Hi everybody! My name is Jon and I am from Minnesota. I play a little guitar but now I want to add keyboards to the mix. I just want a decent keyboard to start learning on. I prefer country/country rock and some top 40 type stuff. So... I guess i really want a fair soudning piano sound and maybe good guitar sounds. What keyboard (that has built in speakers) would be best for learning on? I'd love to buy a Yamaha XS6 or 7, but I can't afford to get that and an amp etc..... I really need to stay under $1000 for now, but I don't want to waste my money on a crappy keyboard either. Also.... do I really want more than 61 keys? I mean, will I use more than that? I see they come with up to (maybe more even) 88! So what is the feeling on that? Please give me some ideas!! Thanks all! Jon
I'd recommend going to a music store and trying out some models. That way you can hear them for yourself and compare sounds, prices, etc. As for a guitar sound: I have never played a keyboard with a guitar setting that didn't sound hoopty. But I've never felt the need to play a guitar sound on a keyboard, anyway. Like you, I am in the market for a keyboard but only starting the search, so I don't have much shopping expertise. I will say that I think 61 keys is a solid size for an intermediate keyboard. Anything smaller would be a cheap keyboard, but then again, that may be the way to go, especially since you are on a $1000 budget. I am playing in a band and using a hoopty 48-key Yamaha psr-79 that we found in the trash. Works great, and I plan to keep it by my side even after I eventually find a new keyboard.
The thing with guitar sounds on keyboards is, they make them as dry as possible. It's sort of like plugging in a strat with no effects in a standard amp/speaker combo. It's up to the person who has the keyboard to add chorus, delay, distortion, etc. Playing the keyboard so as to sound like a guitar takes technique and playing style from the keyboardist. In these videos you will see him play a lead guitar solo on a keyboard and then let one that is recorded play back and then play another guitar solo
Yamaha, Roland, Korg Triton Extrem/Studio/Oasys, Kurzweil can all do this. But, check ebay. You may find an Extreme for around $1,200. I payed $2,000 brand new from GC for the 61 key in 2004.
Thanks Guys! Another Question..... Ok, this is a stretch from the lower price I was thinking but...... If I wanted to be crazy and buy a Yamaha Motif XS6, did I understand (somewhere else) correctly, that I could just plug in some Higher End Logitech speakers for home studion use and it would sound fine? I was guessing I'd need to spend another $500 on an amp or something. I have one bad problem, some may think it's good though.... I hate wasting money on cheaper stuff, only to later want to buy better stuff!! So.... if I decide to get serious and really learn to play, I really think I want to spend more and not regret it later!! Would you guys buy the XS6 if money was not a big issue? My favorite music would be country/country rock and top 40 stuff. Is the Motif XS6 an awesome setup for that or what would you buy? I am leaning toward the 6 vs the 7 or 8, more because $2100 is easier to swallow than $2800!! Thanks guys!
Yes, those speakers would be fine until you started mixing down your recordings. That is a different monster though and when that time comes studio monitors will be the choice - powered studio monitors would be best in my opinion. But for now, yes. Only problem with those speakers, if I remember correctly, you will need to pay abou $3 at radio shack for a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter.
