JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Keyboard and Piano Forum Keyboard recommendations?

Amazon has some amazing deals on their keyboards. Most are Yamaha and Casio. I took lessons as a child and haven't played since. My interest is in teaching myself how to play. I don't want to spend more than $250 because I am a beginner per se.
Any recommendations? I am leaning toward a Yamaha but don't know which model is the best...
Thanks in advance for any help...

I would go to Sam Ash or a similar large music store to actually touch the keys and hear the sound before buying online just by a model recommended. You might not like the touch of any given keyboard, where as someone else might love it.

Play them ALL in your price range, even if just tinkering. KNow that are organ type feel keys to many on that price range, with some models having a more piano-like feel. To get close to the feel of a real piano, you would need to have it the specs say it has "weighted or slightly weighted keys". Weighted would be my choice. But they come at a higher price. Casio will probably give you more features for the same price as the Yamahas,,,but not always....lots of models out there and depends of sales and what you can negotiate with some stores.

Sales are down for retail stores, so talk the bargaining talk to get the best price...Maybe don't buy that day...Leave....come back in a few days, (NOT eager to buy),,,, to see if the manager will go even lower for you. They want sales! You may get a decent real piano-like feeling keyboard with good sounds for not that much more than your 250. Maybe even around it, if used.

Many models. Search more online just to get an idea of all of them. get ot know the model letters and numbers. Write them down and learn them. BE a keyboard guy!

Don't just get one online without first playing one somewhere.

Good hunting!

Johnny
Love Those Keys! Miss em too.

My best advice is to stay away from the 61-key keyboards because eventually you will need more notes. 88 keys are best, but it would be very difficult to find one in your price range.

The 76-key Casio WK-200 has a bit of a cult following among musicians and is well within your price range. It does have the "organ" feel keys that Johnny mentioned, but for me personally, that is a plus. (I have lousy technique!) Check out the reviews on Amazon.

At Johnny and Kevin... thanks!! We did check a few stores and I messed around with them a bit. I read the reviews on Amazon as well. I will keep researching before I make a decision... thanks guys!!

Once you have tried a few and have narrowed it down to what you want buying used makes sense. Why buy new when you can get something at a fraction of the price or a better spec for your money....Musicians are always upgrading and the second hand market is plentiful of stuff at real knock down prices. Ebay is quite good for bargains....I have bought loads of musical gear there and NEVER once been disappointed or cheated. In fact I have bought stuff I would never have been able to afford NEW.

Jim is right on the money. $250 won't go very far in the "new" market, but you could find a real treasure on Ebay.

Best, John

I forgot to mention MIDI. Most top end keyboards have MIDI in/out facilities. This function is pretty useful when it comes to composing and arranging and is pretty much essential for recording and editing.

Plus great for connecting a string of sound modules. Yeah, I think most, if not all synths in the last decade are MIDI.I have a Roland Juno8 and it's MIDI. And that's one old synth...

Yes John most but not ALL... some of the lower end less expensive makes and models do not have MIDI including Casio and bottom end Yams.

The Casio WK-200 I mentioned does have a USB to MIDI feature.

Casios are OK Kevin...some of them especially earlier models do not have any in/outs except for phone socket...worth watching out for.

@Everyone... I will check out ebay! Thanks a lot. You guys are extremely helpful...