few of the Pianos and Electric Pianos but overall I was disappointed.

PS: The only way a person can know for sure if the Casio WK-8000 suits them is to personally demo one themselves. What is one man's trash is another man's treasure as they say.

Best regards,
Mike

[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 10-21-2006).]

Mike, i bought an 8000 from George, and, for what I want it for, It's fine. At only $499.00, it's a fair 88 note piano, for me.The only use I have is as a piano to arrange film music in my office for final production later. If I were to use it out, I wouldn't need the drawbar sounds, because I would be replacing a suitcase Rhodes on my right hand when using s B-3 at a local Country Club..

I bought this sight unseen on George's recommendation, and I have a little problem. I would hate to go into a local store, take the sales staff's time explaining the thing to to me and then order from someone else.

I guess my only option is to move to within driving distance from George's shop.

Oh Well...


Russ

I tried casio wk3700 one year ago and ended buying a yammy dgx-505 when I was just starting. I read good reviews about wk8000 predecesor on keybord player and other magazines. After 1 hour testing I realized it wasn't for me, sounded cheesy,thin and overall lack of realism on most sounds including piano sounds which was my main goal, construction wasn't good either and some buttons look the same as $50 casio keybards. I agree it packs a lot of stuff for the price but sometimes less is better. In my opinion not for the stage and definitely not a professional keyboard.

I tried wk8000 past week and seemed to me didn't have enough improvements over the wk3700 regarding sound quality and piano sounds. Also for $499 it's not particularly cheap either.

A casio privia px310 would be a better bet unfortunaly has only 32 poly. I hooked it up to an Keyboard amp on GC and sounded acceptable for me.

Currently a motif ES7 w/ Steinway D sample loaded and a yamaha s80 w/plg150AP board give me all the purity on piano sounds I expect from a gigging keyboard. just my 2 cents.


[This message has been edited by superpowter77 (edited 10-27-2006).]

Speaking about the opinionated piano sounds..I would venture to say the vast majority[of piano players], in a blind test would select the Roland 700sx piano over all the competition..

Someone posted a piano shootout a month or so ago..It was extensive and really brought to light the way the pianos sound when played with dynamics.

On the Casio piano comments..I take the Casio over the PSR and DGX models, for tone and dynamics...It isn't close to great, but neither is the Yamaha.