Kurzweil PC88MX

I recently purchased the Kurzweil PC88mx from an American Music Supply catalog. I have had experience playing this particular keyboard and fell in love with it, the only problem was that I couldn't find a store that carried them. I soon learned that Kurzweil was no longer making them and that they had sold the last of the PC88mx inventory to American Music Supply. I was able to get a great deal on this keyboard. I was able to buy it out of the AMS catalog for 999.99 + shipping. It was definately worth every penny

In my humble opinion, there's not a keyboard out there that delivers the rich piano sounds that this particular keyboard does. The piano sounds are incredible, particularly the stage piano sound and the stage piano/strings sound. I haven't played a keyboard whose piano string sound even compares. Sure, a lot of keyboards may have hundreds of sounds, but you know that with the PC88mx, the sounds are going to be quality where as others gear more for quanity. The playability of this keyboard is like none other, the response I get from keys when I play them is fantastic, I feel like I'm playing a grand piano. This keybord is easy to operate as opposed to many others, it's geared for performance use so you can quickly change sounds while playing and no one would ever hear a sudden end to the sustain pedal, like you would with many other keyboards. This keyboard is very user friendly, you don't have to be rocket scientist to figure it out. I love this keyboard and I would recommend it to anyone who loves playing the keyboard

The one main thing I don't like is that they DON'T MAKE THEM ANY MORE!!! Kurzweil replaced the PC88mx with the PC2 and yes it may have more sounds, but it just doesn't have the classy look that the PC88 did, plus the quality isn't any better. The PC88 and the PC88mx is what put Kurzweil on the map-like my dad said-"if it aint' broke, don't fix it".
If I were to complain about the keyboard itself it would be the lack of a good B3 sound, the rock organ and the jazz organ are decent but Kurzweil should have put the B3 in it. It is by far the most demanded organ sound out there.

When Kurzweil built the PC88mx, I think they built knowing that somebody might just take that keyboard on the road with them. Trust me I know, I travelled with one for three years when I was in college. These keyboards are built to last. The casing is made out of metal, not plastic, so chances are it'll hurt you before you hurt it (it's not kind to toes). This quality of this keyboard is unbeatable. Kurzweil may not make a huge line of keyboards, but what they do make is second to none when it comes to quality.

To any keyboard player who has been looking for the ideal 88 weighted key keyboard, look no further: The Kurzweil PC88mx will meet and surpass your expectations. I'll never look for another keyboard, there's no need to.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

- 88 keys
- 14 sounds, editable, only from ten years of use by my father, the digital screen was not working, so that we can use the factory sounds. by fiddling I managed to make a mixture of two tones shared space on the keyboard (the first two octaves lower and acoustic guitar).
- Connection Midi In, Out, Out / Thru (with switch to select out or thru).
- Three Output Jack: Headphones / Left (mono) / Right.
- 6 footswitch inputs: 2 for sustain, volume and 4 for expression.

UTILIZATION

The touch is nice (rather heavy, but unless a Korg Triton), making it perfect for my use that boils down to me to improve the instrument and make the recording studio.

The general configuration is simplistic for me to feel comfortable on Electronic Equipment (just know a little English)
For MIDI, I have not tried because the screen is no longer in office after years of loyalty.

SOUNDS

- The sound quality pianos are, near the Roland Phantom G8 quality of my father is not ridiculous. The sound is expressive.
- The electronic keyboard sound slightly disappoints me, the sound of the Fender Rhodes style is punchy as I can hear it on other keyboards reproducing this unique artifact.
- No brass sound (it would of been very useful)
- The term is generally good, with a small flat for organ sounds of rock and jazz that have only little difference in sound depending on the pressure applied on the keyboard.
- The effects are very realistic for my taste (I use the reverb modes that offer nine possibilities)
- Sounds that are not from keyboard instruments have a poor quality.

OVERALL OPINION

- I use it for over a year, my father used it from 93 to about 2003.
- This is the first piano model I own (not counting the piano casio m * rdique of 49 with non-dynamic touch for children). The ones I have tried if not those of my father (professional musician), he had a Korg Triton before the phantom G8 Workstation is both a much higher level than my Kurzweil, but it is the road for home use.

What I love most:
- The piano sounds
- The touch

What I like least:
- A long-term (10 years) many functions no longer work.
- The guitar sounds, acoustic bass, harpsicord, strings, vibes useless because of poor quality.