I often play keyboard for our church praise group. All I do is provide PAD background sounds and sometimes play melody using only right hand sounds like a flute or clarinet.
This all this keyboard is ever used for and there is no need for all the fancy features of a TOTL model. What keyboard would you consider?

Deane

What’s your budget Deane?

Not really sure yet what the Church's budget will be for this. The keyboard they are replacing played out using today's service.

Deane

Churches are defiantly not immune to the financial strains caused by COVID, and for what you're looking for, there are plenty of good choices in the high/entry to mid level keyboards

It sounds like you need acoustic sounds and pads, so I'd personally would go with a Yamaha.

Since you already know how to use an arranger, how about one of the PSR models? Just because they have auto accompaniment, doesn't mean you need to use it. You're already familiar with the OS, and you know how to make registrations, which will be be a big time saver, trying to prepare with just a short time before a service.

Really any ROMPLER/ synth/workstation will do, but why spend precious time trying to learn something new? Just my thoughts.

An iPad running Garage Band might be all you need…. If you already have a USB equipped controller. Mind you, you’d need someone pretty familiar with technology at the helm.

Does the church have an iPad and controller? What do they currently have?

Deane, just look for a used S-950 and you're ready to go.

Good luck,

Gary

Thanks folks for your input - all good ideas. We have a small church and the iPad idea would not work. The S950 would be awesome. I have found a used S900 but am not sure the church will fund it. Any leads to anyone selling a keyboard would help a lot.

Deane

I just sold a psr 950 for $500.

I think an older model would be fine too.

Also, those psr “ e” models cost less $300 new, and I think would be perfectly fine for what you need.

I have a psr e 463, and it sounds pretty darn good.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/PSR-...ASABEgI2PvD_BwE

You obviously don't need rhythm and styles.
So why not buy a simple synth? The Yamaha MX61 II costs 499€!

One thing that I don't like personally, about the PSR E-series, is that they don't allow you to control the bassline (no "bass inversion" setting.) I would look for a gently used Roland BK-5. Even a Prelude. The chord recognition and Melody Intelligence (RH harmony) makes these instruments approachable for novices on those weekends when the pros are out of town!

The problem is that these woodwinds like flute and clarinet may sound very pleasant on one keyboard and very toylike or even painful on another. I have Roland Juno DS and I’m sad to say that I don’t really enjoy these sounds here. I’d say that Yamaha even as old as PSR-3000 has better ones. Since you don’t plan to play with styles I would agree with Crossover that an arranger can be not an obvious choice. An arranger usually has its own speaker system which means a lot of extra weight and extra cost. I guess Yamaha MX61 could be a good choice, just as something from MOX or MOXF series but I have no idea about how a clarinet sounds there. Motif, Montage or MODX can be a good choice too, but they obviously cost a lot. On second thoughts, PSR-S900 might be a better choice, to my taste these MX, MOX, etc., are a bit too “geeky”.

Also, judging by Data Lists, PSR-S670 and PSR-SX600 have some good clarinets too. Maybe you’d find some good deals on new ones. Obviously, an older keyboard might need some service sooner than a new one, although it’s not always the case.

As the original post mentions no automatic accompaniment necessities whatsoever, I am confused why an arranger forum is where the question is asked…

Or is there a possibility that the keyboard may end up doing more than just provide pads and the odd lead?

It is best to plan for the ultimate eventuality otherwise a choice made to cover basic needs will necessitate yet another purchase down the line. But be careful what you ask, and where you ask it! To a hammer, everything looks like a nail!

Well, one of the things Arrangers do well (perhaps a defining feature), is "Auto Bass Chord." Even the lowly PSR-E463 has this. However its ability to accept an appropriate custom style is limited, and the bass is always the root of the chord.
An Organ has three sections- melody, harmony, and a pedal division for bass. It takes years of training to play a church organ well. But you can fake it convincingly using an arranger because when you play LH chords with accompaniment enabled you are in effect playing both harmony (the pad sound) and Bass. Add intelligent chord recognition, and when you press one or two keys, you're getting four or five notes in two different voices! It's a musical force multiplier!! That's exactly what I meant by my comment about the instrument being "approachable for novices on those weekends when the pros are out of town." IMO it would take real skill (and maybe a plug in manual and pedalboard) to achieve a complete church organ ensemble on something like a Hammond XK or stage piano.

Thanks for all the replies. The church ordered a new Yamaha PSR SX700 yesterday.
It will do all they need it to do plus more - they will be pleased. We had two good offers for used gear but the church board wanted to buy new.

Deane

The SX-700 is an excellent choice. The best of both worlds as it can be used with, or without accompany, with or without internal speakers, and external display capability if needed.

OH yea!...Good Choice

Me, I’d have campaigned for an SX900 over the 700.

That chord sequencer is a game changer, allowing you to play in the chords for the first verse, then let it take over for the rest and get to truly concentrate on PLAYING the solo or comp. Especially if you want solo sounds that need a bit of bender (or joystick!), and what don’t, in truth?!

Plus, you can store the chord sequences, link them to a Registration, if the choir needs rehearsing and you can’t play, easy enough to set it up so all they have to do is press ‘play’… 🎹😎

Deane,

Had I seen this thread earlier, I would have suggested your church consider a DGX 670. It really is a an arranger with piano functions.

Assuming you don’t have to move it much(heavy) it could function as a piano in a pinch.