Nobody sells used (low end) keyboards anymore?

[LoveLoud]

Or is it just this area? Various times over this past year I looked on craigs list etc for a low-end keyboard and found little to nothing. Are people just keeping these more now?

Here is my keyboard acquisition story, which I think belies that those opportunities are over.

CASIO WK-200, fine condition and 100% operable, including X stand and AC brick.

$55

Offer Up

I'm loving it. Way more functions than I can use until weeks and months of learning. Sound through a 60W amp is great.

Entry level today, needless to say, but seems like CASIO is an "also ran" brand in this forum, so it's worth pointing out that WK-200 is able to get a new player playing keyboard and tinkering with a lot of more advanced functions that they can graduate up to with next purchase(s).

I never buy off eBay and almost never off of Craigslist.

Everything that I have sold since 2024 was on Offer Up.

The best site for local sales ain't CL in SoCal, anyway.

 

[LoveLoud]

Trybthis link:

Portable Keyboards - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

uk.yamaha.com

That site is a YAMAHA clearance center.

I interpreted the OP was seeking good vintage keyboard deals @ local pickup, which in my area are sites Offer Up, Craigslist, and Facebook.

 

[Gourockian]

Or is it just this area? Various times over this past year I looked on craigs list etc for a low-end keyboard and found little to nothing. Are people just keeping these more now?

Bill, I took another look at your post and I may be reading between the lines here but if you are 'only' looking on CL at "various times", that may be the reason you are perhaps missing out. I check my local CL Musical Intruments page a number of times each day and in fact have a direct link to the page on my Bookmarks Bar.

The three examples I gave earlier had all been listed no more than one hour before I contacted the sellers so was able to snap them up quickly. I would also suggest that, although you are looking for a low-end keyboard, don't restrict yourself to those on the basis of cost, as the ones I mentioned are definitely high end but were very cheap. Without going into detail, my Tyros2, CP137 and KN5000 were also purchased via CL and the first two were almost as new but at bargain prices.

I realize that everyone has different time constraints but if you can check CL at least once a day, each day, you might find a few real bargains out there. If not, others (like me) are jumping in before you even see them listed.

PS - don't tell Gary (happyrat1) I told you this as he seems to be convinced most of the older stuff is junk.

Good luck and don't give up.

Al

 

[LoveLoud]

Is this a killer deal?

I'm too new to keyboard world to know. I see YAMAHA, which is the single most respected brand in most instrument forums. I see SYNTHESIZER, which I want to understand some day. I see $35, which is as cheap as any keyboard ever.

But I wouldn't know what to do with it, despite the apparent bargain. It's simply true that these local sites have to be scanned daily. And at least both CL and Offer Up because musicians in CA are leaving Craigslist.

https://offerup.co/kpivIF6WJNb

 

[Bouncingogre]

First Questions. Can you play a keyboard? Or are you wanting to learn to do so?

Read up all you can about Keyboards and Synths, and find out what they can do FOR YOU.
Fortunately, with the Internet that's easy to do. But you need to get an idea of what you want first.

You can't say something might be a bargain without knowing what it is and what it does? Some keyboards are very good, some are complete rubbish. Some are so old that you may as well put your money down the nearest drain. Plenty of advice here, so find out what you're looking for first.

 

[LoveLoud]

First Questions. Can you play a keyboard? Or are you wanting to learn to do so?

Read up all you can about Keyboards and Synths, and find out what they can do FOR YOU.
Fortunately, with the Internet that's easy to do. But you need to get an idea of what you want first.

You can't say something might be a bargain without knowing what it is and what it does? Some keyboards are very good, some are complete rubbish. Some are so old that you may as well put your money down the nearest drain. Plenty of advice here, so find out what you're looking for first.

I think this is a reply to my last post but I think it's out of context of this thread.

I'm not asking for help.

Read the thread from top. I'm replying to the OP, not needing anything.

But thanks for what is probably good advice.

 

[delaware dave]

Ass hat!

I'm trying to picture this .......

 

[Gourockian]

Is this a killer deal?

I'm too new to keyboard world to know. I see YAMAHA, which is the single most respected brand in most instrument forums. I see SYNTHESIZER, which I want to understand some day. I see $35, which is as cheap as any keyboard ever.

But I wouldn't know what to do with it, despite the apparent bargain. It's simply true that these local sites have to be scanned daily. And at least both CL and Offer Up because musicians in CA are leaving Craigslist.

https://offerup.co/kpivIF6WJNb

It's definitely a good bit cheaper than any other listing I can find for the same model so, from that perspective, it probably could be classed as "a killer deal".
Bear in mind though, that it dates from the 1980's, has only a 4-octave range using mini-keys and limited sound / rhythm capabilities but no MIDI. It's not something that I would consider but hey, everyone is different, thank goodness!

 

[Biggles]

Buying old keyboards, no way.

Way to many things that could be wrong with them.

My knowledge of electronics is basic, so beyond changing caps and anything that looks overheated that is about it.

Over the years I’ve bought many a guitar, refurbished it and sold it on. They are easy to work on as long as the neck is not twisted.

 

[DavidS]

I think we have a different idea of what a low-end keyboard is lol. For me, it's when I'd sooner keep it for the kids than pay the costs of transporting it to a buyer, with no guarantee that it will be hassle free. So, anything under £200. Interestingly, I've got three of those which I still use occasionally when I'm out, or in the garden with my laptop.
Anyway, that's why I don't sell them. That's the only real way for me to avoid the hassle.

 

[bill5]

Please all, spare us the political digression BS, far too much of that all over the net as it is. Can we stay on topic?

I think some of you didn't get the gist of my question or thought. I'm not questioning how much people are asking for low-end keyboards, I'm just surprised there are almost none available for sale at all, period.

And thanks for the Offerup idea, but their search function sucks (as is the case on most retail sites, I have found out) and you can't restrict to local offers only...I don't buy much of anything let alone electronics without being able to see it in person.

 

[bill5]

Bill, I took another look at your post and I may be reading between the lines here but if you are 'only' looking on CL at "various times", that may be the reason you are perhaps missing out.

That's a good point and thanks...yeah I will try to check more often, but I don't have a serious/immediate need, it was just a general observation.