Keyboard recommendations for school

[basss]

I coach a rock band at the school that I teach at and they've asked me to recommend a keyboard for this group. The students range from age 10 to 18. I'm thinking something simple would be best. No need for complex music production or midi features. I would need piano, electric piano ( and organ sounds and possibly some synth pads that can be dialed in easily. 88 weighted keys would be best. The budget is about $1000. Any recommendations?

[Papa Dangerous]

You can easily get an 88 weighted keyboard for about 500 bucks.
The yamaha P95 and Casio Privia Px130 are very comparable, and come with two headphone jacks for student/teacher accommodations.
The both have piano, electric, organ, and strings. Neither of them have synth/pads.

Casio Px 130:
88 keys - weighted
About 15 preset sounds if I remember correctly.
Can adjust brilliance a bit.
Can record and play back.
128 note polyphony.
Metronome
Can be used as midi via USB 2 style output.
Can hook up to amp via headphone jacks (might a different impedance though, but it works.)

Yamaha P95:
88 weight keys.
I forget how many preset sounds, but similar to Casio.
64 note polyphony.
Functions with midi via midi output.
Can record and play back.
Two quarter inch jacks that are for phones/output.
Metronome

There is also the CP33 by Yamaha, that goes for about 1,000 before tax. But the first two are both basic without all the bells and whistles for a good price.


www.altomusic.com | Casio PX-130 88-Key Digital Keyboard
www.altomusic.com | Yamaha P95 88 Key Digital Stage Piano
www.altomusic.com | Yamaha Cp33 Digital Piano

[basss]

Thanks! Do you know anything about the Korg SP 250? The school is looking at this one and the Yamaha CP33. Looking at pics the Korg seems a bit simpler and it would be nice to have the built in speakers. The Yamaha looks like it has some music production features that would not be needed.

[devilock76]

I played a Korg SP-250 at a store a while back, I liked it compared to the Yamaha and Casio options. It is a little pricier I believe and they also have an SP-170 that is cheaper.

Ken