Is there any of you here?

I'm looking to get a keyboard. Some guys play drums, some guys play guitar... Me, I want to play piano. Always wanted to, but lately this feeling has been increased for some unknown reason. I figure, being that time of year, it'd make a nice gift for myself. I just wondering what I should look for. There are many of them out there and I have no idea what ones are good, bad, complex, or simple. I'd say the maximum price for one would be $200. Any suggestions, if anyone here actually knows any more than I do?

I play the piano. I find it's a relaxing way too work off stress. I have a Steinway grand piano and a Roland RD-700 digital piano, but I prefer the real thing. A long time ago I had a Roland D-70. A couple of years ago I bought an M-audio keyboard controller and Sony ACID software to use with the computer, but I didn't have the patience to make it work. $200 won't buy a lot, but you may be able to find a decent used Roland or Yamaha keyboard that has 76 or so semi-weighted keys and decent sound. There are new $200 Yamaha or Casio keyboards at places like Circuit City or Costco that wouldn't be a bad starter keyboard. I can't say that I know a lot of specifics about the current keyboards out there. I'm pickiest about the feel of the keys. Fully weighted keys will give the best action and control, but these keyboards are heavy and expensive.

Roland is one of the best for overall features. I love working with Rolands, and have found that they do a good job recording onto a computer with minimal distortion.

At $200, you are looking for a garage sale find. You need a desperate seller, fortunately for you desperate musicians aren't too hard to find. Check the local classified rag (the one around here is the "Penny Pincher").

There seemed to be more than a few available for under $200 on Sears, Best Buy, and Circuit City's websites. Casio offers 10 or so models in that price range. I may consider one that's a bit over $200, but it depends on my parent's budget, since this would be an Xmas gift. Having never actually played before, I probably don't need a proffessional one. That'd be like getting a Corvette as a first car. Isn't all that necessary.

What do you guys think of these?

Casio LK300TV - $199.95 @ Circuit City. It's lighted for ease of learning has a good amount of features, much moreso than the next one.

Casio WK110 - $169.99 @ Best Buy. A little outdated in features, but from Casio's workstation line of keyboards, meaning its semi-proffessional.

Casio WK3300 - $299.99 @ Sears. Not sure if I need one as nice as this, but as with above, its semi-proffessional and is updated with many many features.

Yamaha YPT400 - $159.99 @ Circuit City. Its full of features and its cheap. Only 61 keys and not quite as nice as Casio's workstation keyboards, but could work for me.

Yamaha DGX220 - $299.99 @ Best Buy. Like Casio's workstation keyboards but with slightly different features, although, not as many. Again, not sure if I need one this nice.

I have one. I don't know if it's what you're looking for, but if my camera decides to work, I'll take a pic of a decent keyboard I have in the guest bedroom closet I would like to get rid of for say ... $75?

I smell a trade brewing - BV's Cutlass for YJ's keyboard and a player to be named later.

I smell a trade brewing - BV's Cutlass for YJ's keyboard and a player to be named later.

get a rollup, for whenever the mood strikes......

at the restaurant? TIME TO PLAY SOME TUNES!

You're not much help...

Between these two, which would you think is best suited for me?

http://www.casio.com/products/Musical_Inst...tation/WK-3300/

http://www.casio.com/products/Musical_Inst...rtable/CTK-900/