Recommended Gear Thread

[james90]

gay


anyone have experience with the standard series fender basses? looking to upgrade from my older squier since i'm playing bass a little more.

still haven't got a proper amp, just using an OR120 into a 2x12 (cheap speakers that i don't worry about blowing up)

sounds good to me...

[cheddatom]

How is your squire? Have you compared it to any fenders in shops? Some squires are really nice to play so you might be better off upgrading the pups.

[donbenjy]

Can anyone recommend a cheap weighted midi keyboard/controller? Or a digital piano that I could use as a controller? Nothing smaller than 49 keys please

[Fernando]

Originally Posted by donbenjy

Can anyone recommend a cheap weighted midi keyboard/controller? Or a digital piano that I could use as a controller? Nothing smaller than 49 keys please

I use a Casio Privia something-or-another that I got for $400. 88 fairly nicely weighted (but not graded) keys. I would recommend it.

Originally Posted by donbenjy

Can anyone recommend a cheap weighted midi keyboard/controller? Or a digital piano that I could use as a controller? Nothing smaller than 49 keys please

M-audio makes good, cheap controllers. Check out the Keystation series (semi- weighted and very cheap) or if you want to go with weighted keys, the keystation pro 88 is about the cheapest legitimate weighted controller I've seen (find it used around $250 - $300).

Originally Posted by Fernando

I use a Casio Privia something-or-another that I got for $400. 88 fairly nicely weighted (but not graded) keys. I would recommend it.

$400's a bit much to pay for a controller... esp. since your's isn't even a dedicated controller.

Anyway... always best to use a dedicated controller. Digital pianos aren't as user friendly in the MIDI control department, though they do work.

[donbenjy]

wow, really? Can't find a keystation pro for anything close to that cheap here I might grab just a 61 keystation, although I'm looking at the CME UF7 as it has transport controls and faders too

[Fernando]

Originally Posted by Fluffy the Conqueror

M-audio makes good, cheap controllers. Check out the Keystation series (semi- weighted and very cheap) or if you want to go with weighted keys, the keystation pro 88 is about the cheapest legitimate weighted controller I've seen (find it used around $250 - $300).



$400's a bit much to pay for a controller... esp. since your's isn't even a dedicated controller.

Anyway... always best to use a dedicated controller. Digital pianos aren't as user friendly in the MIDI control department, though they do work.

Keystations are pretty bad in my experience. And sure, the Privia isn't a dedicated controller, but the MIDI is fine (not user friendly? What??), and $400 is pretty rock-bottom for any decently weighted keys. I did plenty of research before buying, with the intention of using it primarily as a controller.

[donbenjy]

I'll check out the Privia as well...maybe I'm being too selective, but I'm looking for a nice action keyboard to learn piano on (obviously unless I get a stage piano, I won't have the full experience, but I have a Clavinova at home anyway - this is something for when I'm at uni, I also want transport and assignable faders/knobs to use with live/reason, but all in the same unit, and cheap

Wouldn't hurt to have a couple of (limited) sample banks too, but I think that's pushing it.

I was considering getting an older keyboard/piano and a midisport to plug into my macbook pro, but I think that'll defeat the portability side of things, as older is gonna= bulkier

[the_man361]

Originally Posted by donbenjy

wow, really? Can't find a keystation pro for anything close to that cheap here I might grab just a 61 keystation, although I'm looking at the CME UF7 as it has transport controls and faders too

yeh i think i heard bad things about that cme board... but ofc i suggest you look into it yourself if you are thinking about it.

[james90]

Originally Posted by cheddatom

How is your squire? Have you compared it to any fenders in shops? Some squires are really nice to play so you might be better off upgrading the pups.

It's decent - it's from the mid 90s i think, so it's an older one.

I haven't really compared it. I mainly want to upgrade because it currently doesn't play that well. It doesn't sound too bad really.

[cheddatom]

Maybe a good set up would help?

Is it a J or a P? There's a big difference in the necks. Squires will feel much like Fenders IMHO. A shit one is shit, a great one is great. They're not for me. I prefer just about any other brand of bass to Fender (but I love fender guitars).

[Fernando]

Originally Posted by donbenjy

I'll check out the Privia as well...maybe I'm being too selective, but I'm looking for a nice action keyboard to learn piano on (obviously unless I get a stage piano, I won't have the full experience, but I have a Clavinova at home anyway - this is something for when I'm at uni, I also want transport and assignable faders/knobs to use with live/reason, but all in the same unit, and cheap

Wouldn't hurt to have a couple of (limited) sample banks too, but I think that's pushing it.

I was considering getting an older keyboard/piano and a midisport to plug into my macbook pro, but I think that'll defeat the portability side of things, as older is gonna= bulkier

If you're trying to learn piano, then I doubly recommend the Privia. You'll want the 88 keys, and it's an electric piano, so it has built in piano (as well as a few other) sounds. The speakers are pretty shitty though, so you'll want to use the 3.5 mm jack for headphones or external speakers to make use of the sounds. Doesn't have any knobs or faders though.

[donbenjy]

what model do you have? All the ones on the website are >$600

[donbenjy]

Originally Posted by the_man361

yeh i think i heard bad things about that cme board... but ofc i suggest you look into it yourself if you are thinking about it.

Yeah, it's very split from what I've heard: most reviews say it's good, but there are some bad user reviews out there too. We have a UF8 in a studio, but I've not played with it as it's always really busy in there and there are time constraints Has a nice action from the feel of things though (but I think the UF7 has "semi-weighted" keys rather than hammer action ones in the UF8...

Anyone else has experience with the keystation? Action is quite important to me, as I can always get a Korg nanokontrol or something for parameter control.

[Tom!]

Someone recommend me a pickup (single coil preferably) that allows really great loud harmonics, like an emg but which is passive and not too overpriced.