Which Keyboard should I get?

So I currently have the Korg R3 synthesizer but I am looking into selling it, mainly because of the unweighted keys and short amount of octaves..

I am looking for a stage piano or keyboard that has weighted keys, and one that I could use for live performances...

I have been really interested in the nord electro 3 but that is far out of my budget ($2,000).. My budget is more around the 700/800 $$ range...

Any recommendations from you guys more in my price range? I am also looking for something that can be somewhat portable for shows and such...

Thanks SO much!

The new Yamaha's, P35 and P105, or the new Casio's, PX150 and 350, may fit your requirements and budget.

I'd go for the Casio PX3, for the best range/quality/editability of non-piano sounds in a lightweight sub-$800 weighted board. It's MIDI controller functions also make it pretty easy to expand its sound palette in the future with some other sound module, iPad, etc.

thanks guys! I was looking at the casio px150 and I will check out the px3..

I just saw on my local craigslist page someone is selling a korg sp-250 for 400 bucks, brand new, and it seems like a good deal. Anyone have experience with this keyboard, if it would be good for what I am looking for? (Basically a weighted keyboard that is portable enough to bring to shows, but is sturdy, and can play sounds besides the standard piano sound? )

The SP-250 is kinda heavy to lug around, and only has a smattering of non-piano sounds. But you can check all that out for yourself at http://www.korg.com/sp250

yeah heavy might hurt me... the casio px150 or px3, is the px3 more worth it? Any other recommendations?

It is a bit on a heavy side, but its action is far more superior to anything Yamaha or Casio have to offer in that price range, so at least you should give it a try.

PX150 has improved action and piano sound. PX3 is better if you want to play sounds besides piano, or connect it to other gear.

Yeah Definitely, I think I may just go ahead and do that...

My only thing is that I would possibly like to have some control of the EQ or different knobs for effects or something.. I love the look and idea of the nord electro 3.. I wish there was something like that more under the $1,000 range.

so do i invest a couple hundred more (still in my budget) for the casio px3 or do I stay with the korg sp250? Thanks again for the help this forum rocks.

If you can stretch a bit over that, it sounds like the Korg SV1 might appeal to you.

hmm that seems awesome.. still a little out of my budget though... I don't necessarily need knobs, but it would be nice to atleast be able to use it as a MIDI keyboard and get sounds from my ipad, would the korg sp250 do this?

Yes, any MIDI keyboard can do that with the right connections, but the PX3 would be better for that purpose. Unlike the SP250, the PX3 would allow you to use its own buttons to call up specified patches in an iPad synth, define your own presets that will split iPad sounds with the keyboard's own sounds (along with balancing their volumes, shifting their octaves, etc.), it gives you a pitch bend wheel and a mod button, etc. It's really designed as a MIDI controller, whereas the SP250 isn't specifically designed for that. I think the only other 88 that's under $1k that can do any of this stuff is the Yamaha CP33.

hey thanks a lot scott...

I ideally want to get a rhodes stage piano, but its just not portable enough for me right now, maybe in the future. I found ones for 700 bucks on ebay..

I am going to look more into the casio but I just have always felt weird about casios, maybe just because I still have so many old crappy casios sitting in my basement. I like knowing rhode and korg make strong products. Not saying Casio doesn't, what do I know?