Keyboard Suggestions Needed

[hammer]

I currently play the SX900 for gigs.
I need to lighted the load for my gigs.
Anyone use the E series keyboards for gigs?
What other suggestions might you make?

Hammer

[Toril S]

Hello Hammer.
I just purchased an E-series keyboard to take on gigs, but I will not recommend it. To set it up, you have to dive into menues all the time, the screen is small, and you are stuck with the onboard styles. You CAN add styles, but the process is cumbersome. My E keyboard is an older model, but this goes for the newer models as well. Sounds are pretty good, styles are OK, but there is only 2 intros/endings/variations. If you use external speakers on your gigs, I would rather keep the keyboard, but go for lighter speakers. But yes, the E keyboards are lightweight. Mine is only 4 kilos. I believe the newer models are around 6 kilos.

[SciNote]

I've been doing some gigging recently, and I use PSR-E433, the 12-13 year old predecessor to the PSR-E473, but there are some very important additional points...

1.  I also use a small Roland synthesizer in conjunction with the E433 on a 2-keyboard stand, which greatly increases my overall sound capability.  Being able to jump from one keyboard to another to get different sounds without pushing buttons really helps with orchestration when playing.
     However, I realize carrying 2 keyboards, an amp, and speakers isn't exactly "lightening the load."  The E433 is still quite versatile, though.  Yes, there is some menu-diving to set it up, but since I've set up my settings in registrations, I don't usually need to go into the menus all that much.
   It only has 8 banks of 4 registrations, which I'm sure you'd find limiting, coming from an SX900, but I just set up the banks in general genres, and have sounds for those genres in the 4 registrations, like electric piano and sax/brass for jazz, or piano, strings, and brass for orchestral.

2.  As mentioned, I use an external amp and speakers, which certainly enhances the sound.  Indeed, I'm so used to the amplification that when I hear the keyboard without it, the sound almost sounds like a toy, though the EQ setting helps.  But as my synthesizer does not have built-in speakers, I need to use an external amp.

3.  I only use the styles for background drums, and I and play the bass and accompaniment with my left hand, so the built-in styles are enough for me, especially since a 5/4 style is included on the E433.

So, it's possible to use an E-series for gigging, especially an E400 series, but you'd probably at least want external amplification, unless it's a really small venue.  Like I said, with what I've been doing, it's certainly not "lightening the load" to carry 2 keyboards, an amp, and speakers, but I could probably get away with just the E433 and amp, if need be.

Now, I've been playing some senior centers, and at one place the activities director said the "synth/techno" keyboard music was a bit much for the audience, and she asked if I could put together some older songs on acoustic piano, so we'll see how that goes.  Indeed, I'm in Florida, USA, and with all the heat and possible thunderstorms this time of the year, it might just be a good thing to not lug all that equipment around and to just use their piano.