Buying a Keyboard

[sunshinesarah]

Was at church today and listened to the organ, accompaniments and added sounds. It was really frustrating sitting there and knowing none of the P-series is going to give me that without much painstaking composition on my part of trying to piece different sounds together. Heh. Yes. The brat in me still wants my cake and to eat it too.

Too bad I don't have enough space or money for 2 keyboards - one for just the piano, and the other for the rest of it.

I really will give the RD another shot I think, WITH a pre-purchased set of headphones this time around. Any recommendations for the headphones? Scouted around some forums....for a budget of less than $200, looks like their recommendations are the Sony MV6 or sthg, or a Grado. Can't rem the model tho.

 

[Cheez]

Don't have to buy just for that! Unless you want one for yourself. You can always ask the Swee Lee people to lend you one - hopefully they agree but I'm sure they'll comply...just take them about another 5 minutes and more grumbling, that's all.

What keyboards do your church use? Also know that the sounds coming out from those big spekers tend to change the sound a little. It will sound different in your house or room.

Also, with a good stage piano and clever layering/splitting, you can create a surprising full sound particularly with good controls like the RD700. During my hardware days before all these nice keyboards are out, I used to use a lot of keyboard programming, sound programming, external modules, expression pedal (I actually used 3 pedals - 1 sustain, 1 switch, 1 expression) etc to get a good mixing of sound that's playable by one person live. I actually managed to achieve to play piano, e piano, strings, suspended cymbals rolls, clash cymbals, tympani rolls, wind chimes etc on one keyboard + external modules etc - one person playing in a live situation in church. Takes a long time to program that. Nowadays, you can achieve that with just one keyboard with minimal programming. (talking about live playing here, not pre-sequenced music)

 

[sunshinesarah]

Ya...will need to get headphones for meself too. Not gonna torture someone else's ears while I reacquaint myself with my piano after I get it

The one in church is Yamaha, a true blue organ, EL900a or sthg. There are only 2 instruments in church - the grandpiano, and the organ. I'm now trying to wheedle my way into the choir if only to get my hands onto the grandpiano.....heh

 

[Indigo_blues]

hi Sarah,

Think you should try out the casio previa series as well.. think the latest models out the last 2 years are quite decent.. touch is very responsive and they come with built in speakers as well. The higher models have got other sounds other than piano too. I tried one some time end of last year and was quite surprised by the tone and dynamics of it. Only thing is the touch is slightly lighter than the yamaha p series. Its pretty decent budget wise also.. since you are just starting out thot this will be a good option to consider as well.. You can slowly work yourself up to the full blown RD or P250 after familiarising yourself with all the tech thats out there after a while. Both the RD700 and P250 are top of the line "stage pianos" and may be abit of overkill for you after having read your posts.

btw i have a P200 at home.. its the predecessor of the p250 and I still love it! Maybe you could find a good second hand one around.. that would be great too. Only thing it doesn't have too many of the other sounds. The touch and dynamics beat the crap of the kurzweil PC88 we have in church.

 

[sunshinesarah]

Yes, getting the cheaper Privia or a cheaper P-series digital piano is currently a consideration....the cheapest one's about $1,200 for the PX110, and about $1,500 for the PX310.

Guess I am thinking for the longer term as well. I'm not sure about the resale value of the Privia, or the P-series, should I decide to upgrade at some later point in time. Figure I'll have to decide which is the greater "evil" - to spend on sthg I will likely not want to keep long term now, and settle for sound that isn't as great, and then spend more later - or to carry out a one time investment and just spend now anyway.

So ya, I can't decide as yet. Guess I'm still figuring out what I can do with the whole lot of stuff now too.

Anyways, will prob make a trip down to try out the Casio either in Carrefour or Luthermusic sometime this week. And the quest goes on!

Thanks for the thoughts!!!

 

[sunshinesarah]

Haros all

Just thought I'd update and say the deed's done. I've purchased the P250 and delivery will happen in about 2-3 days time. Heh. Thanks for all the advice. The P250 deal was just too good to resist at $2,800...

sarah.

 

[Jazzfish]

Hi sarah..well everyone else too. I play by ear largely and am looking for a digital piano as well. I do have a Motif es7 but for compositional purposes.

Now eyeing something tt i can train fingers with ie weighted keyboard with good piano/esp E.piano sounds.

Considering various clavinovas thru ebay/yahoo and also promotions in yamaha and also yr regular P series and various roland/korg models.

Sarah you got a pretty gd deal! Staff price?(30% off sounds about there) If not could you tell me where you bought cos I'm keen as well.

The P120 offer at $1900 has came and went or impending?

Anybody who's got a P200/250 120/90/140 to let go or a Clavinova to sign off do let me know. Id consider if its a good deal. Pass the words guys/gals...Thanks! 9 6 7 1 4 4 0 2

 

[Jazzfish]

By the way..just for introductions sake..

I enjoy the keyboard playing of Robbie buchanan,David benoit,dave grusin,Steve weingart, david foster, and I listen anything from flim $ the bbs, chick corea elektric band, brian mcknight, lea salonga, meshuggah, virgil donati band, south border, T-square, luis Miguel, Take 6, pages, maxus, gary valenciano, lara fabian.

Big fan of seinfeld and the blackadder

Anyone with similar interests feel free to say hello.. helmy_74@yahoo.com
Anyone without, feel free to ignore this post :roll:

 

[Cheez]

Sarah, congrats! Tell us more when you get your hands (and fingers) on it. Jazzfish, welcome to SOFT. We need more keyboardists on this forum.

 

[bongman]

Hi sarah..well everyone else too. I play by ear largely and am looking for a digital piano as well. I do have a Motif es7 but for compositional purposes.

Sarah you got a pretty gd deal! Staff price?(30% off sounds about there) If not could you tell me where you bought cos I'm keen as well.

The P120 offer at $1900 has came and went or impending?

Anybody who's got a P200/250 120/90/140 to let go or a Clavinova to sign off do let me know. Id consider if its a good deal. Pass the words guys/gals...Thanks! 9 6 7 1 4 4 0 2

Date posted : 25 November 2005
WTS: Yamaha Digital Piano P80 88 weighted keys $800,
any enqueries pls call 81630412, no sms thanks
Email:Call 81630412

 

[Indigo_blues]

warao, that's a good price for the P250. Don't think you'll ever regret the purchase. cheers! :lol:

 

[Jazzfish]

Hey bongman thanks...ya i saw tt. contemplatin a bit cos its well jus a tad older but still great im sure. n good price to boot too.

r u ignatius bong? bassman? if so any leads to a decent fretless 5? i also picking up bass

Still. anyone who's got a p120/200/250/90/140 or korg/roland digital pianos to sign off or even clavinovas feel free to update me tx !

 

[bongman]

no lah, me not the famed Singaporean bassist.
me juz a hobbyist keyboardist

I own a Korg SP300.
wanted a to buy a Yamaha P80 when it was launched but somehow didn't get it, bought the Korg SP300 instead.

someone selling a Yamaha S08 for $1200 at eBay.sg
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=7369330615

 

[Jazzfish]

ya .. i noticed that too but honestly i tried the sounds and not impressed. i think same sounds as the s03

but yes weighted keys..

at that price id look at some of the clavinova CLPs on ebay or even the p80. Ill drop by luther to check out the casiopx400 as well. but itll be swell if i can get a P200 for a gd deal.

tx bong ..lookin forward to picking up tips from u

 

[Indigo_blues]

i have a P200 but she's a keeper! :lol:

 

[Jazzfish]

damn you indigo damn you!! haha

Sarah if you got gas for something else Id be happy to unload yr P250 haha

 

[Cheez]

If I have the P250 - I will never let it go...

 

[Indigo_blues]

looks like jazzfish is the odd one out.. poor thing. :lol: :lol:

 

[bongman]

yes! the P250 is a good e.piano,
I used to go to the show room juz to play on the demo set.

wow! great sound and feel !
too bad, can't afford it - can only do with one less than $1500.

 

[Jazzfish]

Odd? no la jus gassin for the keys. I got a motif es7 to keep me occupied for now.