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Hey all, new here. I've been playing guitar for about 2 years now and after playing a DP my friend bought it felt a lot more natural than the guitar, So... I have decided to get one. I'm on a budget of about $180, and i don't plan to spend more seeing as how it will be my first keyboard (If I like it i will look into getting a better one later on). I've been searching around the net and found the Casio Casio CTK-3000. Is this a good beginners keyboard or would anyone recommend anything different in my price range?

I also have few questions, how important is it to have weighted keys and are the extra keys on 88 key keyboards neccessary?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

If you want it to seem even close to a real piano, then yes the weighted keys are important. And, if you go anywhere with it, you'll defintely want the complete 88 keys.

If you're looking for an entry-level dp at a low price, i'd say keep an eye out for a used older model Casio Privia. I picked up a Casio Priva PX100 for about $200 about a year ago on craigslist. It's nothing great and there sure are better DPs out there, but if was everything I needed in a started piano.

Good luck

For under $200, I see just two choices:
1. New: A cheap, toy keyboard.
2. Used: A decent cheap keyboard. Perhaps one that originally sold (new) for $500 or so.

I think #1 is a horrible choice. Try #2. Look around on Craigs List. (Ebay would work, too. But a large item like a keyboard might force you waste a high proportion of your money on shipping. Craigs List or other local-sales venues would be better.)

All keyboard instruments--grand,
upright, organ, harpsichord,
clavichord, fortepiano, rhodes
electric piano, synth, digital,
controller keyboard connected
to a pc running piano software,
61-key portable keyboard, etc.--
are played essentially the same
way, and so you can learn piano
literally on anything with keys.
In fact, since the striking bars
on a xylophone are laid out
the same as the keys on a piano,
a xylophonist can play the piano
without instruction. I see
no problem with learning on a
61-key unweighted portable
keyboard. It is not uncommon
for students to take several
yrs. of classical lessons on
one with no real problem.

One thing though. If you get
a 61-key portable, make sure
it comes with the factory AC
adaptor included in the box,
because some don't, and it
is almost impossible to find
an adaptor with the correct
jack. If you buy it in a store,
and they try to throw in
a universal aftermarket adaptor,
have them open everything up
right there and prove that it
works, because the adaptor
jack probably won't fit the
keyboard jack.

Are you looking to learn "keyboarding" or are you looking to learn how to play the piano?

Even "cheap toy" keyboards can produce some really great music & entertainment. However, if you're serious about piano, you will probably not be satisfied with the action of the inexpensive keyboard.