Just need the basics...

[RezN8]

I'm looking for opinions on a good to great sounding keyboard for live use. All I really need is
-61-note board (keeping it small to fit on stage next to percussion)
-decent polyphony (I just counted and I have 10 fingers... so at least 10-notes at once is not too much to ask, is it?)
- great piano, electric piano, and organ sounds

that's all I really need, nothing fancy. I DON'T need a sequencer, or any real bells and whistles except maybe MIDI IN/OUT. Does anyone make a SIMPLE keyboard like this anymore, or do you have to have like 300 other sounds we'll never use (like a dog barking, gun shot noises, etc.)

Waddaya think?

[Sampler]

If you're looking for a keyboard with high quality sounds, there's no doubt that you'll be getting hundreds of those sound effect "sounds". You can't really go with something like a basic Casio, which only has 100 sounds, because the sounds are really bad, in my opinion. I'm afraid there are very few "simple" keyboards out there today.

The most basic I would recommend is the Yamaha PSR-273. It has a really nice keyboard feel, 480 sounds (most of them you probably won't use, but it's got really nice pianos, electric pianos, and organs), and 32 note polyphony. If you're looking for some higher quality sounds, go with he Yamaha DGX series.

I highly recommend that you stop by a music store or two to see what they sound like and so you can make the best judgement.

Of course, these keyboards with high quality sounds will most likely have sequencers and what not, so you'll just have to look around and see what you like.

[lordzenn]

Try a korg 01w/FD

[Xavier]

Yeah stop by a music store like guitar center and try the Yamaha DGX series, which i have, the thing sounds great and has decent beats plus great sound effects for only like $300 bucks.

[bigwillz24]

Yamaha PSR series is as simple as it gets these days

Unless were talkin Casio

[RezN8]

Thanks for the replies guys, but I'm going to keep looking. I looked at the Yamaha's and they're OK, but I just can't see myself buying a keyboard with built-in speakers. I'm looking for a more "pro" "bare bones" type of set up.

I think my best bet is to find a good controller and then load the sounds I want into a sampler or rack unit.

Cheers, Rez

[rweiss]

yeah im looking for a good controller now too, im probably going to buy the Studiologic VMK-88. You are exposed to a much wider selection of choice with controllers.Plus im waiting to get the roland kc-550 180 watt amp, that thing sounds INCREDIBLE for live performances.