Suggest a stage keyboard?

Hello—

I'm a high school student who's been playing piano since 1st grade. I play a lot of solo jazz (ragtime, blues, etc.) and classical solo as well as play jazz/rock/fusion type with a band with a group of friends. I've been borrowing their keyboard for a while, but the time has come where I need my own ...

Basically, I have narrowed it down to the following ...

Roland RD-700

Korg SP-500

Yamaha S-80

Roland RD-150

The Roland is by far my favourite choice so far— however I have heard some reports that it plays very poorly on stage live through a PA system. If this is the case I am reluctant to drop that amount of money on a keyboard. The Korg intrigues me, it looks like a very nice board, similar to the RD-700, but it is new and I've been able to find almost no reviews of it, and I have heard that it is somewhat of a cheapy board. The Yamaha I have heard good things about, but I have played a Yamaha P-80 extensively with my school, and absolutely hated it ... the action, the sound— I found it to be a very poor piano, and very cheap as well, the plastic started breaking off after only being in the case. I also played a P-200 quite a bit, and while it sounded much better than the P-80, it still wasn't great, not to mention disgustingly heavy. So if the S-80 is anything like these ... I want to avoid it. The RD-150 is attractive in price, but lacks the number of sounds that I would likely want.

I'm interested in hearing what people have played or would recommend, or if there are any other comparable boards that I might possibly look at.

I've found it very difficult to find any worthwile reviews online, especially in regard to the RD-700 vs SP-500, which seem to be deadlocked to me ...

Thanks for all the help, Garrett Nelson

This report is not true. Rolands play just fine thru P.A. systems. It could be this report comes from someone who didnt hook it up well, or the speakers were not good, or the cabling was flimsy, or the person operating the mixing board . The only one of your choices I can actually speak to is the RD-150. Excellent acoustic piano, mediocre electric piano, good harpsichord/clavi, crappy strings. and it works just fine thru a PA. . If you want lots of sounds check out the Korg Triton . A bit pricey but good sounds and easy to navigate ( I have only played one at the music store though ) The Alesis QS-6 or QS-8 are some other choices with lots of sounds and expandable. My only other advice is to consider the connections to and from the keyboard and if you want to expand later. I.E. midi in/out is a must for me . Some keyboards only have midi out or no midi at all. Stereo in/out is another important feature although I have survived without the inputs it can be very handy if you have a midi module. The bottom line is what you think about it. Good luck

I have played them all.

I own an RD-700.

I use it on stage and in studio.

I find the piano sounds to be fine, but if you REALLY want them to sound great get a stereo keyboard amp (or two mono amps for separation).

'nuff said.