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.