It seems Im headed back into live gigs.I asked my wife to phone around the nursing homes and I now have a deadline! August the 3rd argh! With more to follow! I bought a Roland G70 but found it too heavy. I am thinking about a Korg PA800 or even the PA50. I know Don M. is using a MidJay with controller, Idealy I prefer weighted keys. I intend to play at private parties for a younger audience also. That would be more in the vein of Jazz/funk. I took a bath on the G70, so I do not want to make another mistake. What do you think I should buy, a Korg PA50 for now or the MidJay with a cheap controller, I would appreciate your opinion.
Sincerley, Charles.

Jazz Funk in a Nursing Home ?

Must be some very Cool Seniors there!

He he.The jazz funk bit may be a few months away!. In the meantime,I will only play to seniors with tatoos![Ill take their word for it .dont need to see them] The idea is to do both,so 50s standards, plus the Billy Joel McCartney, Stevie,etc.Just started working on:What I Do for Love.Might haveto sell my P250 to help fund this enterprise[sob]Charles.

Back to English 101!

Taike , picky picky,I dont need an English lesson,I need advice on a good keyboard.Im fine with the jokes but, please throw in with some of your keyboard experiences. Er,also.Charles

Charles , what draw-ed you to the G70? Styles? Sounds?

If weight was the problem, maybe one of the mid range E series would work for you..E60 has similar sounds and styles, still has guitar mode..76 keys, and is reasonably light..Still too large, E50 has 61 keys , but no guitar mode...

G70, I would not count as a mistake..maybe just the wrong path for you..

Now , Taike can check my spelling..

Fra ,thanks for your advice.I thought the G70 would be a good bet,partly because of the 73 keys,liked the idea of the guitar and a good keybed,although I was expecting fully weighted keys.I had a Roland in England for a short time maybe 15 years ago cant remember the model I remmember a particular Christmas gig where I seemed to use mostly acoustic guitar mode on just about everything,suited my 'style' of playing
The superstores here[Orlando] dont seem to carry a full range of arrangers.Truthfully it would be nice to just use the minimum,bass drums piano/elec piano and a little guitar and do some actual playing.cheers, Charles

Taike,now youve got me checking my spelling! Was it Mc Cartny -tatoos or vein??Give me a break Ive only just lerned too tipe.So [miss mrs mrrs,]puncticilious,which keyboard do you think I need? Charles

For nursing home jobs, save yourself money and buy the 3000 and play a complete variety of music - big band, pop, light rock, etc. That board can handle anything you throw its way. If you plan to play 'arranger style', it is an amazing product.

zuki

Thanks Zuki,Ive been talking to AJ and on the advise from him ,Fran and yourself,Im thinking the 3000,or E60.Dont forget Im hoping to also play a very modern set for private parties.Im a little concerned about the keybed on the Roland.Thanks for the input. Charles

Charles,
Don't worry about the keybed on the E60. It is a good keyboard. The 3000 has less resistance then the E60. It's not the semi-weighted feel of the G70, but my customers like it alot. This is a more pro designed keyboard than the Yamaha. The 3000 is really good, but it's still made in China and the E60, like the G70 is made it Italy.


------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

George ,thanks for your info today,good talking to you,Yes I prefer pasta to noodles so I think the Roland [made in Italy]will be my choice,anyone want a Yammie p250?cheers Charles

I had the E50 and it is a great board. The keybed is good, but I personally think the 3000 is equal to it.

Of course, my training is from the organ route, so these type boards suit me fine.

I do tons of uptempo, modern and rock oriented stuff - trust me, the 3000 rocks when you want it to. It's all in your creativity and imagination

There is not a job that goes by in which a group of patrons come up and want to know how I get so much music out of the 3000. I simply love the board and its fabulous, easily navigable features for live play.

Good luck on whatever you choose.

zuki

Charles, I was referring to the above post as you stated very clearly that the Jazz-Funk repertoire was meant for the younger crowd. So I wasn't referring to your spelling.

Fran, I only do that when we chat.

Zuki,
The two keyboards I recommended to Charles today while we spoke on the phone were the 3000 and the E60. I told him what a good board the 3000 is except if he needs 76 keys and would prefer a keyboard made in Italy (Roland) compared to China(Yamaha).
The other thing I explained was in how much easier it is to change and save style settings on the Roland compared to the Yamaha (fewer steps required).
I don't think Charles can go wrong with either board, but I do think if he is gigging out regularly, the Roland might hold up better.
One last thought Zuki, the keys on the E60 are nicer than those on the E50, which you had for a while before I sent the 3000 to replace it.


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Gotta think about this one.... If you have a P250, why was the weight of a G70 too much? But OK, I get it...

If you are used to 88's, a 61 is a hell of an adjustment, maybe the E60 might work for you... a LOT lighter, similar OS. MUCH better keybed than any PSR.

Alternatively, Donny is still struggling with his Ketron, perhaps that might work for you (roughly 8 lbs. lighter than G70), good live sound... Make him an offer.

If you have the money for a G70 and can handle a 61, there's always the T2... Opinions vary about the PA800, but most T2 owners seem happy. HUGE style library for that one...

I think I'd say E60 for a 76, PA800 if you can't afford a T2.

Best of luck...

Well I understood what Charles was saying. He didn't say "young" just younger than seniors. That made sense to me. Jazz/Funk really isn't for seniors. I don't think he was referring to a hiphop/electronic dance music age audience.

It's all relative lol.

Exactement, Monsieur Nigel!

George -

Oh, OK. I didn't know the E60 keys are different/better than the E50. One day I might revisit the E60 or E80 (the E50 really was a lot of fun and sounded great). But for now, thanks for the 3000 - it's everything I need at this time.

By the way, I do like the Stagepas 300 too. It has lots of punch and I like keeping the mixer inside the cabinet - very portable.

Best regards,
zuki

Thanks everyone I think Ill take a stab at the E60. Its all comprimise,if you want things light.To think I used to take a Yamaha cp80[70?] to danceband gigs and I was just the bandleader/drummer!I could do with the 73 keys though.Look out Nursing Home World,be afraid... Im just off to get my ears pierced and a big Megadeath tattoo! thanks again.Charles[its Chas really]Cheers

Not to be confused with "chas" ????

chas

Charles , if you get the E60...use all 76 keys, not just the 73 you mentioned..

Maybe he's a Rhodes purist?

Zuki,
The keys on the E60 are:
white - 5 3/8"
black - 3 1/2"
The keys on the E50 are:
white - 5 1/8"
black - 3 1/4"

There is also a big difference on the resistance and the throw of the two keyboards. E60 is definetely a better feel.



------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Iwas wondering how I got away with my 73 keys error! Am I surrounded by schoolteachers?What do you expect, im an ex pro drummer.We just hit thing and hope it all turns out ok!No Im not your'other'Chas.I have another gig in August.Thats the 3rd and 5th plus one towards the end of the month. Im practically on the road!Id better buy a keyboard and see if I remember any chords. So, for pa, another post or keep going here?Im thinking Yorkville nx55p,just buy one to get by,followed by its friend for stereo :then a sub for the trendy cool gigs for some'thunk'[thats a professional term]Cheers.Charles [Chas]

George,you got me at hello.Ill be in touch.Did somone say Rhodes?For a drummer I seem to have has an awful lot of keyboards!Clavinova,a weird yammie with a metal case, a Cp70[?] sold to my brilliant pianist who at the time he had the patience to tune it before a gig.I think hes now working with Kylie.CP70/80 long gone!A Rhodes,some kind of Roland arranger my son has that in Engla
nd.then there the 'studio' plus drums.Am i singlehandedly keeping the musical eq industry going?C

Don't let em get to ya Charles. They are just kidding ya.

i've just got the chance to play a E50, and i can completelly agree with what george said.
e60 is a (much) more professional look and feel than e50, and the difference in price is well worthy. the keys are longer and they feel more firm and respond in a very pleasent way. they are no g70, but the feel is very good.
now, of course is different for each of us, but i surely wouldnt pick e50 or psr3000 over the e60! you eventually get used to whatever you use, but why not get used to something good?

oh yea, fran, e50 DOES have guitar mode, but indeed you run out of keys very soon...

Uh, that's right.......The Yamaha doesn't have guitar mode..

Nigel,thanks,Ill feel less sensitive when the wounds from my tatoos heal..Adimatis,good to know the e60 key feel is fairly good,thanks. I quite liked the guitar mode on the G70 so, E60 with its lightweight advantage wins!Im just off to order one.Cheers, Charles.

So before I give George my credit card,back to the original plea: No more mistakes!.Please chime in,anyone whose used the G70 and compared the key feel and most importantly: the sounds!.Will this definatly be sufficient even for the "cool" gigs? In mt studio I use things like Trilogy for bass and the P250 for piano.Great stereo drums.Im looking to buy a super little pa and dont want to skimp on terrific sonic quality,maybe an SRx card for rhodes would boost things or, the SRX drum card,which I heard some time ago,pretty darn good .Lets hear it guys!.thanks again,Charles[chas,but, not that chas]

Okay, so suppose I let you have upper case Chas and I'll keep lower case chas.

chas

Hey chas,Ill just keep it to Charles for the purposes of this forum,cheers , er,Charles

Ladies and Gentlemen! I give to you ....... (drumroll) ........THE Chas Chas with CHAS FOR TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Picture Chas upon my knee
Just Chas for two
And two for Chas
Just Chas for you
And Chas for me...alone-

Taike