Musical Newb

[happyrat1]

Keep an eye out for the upcoming boxing week specials.

Here's all the best Canadian Music Vendors I have on my short search list.

http://www.axemusic.com/store/

http://www.lamusic.ca/Default.asp

http://www.long-mcquade.com/

http://cosmomusic.ca/

http://www.tomleemusic.ca/

http://www.savedbytechnology.com/catalog/index.php

http://www.moogaudio.com/

http://www.fleetsound.com/catalog/

http://www.stevesmusic.com/


If the Kross comes up for a special price see if your guy will do a price match

It pays to shop around

Gary

 

[Quincy]

Thanks Gary.

 

[Quincy]

I know it seems hasty but I am officially now obsessed with the Kross, this latest video has sort of sealed the deal and I know this musician is highly skilled but I just love the sound of this board and what it can do. I think spending a few extra dollars now is small because I'm in the range of 400-700 anyway. I"m just going to hold on till a good deal comes along.

 

[happyrat1]

If you've decided on the Kross you might want to look at the manuals before you buy.

http://www.korg.com/uploads/Support/USA_KROSS_OpG_E(1).pdf

http://www.korg.com/uploads/Support/USA_KROSS_ParamG_E.pdf

http://www.korg.com/uploads/Support/USA_KROSS_QuickStart_E.pdf

 

[Quincy]

Thanks, i actually just came from Long Mcquade, the place is pretty cool. They didnt have a ton of keyboards but i got first hand seeing how the keys felt on some entry and higher end boards, quite a difference. They didnt have a Kross but they had a Juno Di, pretty nice too. The expensive ones had beautiful keys on them. The Yamaha MX49 was actually nice to, lol.

I couldnt even find a keyboard magazine, to have something to flip through.

 

[happyrat1]

The Interweeb has done gone and killed all the print magazines man. And it's always good to try out the keys in a store before you pull the trigger and buy one.

What part of the frozen north are you in exactly? The GTA has tons of music shops in the area as long as you are not afraid to drive the 400 highways a bit

Gary

 

[Quincy]

Yeah figured with all the guitar mags there would be at least one keyboard one. I'm in the Windsor area, a bit away from TO.

 

[happyrat1]

Windsor is a good thing. It's just a bridge hop over to Detroit where you can pick stuff up for cross border shopping at American prices.

There used to be a mag out of the UK called Keyboard Player but from what I can see on their website their last issue was 2011.

 

[happyrat1]

Incidentally, it's not a magazine but check out this thread I started last year with tutorial links.

https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/good-tutorial-links.24556/

More than enough stuff to get you started and give you an idea of what you're getting yourself into

Gary

 

[Quincy]

So with a boxing week coupon code for LA Music i can get the Kross for $690 less the taxes. Not too bad.

 

[happyrat1]

Do ya get free shipping with that?

Merry Xmas,

Gary

 

[Quincy]

Merry Xmas to you as well, indeed it is free shipping, I'm debating whether to take a drive as well. There is a great series on Youtube as well, a 5 part manual on the Kross.

 

[happyrat1]

Sounds good. LA Music is in Mississauga. Give me a call if you're in town. I'm about ten miles away from them. Maybe we'll meet for coffee. I'll send ya my phone number in PM.

Gary

 

[Quincy]

Well I'm beginning to add items to my cart and I think you will be a bit surprised what I'm ordering......drum roll please.

 

[Quincy]

I do have a question can you use any manufacturers sustain pedal, trying to order one in stock and some look exactly the same but double the price. Thanks

 

[Quincy]

So after alot of consideration, although I just love the Korg Kross 61, I have finally made a decision. The Kross is brand new and it is not going anywhere soon, I'm a complete beginner so if I wanted the Korg with the bells and whistles I was looking at around the $900 mark. I know that's not a ton a money for someone new I think it would be a bad decision to spend that amount of money when I have had some good direction to more affordable solutions that still exceed my abilities by a mile.

I am placing my order to AxeMusic.com for the Casio XW-P1, On Stage KS8290X Stand, Shure SRH240, all for under $500, plus free shipping. I can grab a sustain pedal locally and the Casio is heavily discounted @ $382.

 

[happyrat1]

Congrats. You won't be disappointed with the XW-P1.

Both Korgs and Casios can use the same sustain pedal, a normally open switch pedal.

Rolands and Yamahas use normally closed pedals. The Korgs actually have an auto sense mechanism allowing them to be used with almost any pedal.

Anyway, I highly recommend the M-Audio SP-2 Sustain Pedal. It's built like a tank and if you shop around you can find them on special for between $15 and $20.

The SP-2 is a universal pedal BTW, with a polarity switch on the bottom allowing it to be used with virtually any keyboard.

I own 4 of them. They work well with my Kurzweil too.

Expect your order to clear by Friday or Monday and expect the shipment from Axe within 4 days after that. They're good people and if you have to speak with their phone web support say hi to Brad for me. He's been working there for years and has always bent over backward to give me good customer satisfaction

Gary

PS. Onstage stands are good, but I'd recommend a Z stand instead of an X. They're much sturdier and more stable and they never accidentally "collapse" if you don't lock them in place properly.

Phone them up on Friday and see if you can modify your order to pick up one of these instead.

http://www.axemusic.com/store/product/3885/On-Stage-Folding-KeyboardStand/

Plus if you ever pick up a second keyboard, adding a second tier to that model is a breeze.

Maybe you can get in an order for an SP-2 sustain pedal while you're at it.

Gary

 

[Quincy]

Thanks Gary for all your help, the Casio did make the most sense. I tried looking for the limited edition but its nowhere to be found plus the price at Axe is great. Looking forward to its arrival.

 

[happyrat1]

So aside from what you've already ordered, make sure you pick up a 10 ft USB AB cable, a couple of RCA female to TRS 1/4" male adapters and and a 10 ft RCA cable.

Then you'll be able to plug the Casio into your computer and your stereo and really crank things up a notch.

http://www.amazon.ca/Everydaysource-10FT-USB-Cable-Black/dp/B007ZYVU58/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1388033425&sr=1-10&keywords=usb ab 10 ft

http://www.amazon.ca/niceeshop-Nickel-Plating-Female-Adapter/dp/B00HH5FZR4/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1388033588&sr=1-13&keywords=1/4" mono to RCA

http://www.amazon.ca/RCA-Male-Audio-Cable-12/dp/B000I1D1IO/ref=sr_1_47?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1388033862&sr=1-47&keywords=10 ft rca cable

And maybe also pick up a 3.5 mm stereo to RCA cable again 10 ft so you can patch it thru your computer's soundcard if you want to record MP3 and WAV audio with it.

http://www.amazon.ca/Hosa-CMR210-Stereo-Inch-Dual/dp/B000068O3B/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1388034015&sr=1-8&keywords=3.5 mm to rca 10 ft

With those, you should be ready for anything

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

BTW, I did a little holiday shopping myself today and ordered in a Kore64 ROM expansion for my Kurzweil and managed to pick it up for $249 plus taxes and international brokered Purolator shipping.

Total cost under $300 CDN taxed and shipped. A bargain compared to what Canadian retailers are asking for it.

I'll deal with the credit card bill next month, just like every other Canadian this time of year

Gary