SumOne

I think that a digital home piano for me and the kids to play at home is a different enough thing to a stage piano for band stuff that it is worth getting both: Home Piano: 88 weighted keys, good piano sounds, simple interface, built-in speakers, music stand, metronome, size/weight and portability isn't really an issue (in fact, being quite heavy/sturdy might be an advantage). Nothing too fancy needed as I don't want to be paranoid about it getting bashed about by kids. Kawai ES-60 looks a good option and I'll keep my eye out for similar second-hand things. Stage Piano: 73 keys semi-weighted (as I'll play organ and piano), decent piano and organ sounds - ideally with organ drawbars, relatively tough/light/transportable/fits in my small car and on small stages (hence 73 keys, but wanting a bit more than the 61 keys I currently have with a CK-61), roadworthy - so needs a certain level of toughness and the right connections. ...although saying that, a decent stage piano with some small monitor speakers set-up would I'm sure do fine as a home piano so I'll put-off getting a separate home piano for a while. I think I've narrowed the stage piano list down to: Viscount Legend One (£1,555). I really like the sound of this, the features, and the look - something very cool about it. Nord Electro 6D 73 (£1,919) ...although if I was to go for a Nord then I'll wait a while as version 3 = 2009, 4 = 2012, 5 = 2015, 6 = 2018. So an update is well overdue which would either make the older ones cheaper or the improvements in v7 might be worth waitng for. Handily as they are the two seemingly ticking the most of my stage piano boxes there is this comparison at 1hr4mins. This reviewer prefers the Viscount is better (and it's cheaper). My only reservation (beyond where will I get the ££ and what will my wife say!) is that the Nord is a bit more mainstream for holding value and ease of selling second-hand. And this quick review seems to prefer it to the Nord Electro: I do also like the look of: Roland Fantom 07 (possibly a bit big and over-complex and workstation-like for a live stage piano). Studiologic Numa X (no organ drawbars, but at only £850 it certainly saves me a few ££).

Semi-weighted is what I'm after from a stage Piano.

Yeah I think that compared to Bass Guitar gear it is more worthwhile having the specialist tool for the job with keyboards. My standard Bass guitar and equipment could cover any genre (apart from perhaps some niche exceptions like wanting a fretless sound, or a high C string), but you couldn't get a grand Piano to sound like a Minimoog or vice versa and all the nuance between a home piano/synth/stage piano/workstation keyboard mean that it could be worthwhile having them all.

I'm starting to have a slight change in plan. I currently have a Yamaha CK-61 for band stuff and it also sits in my front room for me and the kids to do piano playing.....now i think that something specifically designed as a home piano like the ES-60 is probably better for the home piano stuff (88 weighted keys, better speakers, a bit simpler interface, I wouldn't need to move it for rehearsals/gigs) and I'd also getting something like the Nord Electro 6 73 (or perhaps something cheaper) as a stage piano/organ/EP for playing with the band (better than the CK-61 for band stuff as it has the extra octave and is just generally better sound, keybed, and roadworthy build quality). I also have an MPC Key 37 for home production stuff, mostly I use it for sampling and drum loops and sequencing and then adding some simple keys ideas rather than seriously playing piano on its 3 octaves. Although I'm loving the MPC Key 37, I could actually sell it and do my home production stuff via Laptop software (keeping the MPC software synths etc) and controlling it via the new stage piano via midi. MPC Key 37 and the CK-61 would sell/part-ex for a total of roughly £1k. ES-60 and Nord Electro 6 73 (or similar) would cost roughly £2k. I've pretty much convinced myself that this £1k upgrade to home piano, stage piano, and home production/midi keyboard is probably worthwhile, we're talking things that should last 10 years and hold their value pretty well.

Nice one (and the ES-60 looks decent).

Someone who plays what is right for the band as a team-player (i.e. perhaps some 'easy' subtle rhythm chords are better than a 'difficult' ear-splitting guitar solo), plays within their limits, spends the time learning the songs and being at rehearsals and is reliable for gigs (and helpful for setup etc) and is a decent person to be around are what are probably more important than technical ability. ....at least that is the case for the weekend warrior type stuff I do. I've been in bands that have been tempted by a technically better guitarist, but it turns out that their big guitar solos aren't really enjoyed by many and often don't serve the song as well as something more low-key, and things like them not haivng a car and always needing lifts is a bit of a faff, and that they only turn up to occasional rehearsals is not great for the band as a whole. In the end we'd be better of with the less technically gifted player.

I'd like to test a few side by side in a shop and I'm in Central London once a week but can only think of the Yamaha shop and the Roland shop, are there any central ones that have multiple brands and testing rooms? I suppose a day trip to Andertons might be in order (I'll get sidetracked by the Bass guitars though!).

Less chance of interference at 5.8ghz. Or another option is UHF, I might try some Lekato WS-70 UHF mentioned earlier in this thread. Usually UHF is an expensive option but those are £33. UHF has lower latency (<3ms) and better range but can colour the sound a bit - at least that was the complaint with some older ones, new ones seem to get generally good reviews though (although the Lekato also has a lot of 1 star reviews on Amazon for the sound quality). https://www.cablefreeguitar.com/blogs/performance-without-limits/tech-talk-wireless-guitar-bands?srsltid=AfmBOorgPrwgXFH79N6fgadiOSsM7fpbEd2iNFAUMMDplfGy2eVXaoxd

🫡

I've been tempted to do Piano lessons and grades to help have a target but worry I'd fall in to that 'I want to play, not do exams' mindset. Overall, do you think it has been worth it vs just having piano lessons? I did grade 1 when I was 10 years old and haven't had any lessons in the 35 years since then - but I have been playing a lot over the last couple of years (YouTube and 'simply piano' app lessons, lesson books, and the theory I've picked up from Bass) and I've started playing keys a bit with a band so reckon it is at least time I had some proper lessons, and perhaps do grades.

Nice one, they all look decent. I'll look into them in more detail. The IEC socket isn't a deal breaker. I'd prefer it, but it is more that I find it generally a sign for everything from DJ mixers through to multi-fx and keyboards that they've been made with more robust longevity for gigging/roadworthness in mind. I would like 88 keys in some ways - especially for home use, so that isn't a deal breaker either but what puts me off for live use is that extra size and weight (I play some quite packed pub areas and need to transport it in a VW Polo). At the moment, I've found I can get by with 61 keys and octave buttons but 73 keys would be better especially for splitting the sounds, 88 just feels a bit unnecessary for my use.

I've been gtting into the dangerous territory of keyboards (dangerous for the wallet!), speciafically Stage Pianos and I'm looking for recommendation in the <£2k sort of price rage (new or second hand). The things I want: Good sounding Piano, EP, Organ (ideally with drawbars), and synth would be a bonus but not essential. 73 Keys (semi-weighted), good keybed. 'Hands-on' design for the controls (for live use without menu diving). Relatively light/portable. Tough/reliable for live gigs and moving around: Gigs every couple of weeks, rehearsals each week, set up at home in-between. Decent professional level type connections and power supply (including a tough IEC type power cable rather than barrel would be ideal). Budget: £2k I've owned a Yamaha CK 61 for 18 months and it has has had a decent amount of use - both at home and for gigs, it shows me this isn't just a flash in the pan or quick impulsive decision for something that'll gather dust. The CK 61 is good start for a decent enough Stage Piano but I'm starting to feel it is lacking in a couple of areas: Mostly as I'd prefer an extra Octave (especially for split points) and it is starting to feel a bit on the budget end of being a professional instrument e.g. things like a barrel power connector are not as roadworthy as I'd like, the keybed is just 'okay' and the keys are slightly smaller than standard, and as I get more into playing I think I'd start noticing an upgrade being worthwhile and noticable for playability, sounds, robustness. Any recommendations? That £2k sort of price seems to be the level that most manufacturers have their entry-level of professional stage pianos: Nord Electro 6D 73 (this is my front-runner) Yamaha CP 73 Viscount Legend 73 Korg SV2 Roland Fantom 07 .....or second hand could get to things like a Nord Stage 2. Or is this just me wanting new stuff?! A: Yes! ...but I think something like a Nord Electro 6D 73 would be quite a significant upgrade to the CK 61 in terms of feel, sounds, robustness. My 'buy stuff justification' maths says: £1,920 for the Nord Electro 6D 73. (or about £1,500 with part-ex for my CK-61, and I do also have a MPC Key 37 that could potentially get sold/part-ex for about £500, but I thik of that as a different thing I'd like to keep - as it's more for home production, sampling, sequencing and synth sort of stuff). After 10 years (about the time that updating a Nord seems worthwhile) it'd still be worth about £1k (given that the asking priice for an Electro 4 from 2015 is about £1k). So that'd cost me less than £100 per year (or £50 per year if you include the CK-61 being sold...or free if I also sell the MPC!). Who can argue with that?! (I'll give you a clue: I'm married to her!). In a word that is increasingly asking for subscriptions/pay monthly and throwaway stuff/things with planned obsolescence I do find that my 'buy stuff justification' for musical instruments a wonderful thing!

That bass has been sold (not to me)

I think I'll go for it. I had a MIJ Precision roughly that age and it was really good. I reckon I'll like the Jazz neck on this one, and the weight, and the look. I usually prefer a J neck and tone (slightly more dubby), but I like the body shape of P basses and the simple controls and they are often lighter, and suppose a bit of EQ on the amp can go a long way to getting that dubby tone.

I'm tempted with this one: https://fenderfever.com/products/fender-hama-okamoto-signature-precision-bass-2016-3-color-sunburst-1?_pos=13&_fid=d06b40056&_ss=c What do you Bass chatters reckon - good deal?

That's the one, nice one.

I'm a bit annoyed by this as an trying to just stick with my multi-fx GX-10! .....it will be a case of:

"I haven't seen the programme, and I haven't got much information about it - but it'll be wrong and has annoyed me" (Basschat, 2025) It reminds me of an always grumpy old relative of mine that was complaining to me about the tide is 'always doing what you don't want it to do' last time we spoke. Literally complaining about gravity and an effect that means the tide is in just as much as it's out.

Soothsayers, Love will find a way.

I asked AI to tell me about AI music Royalties (so perhaps the answer is biased?!) So it'll be interesting to see who makes the ££ from it.

"AI slop hits new high as fake country artist goes to #1 on Billboard digital songs chart" https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/10/ai_country_artist_hits_number_one/ I wonder if we'll get to a point where the AI system that made the music will want to be credited as the song creator and get the Royalties.

It is a sociable instrument - not ideal for playing alone, but in a band you generally stand at the back and support the band. It isn't an instrument for showing off, people won't notice when you're doing it right - but they'll notice when you're doing it wrong. ....I think it is guitarists that get made to play bass that'd get annoyed by that. (these are big generalisations though - obviously there are a few virtuoso bass players front and centre).

I'll give MPC Stems more of a go over the weekend, probably a bit unfair of me to say it's so rubbish after only an hour with it. I would say as first impressions though, I've used a few stems things and they all seemed more intuitive, faster, and better results. This lengthy written tutorial kind of demonstrates how it is potentially quite un-intuative https://share.google/HiG1ct1JXDqRPdCq5 Stems are something I'll probably not tend to make on the MPC though as I tend to collect and edit and manage samples via Laptop. So I'll probably end up making the stems on Laptop and then transferring to MPC for use. (I'm not a big fan of the MPC Laptop DAW though, much prefer things like Logic and Reaper).

I'd recommend the Jura, I find it really addictive. I'll persevere with the Stems, perhaps it was user error.

The Queen of pop (at least in my opinion) is back: