Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards What Am I Missing Regarding the Casio PX300?

I apologize up front, because I know this board gets littered with people who ask vague, "What kind of keyboard should I buy" questions, but I have done a considerable amount of research here and elsewhere and believe that the PX300 might be the best all-in-one option at a reasonable price. Just looking for a little confirmation.

Some background on myself and my perceived needs:
-- First, not traditionally a big Casio fan. Past products have a certain "cheese" effect associated with $100 keyboards that you can get at Wal-Mart. Traditionally have favored Yamaha/Roland products.
-- Longtime piano/keyboard player (est. 15 years exp.), but have been out of the scene for the past decade.
-- Getting back into scene after hiatus, and will be playing keys/strings/organ on a Motif 8 in a contemporary church band setting (Motif stays at church). Mostly chords and such.
-- Looking for a practice rack for home with weighted keys, but also one that I can play around with a little (sequencing, rhythm tracks, MIDI, etc.).
-- Also looking to keep the total bill under $1,000 all-in. And preferrably under $700.
-- Don't plan on playing the rack for professional gigs, but not ruling out possibility in future.
-- Aesthetics are not that important (i.e., doesn't necessarily have to look like a piano.)
-- Would like something that I could begin to teach my sons piano on, realizing that ultimately we will want a real piano or higher end digital piano.
-- Polyphony beyond 32 doesn't seem necessary.

Kinda seems to me that the Casio PX300 has all of that at and more at a reasonable price.

My options as I perceive them:
1) I could fork over $1,100 for the Yamaha P120 or P90 and arguably get better sounding piano with better key action, but that's not really what I'm most interested in.

2) Could get into a Yamaha DGX500 for under $500, but lose the weighted key action.

3) Could go the Yamaha P60 route and get close to $700, but that comes with virtually nothing to play with. And again, the best possible piano sound is not my primary motivation.

For under $600 and decent sounds with weighted keys and plenty of add'l features to play with is there a better deal than the Casio PX300 out there? Plus, most of the online dealers will throw in a stand and headphones.

Thoughts? Comments? I already know what p120man is going to say, but any unbiased thoughts from other posters?

Next to the Motif, the Casio will seem like a toy. Have you played a variety of other options? That's where I'd start.

Hi there,
I would go with PX300.
Traditionally, Casio means cheap kiddie keyboard.
But they also have higher standard keyboards lately.(in fact, Yamaha does make $120 cheap kiddie keyboard also.)
PX piano action is a good buy for the money. It also has quite a few sounds too. GM sounds are bonus too. Auto rhythm is a fun to play with.
You don't even need amplifier or speaker for average sound level playing.
I wouln't bother looking many other keyboard.(unless you have a lot of $$$)
For good digital piano type thing, consider Casio PS20 also. You can get it for around 650 or less.
Hope this help.

Too bad you can't reach a bit more for something like the Roland RD-170. Bit more investment up front, but I think you would get a lot more enjoyment from it for a longer period of time. It's better as a piano, sounds better overall, has a built in recorder, and was designed to be an effective MIDI master controller should you want to hook up some MIDI modules or software. It would match up with the Motif a lot better than the Casio and I wouldn't be afraid to use them together live.

On the used market an old Yamaha S80 could be a lot of fun, a Roland RD-150 for a bit lower price would be fun, or you might dig up a Yamaha P90, P80, or P120.

Anyway, just some ideas of things to check out before you jump in.

Ryan