I agree that your price range isn't going to bring you a quality instrument. The sounds may be OK, but the features will be sorely lacking. Unfortunately, $300 is a minimum for some of the next tier features. I've seen some good clearance items in January. GC (Guitar Center, aka Musician's Friend) is selling the Roland EM15/25 for less than $300. Actually, Sam's Club may have a Yamaha or Casio left over form the holidays to clear out. Get the BEST you can afford. If you go to a music store, you might be able to locate a bargain and negotiate a price.