Single-line synth

This summer, I'm going to start playing in a funk/modern jazz trio, with two very good musicians. However, we're all into sort of extended outside musical explorations. I know this sort of stuff can lose a lot of people when it gets monotonous - there's only two melodic instruments. We don't want to add a horn player, so I was wondering if there was any sort of cheap synth (hopefully under $300) I could use to play horn-like lines with my right hand and comp with my left. That way, I can take a 'horn' solo, and then a piano solo, rather than one long extended piano solo.

However, I don't want really out-there sounds. I don't want it to be really bright or obnoxious, because we're also going to be using this on ballads. To be truthful, I've never heard a synth I liked for this purpose. I'm looking for something like the tone of a guitar or even a sax. I don't know if these exist or not, but I figured this group would know.

Thanks,

<<I was wondering if there was any sort of cheap synth (hopefully under $300) I could use to play horn-like lines with my right hand and comp with my left. That way, I can take a 'horn' solo, and then a piano solo, rather than one long extended piano solo. >>

Hi Adam,

My friend and tech (the other hack working out of the garage) is a nationally known theatre organist and an excellent musician. I say that in advance so that this does not sound too off the wall, but he knows good sound and quality musicianship when he hears it. About 5 or 6 years ago, he picked up one of those 49 key Yamaha consumer keyboards at Sam's Club for reasons similar to yours. It has MIDI and full size velocity sensitive keys on a very cheap spring weighted organ style keyboard, but it comes packed with hundreds of sounds. Total cost: $249. There is probably a derivative of it even as we speak, since his is most likely a discontinued model. Plugged into a decent sound system, he has used it with a couple other units for silent film accompaniment, and while a lot of the sounds are junk, there are some really good sounds in there. Similarly, I have a church installation customer where the pianist uses a 61 note Yamaha consumer keyboard next to the grand piano for certain music arrangements and as an accompaniment tool for their gospel group. Coming through a nice little Bose installation, it is very impressive for the meager sum it costs. Once again, hundreds of sounds

This is good advice for under $300.00. Check out the Yamaha PSR-340 or even 540. I dont know what the current models are but I was impressed with quite a few of the sounds plus it is midi capable. The only drawback for these from my experience is that they are plastic . The keys can break fairly easily. For the not so good sounds you probably could run it thru an effect or something. Also Casio has a couple of decent models for around 500.00 but I havenet really checked them out. Good Luck

there may be an XP-10 synth still kicking around somewhere... they're a damn good synth and would prolly cover what you want to do with prettygood pro-quality sound... had I not picked up my XP-50 I'd have got one of them... but I dunno how much they go for and whether it'd be out of your range...

the xp-10'S are now kind of expensive. They are vintage and hard to find in good condition. I'd recomend getting a roland jv-1010 sound generator. It has about 1200 sounds (some great horns, saxes, synth patches, everything really), and you can run it through any cheap midi controller keyboard that you want to. I picked up a 1010 on ebay for $275, and I have used it extensively for gigs and recording. check it out.

Brian

I got a manual for one (don't ask) dating back to around 96... I didn't know they got vintage _that_ fast... they're definitely still floating around here in England...