A friend of mine is looking for an Oriental keyboard for about $1000 or little more.

I have always recommeded GEM WK2. The oriental kit on it is very good. However, the "western" kit is very lacking.

Is GEM WK2 still the choice? Or are there new keyboards introduced in that arena?

Thanks for the help.

The WK2oriental is still the best. Yamaha is coming out with a new model called the PSRA1000 in Europe but not here in the USA. I don't know anything about it except for what I've heard from Eddy Awada who lives in Michigan and went to lebenon a month ago. Ketron is coming out with the Vega soon but will cost more than this price range.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

George,

Thanks. I think the first manufacturer that will get a keyboard with decent oriental and decent western in that price range will win the game. So watch out GEM!

I think Roland have a big chance with the Em-55.

Hi
GEM will eventually be releasing the GENESYS as a oriental keyboard. we think this has already been covered by someone else on synthzone!
the keyboard will have a completly new operating system for the oriental upgrade.

Musically Yours UK

Ketron Vegas, is the oriental version of Ketron XD9. Website www.ketronclub.com

BTW Roland EM-55 it's a very good arranger!

Cheers,
Maximo

[This message has been edited by Maximo (edited 05-15-2002).]

Everything you guys mentioned is true except for that non of those keyboards coming out is in the $1000 range.

For brand new keyboard as George Kaye or Vic said the WK2 and the EM55 are both in that price range.

Other wise see if ur friend would find a used keyboard, in which case he may get something better for that price range. I have the wk2, and I used it for about 3 years, and it did a good job for me. Ever since I got the X1 though I kind of put it aside.
If anyone knows of a way for me to save my user styles and sounds from the wk2 WITHOUT the use of the disk drive (dead on my wk2), please let me know.