Korg Forums

[Randelph]

Could really use some input! I am keen on buying the EK50L but am worried I won’t like the keybed, and I don’t have local stores with it in stock. I assume the EK50L and the newer i3 have identical keybeds.

As point of reference I’ve had or played:
Korg:
PA1000: loved the board EXCEPT for the keybed, disappointing at that price point, 6/10
Yamaha:
EW425 / E473: these are the latest budget arrangers, as far as I can tell from the limited time playing them I thought they were decent. As a piano player, getting good expression for piano is always very key, not bad for unweighted 7/10
Casio:
WK7600: had this board for years, I believe it got looser over time, it was a s**t show, made me into a sloppy player, hated it, 1/10
CT-X5000: lots of clacky keys, and there’s a slop that I’m worried will just get worse over time, uninspiring to play, 4/10, the keys are a large part of what is motivating me to get a different budget arranger!

The more I research the EK-50 the more I’m inclined to think it was designed for a player like me, but the biggest question mark is whether the keybed is decent. I’d settle for a 6/10 given how strongly the rest of it matches my needs!
_________________
Keyboards: Kawai ES920 / Casio CT-X5000
Instruments: Keys / Alto Recorder and Melodica

[grahamid]

From what you say, I think you might not find the EK-50 satisfactory, at least as a sole instrument. Speaking as a pianist myself, if I really want to 'play piano', I go to another instrument. (I have a very elderly Clavinova CLP 100, and a Kawai ES100). The EK-50 doesn't (to me) feel like a piano, and TBH, the piano sounds are not its greatest strength, either.
That said, I've had my EK-50 just six months, and I don't regret the purchase. I just wouldn't be happy with it as the only keyboard/midi source I had.
I'd be happy to say more about what I think are its strength, if that would be useufl.

Ian Graham
Wales UK

[Randelph]