Need some advise on a keyboard for my wife(christmas present)

[nightpoison]

Hello, I am currently in the process of purchasing a keyboard for my wife for Christmas. I am looking for a good quality keyboard, full size, 88 keys I think. I know next to nothing about pianos/keyboards. We currently live in a small apartment so we don't have the space for an actual piano. So I want to get her a nice keyboard that she can also take back and forth to her studio, if she wanted to.

A little about her.

She has been singing and playing piano all her life. She is a classical/opera singer by trade, but sings and plays a lot of folk and piano heavy classic rock. She teaches piano and voice as her primary job. At her parents house she has a full upright piano, which she loves and tries to go play as often as possible.

She doesn't need or want a keyboard that has dozens of different sounds, and effects. What she wants is a quality sounding keyboard, something as close to her piano at her parents house.

I am able to spend up to $500. I know there are keyboards that are way more expensive and would be closer to what she wants. however, within the next 2 years we are buying a house, and at that time I will be getting her a actual piano.

I've been looking at these keyboards. What do you think? do you have any other suggestions?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-PX130-88-Key-Digital-Keyboard-105486419-i1466876.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-C...er-Action-Digital-Piano-103871034-i1168551.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Korg-SP...-Piano-103563565-i1154498.gc#customer-reviews

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-Privia-PX-330-88-Key-Digital-Keyboard-105486401-i1466868.gc

 

[jmemcse]

Hi -
You are a wonderful husband. However, any time in my life I showed up for a gig and they had a Casio set up for me to play, the first thing I would do was cover up that big white "CASIO" on the front with duct tape. LOL!!

To be honest with myself I have heard good things about the 88 key Casios because they are inexpensive by comparison, and actually play and sound decent.

Skipp or goz could really recommend something better than I ever could, but of the list you posted I'd go with the Korg hands down.

Ummm... not that I have anything against Casio or anything...

 

[Burn4Him]

I agree with jmemcse that the korg is the best out of all thoes, im not a huge casio fan. have you looked at the Yamaha P-85 Yamaha YPG-635. or maybe if you dont mind spending a little bit more the cp33 would be great.

 

[goz211]

You pays your money ...

(1) How will she listen to it? Does it need to have built in speakers or ...?

(2) If she will be plugging it into something else to hear it (keyboard combo, powered monitors, little PA system) - what sort of audio outs will be ok? Is a single stereo headphone out ok or will she need a 1/4 inch jack out (maybe two)?

 

[september]

i have to agree with the other posts about the cassio's. however, if 500 is all you have to work with then go with that-she'll think it's awsome no matter what kind you get-get the house first then you can worry about a good piano later!!