My cousin is a keyboard player....does 20-30 gigs a month. He’s mainly a nursing home/assisted living player....makes a good living.

He lives near me. He’s constantly doing gigs with an 88 key digital piano..drum machine and Harmonizer...plus otherr associated gear. I’m suggesting gigging with less equipment.

I suggest an arranger. That’s out. Anything less than full hammered action won’t cut it. He buys a $1,000 Casio(piano sort of) every other month.

Like my brother, my wife and many I know,; they aren’t into buttons...sliders etc....they want full hammered action.....just a simple piano.

I’m thinking my cousin could buy a good midi 88 key controller and an SD/40/90....preferably something he could put a mic into,

The trick will be getting him to spend the time to learn buttons and sliders.

Maybe consider the Roland arranger module too.

I do enjoy my Korg Havian but I’m not sure if I’d want gig with it...

Sounds like whatever he’s doing is working well for him.

My cousin likes Casio. Since he plays daily, if something happens to one of his keyboards....not the end of the world....since they are max $1,000.

Currently, he carries, besides a keyboard, a drum machine, a mixer and sometimes a Harmonizer.

I’m hoping to help him eliminate at least the drum machine.

If your cousin is happy, why change his habbits?

There currently are no good midi master controllers..
They are all fatar key quallity.. which is okay at best
Casio is at least equall to these, and light..
Even better then the GHS on the MODX8 and other low end Yamaha's..

So basically, any casio, and espescially the PX5-s would do fine as an SD40 controller
the PX5-s has the most advanced midi setup for integrating with the SD40

I think the SD40 will do just fine..
it offers everything he will need..
And is easy to operate.

Keep in mind that this does not eliminate the drum machine, but replaces it with an sd40
Just ask yourself what does he gain?

If he wants to step away from Casio, he should have a look at the kawai MP7SE
Or at the Roland fp90/RD2000.. those are a step up... but weigh a ton
Same goes for the Yamaha P-515, a lot heavier then the Casio... but huge step up for piano sounds



I still think the Roland BK7 is getting aged, and would not advise it to anyone.. SD40 is so much better.

Wow. Where to start?
I can't DISagree more on those statements.
1) I have an AKAI master controller that feels fantastic.
2) Fatar has been one of the best feeling keybeds over the last 20 or so years of arrangers that I've played. I think the Upper end Korgs use Fatar. (not sure)
3) Casio is the absolute bottom of the barrel in key feel. Noisy, flimsy, and horrible feeling. (sorry Casio owners - just my opinion, but shared by many of my friends)

Ranking the current models and key feel from BOTTOM to top:

Casio
PSR
mid-level Korgs / Rolands
TOTL Roland (never liked the longer keys they use, but they have a solid feel)
TOTL Korg / TOTL Yamaha (pretty much even)