Hi All,

If you needed to put together a gig setup that you could carry (no hand cart or dolly) all at once and a pretty distance, what would it consist of? All that's needed is a good piano sound and enough volume for a room that seats 50 people. (background music - not rock and roll) Weighted action is obviously not expected, but 70 keys or more would be nice.

Piano, powered speaker, piano stand and seat or stool. Walk 50 yards and up a flight of stairs with it.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,
JazzManToo

Piano: Casio PX-200 in Privia carry bag (carry bag can carry also cords and music if necessary)

Amp: Motion Sound KP-100s

Stand: Ultimate V-Stand in Ultimate-brand carry case (easier to tote with case than without)

Seat: use something already on hand.

This question has come up in other forums from players in New York and other places where they rely on bus or cab transport.

Thanks for the post. This would be a very good sounding setup, but by my estimate, piano,amp and stand will weigh in at over 80 lbs. (not counting cables and cases.) I really don't want to carry that much weight.

I've been looking at the M-audio prokeys 88sx (17 lbs.) and thinking about one of the small Peavey or Roland keyboard amps. The lightest X-stands are pretty light. I'd to get the total weight down around 50 pounds.

This will not replace my normal rig, I just want it for a specific (small) venue that I visit regularly. It doesn't need to be of the highest quality and I'd like to keep the costs down.

Any others have suggestions?

Thanks.

JazzMan:
Yamaha YPG-225 76-Key Portable Grand Keyboard

It's really light and sounds good as well:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product...l_sku=103870341

I used to have one but I exchanged it for the Privia because I wanted to have the weighted keys and the YPG-225 does have weighted keys.

Personally I would not sacrifice action and sound for weight, no offense... I would look for other options. For example, consider using a hand truck with some bungee straps to hold a light piano, stand and small amp. There'd be no carrying at all with that. If you encounter stairs then unhook and tote one piece at a time. I have even seen a hand truck that converts into a keyboard stand but I couldn't find it to give you the URL.

I don't have any better suggestions on the keyboard than the ones given.

But for the speaker, my friend uses that new
Mackie SRM150. It weighs in at under 8 lbs.
It was meant as a vocal monitor to mount on a mic stand but he uses it has a small PA.
He runs his Yamaha P120 and vocal through it.
He does a lot of house parties....background jazz/pop...he said it's loud enough for most situations.
When he needs a little more omph, he uses 2 and brings a small mixer for the vocal. For just piano though, you could forget the mixer and just go direct.

I haven't heard it, but my friend says for what it is, the sound quality is very good. He can be pretty picky so I do trust his recommendation.

Looks a bit wrong for stage, but I'll check it out. Thanks.

No offense taken. I already have a folding dolly on which I move my normal setup. (in which I use a P80) But, as I noted in my first post, this setup will be carried. In one shot.
However, I would be interested in seeing the handcart keyboard stand combo, sound cool. Thanks for your input.

I like the sound of that (8lbs.) I'll check it out. Thanks.

I would recommend that Motion Sound KP100, I have the KP200. I use it when I want the stereo effect and don't want to schlep the 2 powered speakers or space is limited. I thought the 100 sounded very good for lower volume solo/jazz/vocal accompaniment gigs.

The only reason I didn't go w/ the 100 was the fact the vocal sounded pretty lame through it.....for just piano though, it's great. I think the weight on the 100 is around 38 lbs....so maybe too heavy for your purposes.

One more option in the ultra-compact monitor might be the TC-Helicon VSM-300....along the same lines as the Mackie. Not having heard either I couldn't make a recommendation except for my friends' experience w/ the Mackie.

TC Electronic products are generally pretty high end.

Thanks, I'll check it and the Mackie out.