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Best keyboard for jazz bass players

Discussion in 'General Instruction [BG]' started by Drucifer, Jul 12, 2020.


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  1. Jul 12, 2020 #1
    Drucifer

    Drucifer Not currently practicing Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 20, 2009
    Houston Heights, Texas
    Endorsements: your name could be here, Mr. Sadowsky!
    I'm looking to buy a keyboard to help my jazz bass education. I'm ultimately planning to go back to school for a music undergraduate degree, so this would be preparing for that, as well as using keyboard to learn about chord voicings, etc.. It would also be great to have a keyboard that could play some typical chord progressions so I could play along on my bass. I've played bass for 40+ years and had college theory classes, but just starting on jazz. I had piano lessons as a kid but that was 45+ years ago, so this will be beginner-level.

    Money is not a big concern, I don't want to buy something that is not well built, but I don't want to spend a lot on features I won't be using. Think Fender and not Alembic or Squier/Ibanez (please do not take offense, I am simply using bass guitar examples of the spectrum of price). This keyboard won't be connected to a computer or midi stuff, but I have an Android tablet that I can plug into.

    I'm thinking I need:
    1) 88-key piano
    2) weighted keys
    3) enough polyphony to play extended chords
    4) up-to-date connections (e.g. USB, midi)
    5) ability to play chord progressions (optimally with beats)

    EDIT: I don't need built-in speakers, I will be plugging into a mixing board.

    Specific model suggestions along with justification would be most helpful, but brands to look at (or avoid) or other features I should be looking at would be helpful as well. If more information from me would be helpful, just ask!

    Thank you for your help!
    Drew
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2020
  5. Jul 12, 2020 #2
    Ed Fuqua

    Ed Fuqua

    Dec 13, 1999
    Columbia SC
    Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
    Lotta pianists I've played with, when they have to do keyboard gigs, use the Casio Privia. Although I don't know if it has #5...
     
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  9. Jul 12, 2020 #3
    Drucifer

    Drucifer Not currently practicing Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 20, 2009
    Houston Heights, Texas
    Endorsements: your name could be here, Mr. Sadowsky!
    That's the one my bass teacher recommended, thanks Ed!
     
  13. Jul 12, 2020 #4
    Bass

    Bass

    Nov 10, 2003
    Canada
    I bought a Korg Kross 2 recently. One thing I like is that it weighs 8 lbs. For me this is handy to take to gigs.

    The keys are not weighted. I prefer non-weighted keys as I grew up playing an organ. I understand people who learned on piano tend to prefer weighted keys. You would have to go to a store and play both for a few minutes to figure out which you prefer.

    I think with this keyboard you would have to play the chord progression yourself, record it, and then play it back. Other keyboards probably have them built in.

    I also looked closely at the Roland Juno DS.

    Maybe try asking the same question on the keyboard forum:

    Keyboard Forums
     
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  18. Jul 12, 2020 #5
    Drucifer

    Drucifer Not currently practicing Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 20, 2009
    Houston Heights, Texas
    Endorsements: your name could be here, Mr. Sadowsky!
    Thanks Bass, you must have joined TB pretty early to get that user name :)
     
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  22. Jul 13, 2020 #6
    WillPlay4Food

    WillPlay4Food Now With More Metal! Supporting Member

    Apr 9, 2002
    Orbiting HQ
    Picked up a Casio CDP-S350 last year for similar reasons. Has built in speakers, USB in and out so can be connected to a DAW for use as a MIDI input device. Also can run up to 4 hours on 6 AA batteries if playing somewhere without a power cord is your thing.

    I picked it up when it was on sale for $100 off. This sale seems to happen pretty regularly at GC so if you decide on this model, wait for the sale.
     
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  26. Jul 14, 2020 #7
    White Beard

    White Beard

    Feb 12, 2013
    I have a 1970 Wurlitzer 4035, it features 4' - 16' flute simulation, two two-and-a-half octave keyboards, a one octave foot operated bass keyboard, volume pedal, tape deck (for play along fun), built-in loudass speaker, analogue drum machine, and a 1/4" jack.

    I guarantee that the 1/4" jack will fit into anything that a 1/4" jack guitar will.
     
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