73 or 88

holdsg · Post by **holdsg** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:16 pm

I gig as regularly as I can, and already have a ton of stuff to haul around (PA, sometimes bass plus keys gear), so size and weight win out and 73 was what I have gone to for both my Kurz (technically 76) and Kronos. Sure, I sometimes miss those missing keys, but generally thinking the bread and butter when playing in a band setting is the middle 5 octaves.

jmol · Post by **jmol** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:26 pm

I bought a 73 key Kronos, mainly for my gigs, easy to handle. I'm a pianist, used to the 88 keys. I have a acoustic piano at home which I mainly use for study. Sometimes on stage I'm missing my lower keys

. And indeed the splits and zones must be setup tight. So I do like the 73 keybed but when I'm replacing I will seriously consider the Casio Privia 5S with Kronos 61. Lightweight transport but still nice piano touch and expression, that's what I'm aiming for. I read very good reviews for this Casio board, also on this forum if I'm not mistaking.
Jan

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:38 am

I got the 73 due to size and weight. My biggest complaint is the "E-E" range. I play a lot of songs in the keys of G and D. I'd rather have a C-C keybed.

Except that I don't want carry two keyboards anymore, I would very seriously consider get in a Kronos 61 with the Casio PX-5S as a controller. The PX is ridiculously light and has a fantastic touch. I formerly had a church gig where I left a Kronos and the PX set up permanently. They work very well together.

I had an M3-73 for several years. I liked the C-C range and the semi-weighted touch was fine. But, the keys always felt just a smidge small to me. I always had trouble playing octave runs and big chords without splitting notes.

ferchis · Post by **ferchis** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 1:01 am

I lug my 88 around, and though I do admit it's heavy, it's a pleasure to have the whole thing right in front of you when playing live.

maybe some day I'll just get tired of moving such a beast around, but I use a rugged soft case, so it's not so much added weight after all

take a look...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVfQCuLiYK0

rickster1 · Post by **rickster1** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:55 am

My Kronos 73 is my first 73 keyboard, I've always had 88s and I do miss the lower keys, not so much the upper. But as a back sufferer who had fusion surgery 3 1/2 years ago, saving the 7 lbs was important to me. I use a soft case and am careful not to put anything on it when it's in the car. The case has wheels so it's easy to manage. The fantom x I had before this weighed 75 lbs so 45 lbs seems light as a feather!

drb32856 · Post by **drb32856** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:23 am

I am not a traditional piano player(self taught and no classical tech) so I am not real hyped for weighted keys other than the fact It seems the 88 weighted keys sound better to my ears when playing the same patch on my Kronos 61. I wanted the 73 but turned it down because I wanted to stay with synth action keys. I have an Alesis QS 7.1 which has 76 keys and the action is about right in the middle between the synth action of the K61 and the hammer action of the K73. Pluss it only weighs 32 lbs. I have started using it as a control board as I like the expanded zones I'm able to set. I wish the Kronos had a 73-76 synth action option. I do gig and my age and back require that now.

Muzztone · Post by **Muzztone** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:37 pm

To be fair even the 73 is heavy when you move it in a case and I have the Korg one.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:38 pm

Muzztone wrote:To be fair even the 73 is heavy when you move it in a case and I have the Korg one.

To keep the weight down, a good-quality gig bag is OK, if you move it yourself and are always careful with your equipment...I've been gigging with a 73 for a couple of year and moving it in a Kaces 11KB bag without any problems...

df

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:16 pm

dfahrner wrote:
Muzztone wrote:To be fair even the 73 is heavy when you move it in a case and I have the Korg one.
To keep the weight down, a good-quality gig bag is OK, if you move it yourself and are always careful with your equipment...I've been gigging with a 73 for a couple of year and moving it in a Kaces 11KB bag without any problems...

df

How do you protect the joystick/vector ?

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:38 pm

GregC wrote:
dfahrner wrote:
Muzztone wrote:To be fair even the 73 is heavy when you move it in a case and I have the Korg one.
To keep the weight down, a good-quality gig bag is OK, if you move it yourself and are always careful with your equipment...I've been gigging with a 73 for a couple of year and moving it in a Kaces 11KB bag without any problems...

df
How do you protect the joystick/vector ?

I do the same the thing. The Vector Joystick has never been a problem.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:46 pm

GregC wrote:
dfahrner wrote:To keep the weight down, a good-quality gig bag is OK
How do you protect the joystick/vector ?

I made a couple of 3/4" styrofoam / epoxy thingies* that fit over the joystick/vector and down into their sockets to keep them from moving around...and also keep a piece of 1/4" styrofoam / cardboard n the bag's side pocket over where the K's display is...

df

* Thanks, George Harrison

semmi78 · Post by **semmi78** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:13 am

been there as well. bought the 73 because of a good deal but got never used to the keys. sold it after a few months to get the 88. happy now

DrKewel · Post by **DrKewel** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 2:02 pm

The 88 key and a decent case to protect it while moving it about is about 70 lbs or more. Definitely tuff to gig and do stairs to get to the stage. I really can't imagine a girl (no slight intended) could do it on her own. As it is it is often a two person thing.
But the Korg is just worth the effort. So I put up with it.
I often think of removing the pressed wood back which is heavy and replacing it with a 1/4 piece of plywood. The 73 key is only 6 lbs. lighter.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 4:42 pm

DrKewel wrote:I often think of removing the pressed wood back which is heavy and replacing it with a 1/4 piece of plywood. The 73 key is only 6 lbs. lighter.

Something a little stronger and more rigid than 1/4" ply would be better - maybe an aluminum-skinned (or carbon fiber?) honeycomb that's the same thickness as the stock pressed wood...

The original K88 is 6.61 lbs. heavier and 8.35" longer than the K73...the added 6-1/2 lbs. and 8-1/2 inches make a real difference for me (remember, the 73 itself is pretty big)...and with the extra length, the 88 may not fit into a small car, especially in a hard case - you might want to check this before you buy...

df

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:13 pm

Since I gig and because of space, the 73. I'm used to 76 key boards so sometimes the top 3 "missing" keys is annoying. I would rather use a light 61 key controller up top than try to cover all ground with an 88. Sometimes it's still not possible anyway!

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73 or 88

weight is a definite issue

Re: weight is a definite issue