Where to start with general keyboards (not synths)

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

I've been looking at several of the instruments mentioned above recently, a couple I've been interested in that haven't yet been mentioned are the Crumar Seven and Crumar Mojo 61, do any of you have any thoughts on them?

Hi. I know this is an old thread… but I am currently looking forward to get myself a Crumar Seven as my first stage piano and to be honest: first real keyboard-instrument overall (except a gifted cheapo Yamaha with malfunctioning keys and a M-Audio Master-keyboard I used to record Bass/play samples in my Beat-producer times (2008-2010).

Have you or anyone else here ever played a Crumar Seven and can give me their insights?
I love the Rhodes-Look (and Sound) - I know it‘s just a digital emulation - but so far I‘ve heard great things.

[TagoMago]

Can vouch for the Nord Electros, I've got a 61-key drawbar model that has some great pianos, and classic vintage electric pianos, Hammonds, Mellotron samples in it. The semi-weighted action is a bit of a compromise, but I don't mind it. Although I have split a couple of knuckles doing back-of-hand slides on the Hammond preset, that's something to bear in mind.

Also, if you can be okay with smaller keys, the Yamaha CP is really good. The key action is nothing like a real piano (it would never be for the price), or a Rhodes, or Wurlitzer, but you can always hook them up to a midi keyboard with weighted keys and get 5 octaves if you need. And, you can stick them in a backpack and take them to rehearsals or writing sessions at friends places dead easy. **EDIT** There's a Rhodes sample in the Yamaha CP that sounded like a dead-on note-for-note copy of my old 1979 Rhodes. I did A + B blindfold sessions with band mates with both keyboards going into a '78 Vibro Champ, and nobody could tell the difference. I sold the Rhodes eventually but kept the Yamaha CP.

But the Crumar Seven looks great, and I know James Taylor (of James Taylor Quartet) takes Crumars out on tour. Whether you like his music or not is a separate thing entirely, but he can play the heck out of all keyboard instruments, so the fact he chooses Crumars is a good sign.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

Can vouch for the Nord Electros, I've got a 61-key drawbar model that has some great pianos, and classic vintage electric pianos, Hammonds, Mellotron samples in it. The semi-weighted action is a bit of a compromise, but I don't mind it. […]

For some reasons I‘m having trouble liking red instruments (a wine red Les Paul Standard/Classic whatever they are called and the TVL JM being exceptions) - I really like their Electric Grand though (nicer wood, Satin finish… and a kinda similar look to the Electric Pianos I like - but it being twice the price (even used) as the Crumar - it‘s out of my league.
There would have been an Electro 2 - but as I‘m clearly less into Organ sounds than into the Rhodes stuff - I‘d like a more weighted keypad.

Also, if you can be okay with smaller keys, the Yamaha CP is really good. The key action is nothing like a real piano (it would never be for the price), or a Rhodes, or Wurlitzer, but you can always hook them up to a midi keyboard with weighted keys and get 5 octaves if you need. […]

This is/was actually my plan B… as a follow up to this:
Youtube Video - CP to Rhodes
With a Doepfer PK88 (or similar weighted, wooden keys) keypad for a start that I would then put together into a big self built enclosure that would somehow resemble a Rhodes (as in the video). But I would have to rely on my carpenter cousin (again) - who is supposed to be painting a guitar for me that takes him way longer than anticipated due to the workload his business is producing (which is good for him I suppose).

But the Crumar Seven looks great, and I know James Taylor (of James Taylor Quartet) takes Crumars out on tour. Whether you like his music or not is a separate thing entirely, but he can play the heck out of all keyboard instruments, so the fact he chooses Crumars is a good sign.

I will have a listen. Thank you very much for your insights and recommendations!

[TagoMago]

Can vouch for the Nord Electros, I've got a 61-key drawbar model that has some great pianos, and classic vintage electric pianos, Hammonds, Mellotron samples in it. The semi-weighted action is a bit of a compromise, but I don't mind it. […]

For some reasons I‘m having trouble liking red instruments (a wine red Les Paul Standard/Classic whatever they are called and the TVL JM being exceptions) - I really like their Electric Grand though (nicer wood, Satin finish… and a kinda similar look to the Electric Pianos I like - but it being twice the price (even used) as the Crumar - it‘s out of my league.
There would have been an Electro 2 - but as I‘m clearly less into Organ sounds than into the Rhodes stuff - I‘d like a more weighted keypad.

Also, if you can be okay with smaller keys, the Yamaha CP is really good. The key action is nothing like a real piano (it would never be for the price), or a Rhodes, or Wurlitzer, but you can always hook them up to a midi keyboard with weighted keys and get 5 octaves if you need. […]

This is/was actually my plan B… as a follow up to this:
Youtube Video - CP to Rhodes
With a Doepfer PK88 (or similar weighted, wooden keys) keypad for a start that I would then put together into a big self built enclosure that would somehow resemble a Rhodes (as in the video). But I would have to rely on my carpenter cousin (again) - who is supposed to be painting a guitar for me that takes him way longer than anticipated due to the workload his business is producing (which is good for him I suppose).

But the Crumar Seven looks great, and I know James Taylor (of James Taylor Quartet) takes Crumars out on tour. Whether you like his music or not is a separate thing entirely, but he can play the heck out of all keyboard instruments, so the fact he chooses Crumars is a good sign.

I will have a listen. Thank you very much for your insights and recommendations!

You're totally welcome! I have, in the past, seen amazing modifications done to Nord Electros online, so they're basically rebuilt into a vintage styled wooden (or Tolex covered) enclosure, with Wurlitzer or Rhodes legs attached. I really wanted to have mine all tricked out like the Wurlitzer or the Rhodes'es I owned in the past, but then you either have to have serious woodworking skills which counts me out, or pay someone a ton of $$$ to do it for you instead. Once I saw the costs involved I thought, "Nah"

I don't take my Nord out of the house anymore anyway (it stays in it's original shipping box when I'm not recording with it) so I'm not so bothered by the fact it's bright red (which, like you, I'm not a fan of). But a guy I used to cross paths with when doing sessions back in the UK covered up all the external red parts of his Nord with matt black duct tape, which might seem a bit extreme but he was doing A-list gigs, TV slots pretty much every week, festival headline gigs etc, so I guess he wasn't a fan of the ubiquitous red stage keyboard either. He did a neat job of it though.

Best of luck with whatever route you decide to take.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

It „landed“ on Wednesday.
So far I‘m really impressed and I got to smile every time I look at it. Really happy how it feels looks and sounds!

[TagoMago]

It „landed“ on Wednesday.
So far I‘m really impressed and I got to smile every time I look at it. Really happy how it feels looks and sounds!

That looks ace! Are you running it through the Princeton? Silverface Fender amps are usually pretty great IME for electric pianos and keys in general. Can't usually go wrong with that combination.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

That looks ace! Are you running it through the Princeton? Silverface Fender amps are usually pretty great IME for electric pianos and keys in general. Can't usually go wrong with that combination.

So far and due to a lack of (moderate volume) alternatives, yes.
It works absolutely fine. Maybe I‘ll get a Roland or whatever dedicated Stereo Keyboard amp some time in the future - or some kind of PA.
It also sounds great with the AKG headphones - which will be my primary sound for now. And once I can actually play, I‘ll probably use the amp more.
But my neighbors don‘t have to listen to my beginner piano skills for now. I‘ll save that time of sound exposure for my guitar playing!

[dj89]

as usual, Roland and Yamaha are probably the two brands to look at for decent, affordable and reliable instruments at a lower price point.
ModX series are Yamaha's affordable workstations which use the same engine as their top of the line keyboards