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View Full Version : good piano synth for around $500?

SteveNutz
12-05-2003, 06:10 PM
Yo,
What's the most piano-like keyboard I can get for about $500? I'm classically trained in piano, so sound and feel is very important to me. However, I do play in a rock band, so some other synth features would be nice as well..but that's second priority.

People have reccomend the Yamaha S80, but the cheapest I've found on eBay is about $800. So what keyboards would be almost as good, but cheaper? Or am I asking for too much given my budget?

Thanks!
Enigma™
12-05-2003, 06:26 PM
Alesis QS 8 or 8.1
The feel COULD be better, but it certainly wasn't too bad. That and the sounds are some of the warmer piano's I've heard. I don't like the "plinky" piano sounds most have.
That and it's cheap and has some other neato type sounds too.

Might be worth a peek.
Angelic Layer
12-06-2003, 09:44 AM
Yamaha S03
Kirby
12-06-2003, 12:29 PM
I was in a Music Store today and tested the Alesis QS 8. Nice Key Action and nice piano sounds! Well worth the price!
SteveNutz
12-06-2003, 06:38 PM
Hmm the S03 does not have 88 keys, so that's a problem.

I've been looking at QS8's on eBay, and it seems like a very good choice for me. The prices are over $600, but that's better than the S80 prices. I've bidded on one so we'll see how that goes..

If you guys have any other reccomendations, please post!

Thanks for the replies everyone!
Angelic Layer
12-07-2003, 08:26 AM
I don't see a reason you need to play all the 88 keys.
Kirby
12-07-2003, 10:03 AM
I think it's not the amount of keys, but the quality!

Hammer action is far better than synth action!
Scrap
12-07-2003, 03:41 PM
I don't see a reason you need to play all the 88 keys.

He poster mentions that he is a classically trained player. People use all 88 keys in classical music. :P
SteveNutz
12-07-2003, 06:32 PM
I don't see a reason you need to play all the 88 keys.

He poster mentions that he is a classically trained player. People use all 88 keys in classical music. :P

Exactly :) But of course..if the number of keys makes THAT much of a difference in the price (like $300 or something, which seems to be the case with the S03) I would definitely consider it. Right now I'm bidding on an S80 (decided to increase my budget, self X-mas present heh heh), so hopefully that will go well.

Thanks again for the rec's. The Alesis QS8 definitely looks like an awesome keyboard I didn't know about before, and the S03 has a great price.
Deceit
12-08-2003, 02:30 AM
Having a good amount of keys in ANY machine that supports keyboard splitting I think is essential.
Remember that split areas let you perform a hundred more instruments if linked well with midi controls.
By the way...I'd aim for QS8-8.1-8.2 or some Yamaha S-series.
They're the cheapest out.
Or maybe you find an used K2000, then go for it.
Deceit.