The Secret For Finding Your Sound - Why I Use Cheap Gear

What began as necessity has evolved to philosophy. Cheap gear gives me a raw, rough around the edge sound, one I have taken and ran with. Today I explore my collection of weird cheap keyboards that always inspire me. I offer some tips on finding your own sleeper keyboards and discuss a theory about becoming a Black Hole for music gear.

#keyboards #casiotone #musicproduction

[CalebXH]

My approach toward gear is a lot like my approach towards fashion. I have a mixture of nice new things I saved up for, and cheap old things I've stumbled upon. I trust my instincts on what I find expressive with the only additional consideration being build quality. It puts you in the position to explore overlooked quirks in cheap old things, while having the tools to re-contextualize it with nice new things. It's also only rewarded with patience. This video perfectly captures how well that works out.

[ABizzyBYT]

That $400 effects pedal really makes everything sound great!

[The_Sound_Technician]

My Casio collection is immense… do you know what… after years of drooling over buchlas and nords and moog… I’ve realised its effects and outboard that make music kit shine.. put any crud thrift store keyboard through a classy reverb and delay and boom epic loveliness.

[Pyrofries]

tbf that pedal is doing a lot of heavy lifting here

[Cinnovations]

Love the lighting, color grading and aesthetic, too!

[MAGOSAMX]

the casio sk-1 sounds beautiful! Recently I scored a casio from the 80's and I feel it stands out compare to modern stuff, not because it's better, just because it gives you a different sound, it's quite an experience to hunt for this old beautiful treasures.

[TheREAPERBlog]

Absolutely gotta do the weekly thrift store runs. I got my Space Echo RE-150 from Salvation Army. Keyboards, speakers, pedals, cameras, lights, tripods... I'm kind of addicted

[ApexLaneProductions]

I've always had a special place in my heart for cheap Casio keyboards. Especially CTK models from the early 2000s. The kick and snare patches sound huge when you slam the tape when recording analog. Feels so good to me.

[nibiay]

Oh my GOD I FINALLY a Channel that I adore!! Thank you! 🙂

[vaaalsongs]

I can absolutely confirm the Black Hole Theory. The amount of gear friends, acquaintances and random people from Instagram has been giving or lending me over the years has been pretty wild. All from being active and passionate about the subject

[honkytonkdragon]

I'm really just beginning my journey as a musician, but this is definitely how I started, and how I am continuing to grow.
Found a Slammer by Hamer short-scale bass guitar at Good Will for $45. I just really liked it, it called to me.
Replaced the strings with tape-wounds, which cost a few bucks more than the bass.
I bought a new bass to celebrate completing an online bass course. A Harley-Benton fretless violin bass, brand new was $170. Of course with a case and shipping from Germany, it ended up almost twice that, but still, not a high end instrument.
BUT, it is beyond functional. Put tape-wounds on it as well, and I think this is as close as you can get to upright tones on an electric bass. Tone is just exactly what I was looking for.

[digiyak]

i just find fascinating how americans bought so much musical equipment in the late nineties. Most of us in other countries live a shortage of this equipments in thrift stores or even in regular music shops (it's almost impossible to buy a Rickenbacker or a Danectro in Brazil for example, let alone a 4 track cassette tape machine) you guys have it easy in the states 😅

[pawnotdaw]

You might be onto something with your Black Hole theory. Over the years ive found so much cool stuff on side of the road and rubbish skips. A select few: sitar, volume pedal, various percussion, massive piano keyboard, just the other week i found this massive weird skin drum in the pouring rain, sounds great. Loving your videos and vibe.

[ezrakh]

I bought a digital Rhodes MK-60 for $100 about 2 years ago, then this summer I bought an ACTUAL Rhodes mk I stage 73 for $200 from an old family friend that heard (he initially wanted to give it to me for free. All that said I agree with things coming to you! The universes conspires and co-creates with us

[ringsystemmusic]

I’m a cheap keyboard fiend. My current stable is:
- Yamaha PSR-12. FM keyboard with the best keyfeel I’ve ever tried. Lives connected to my mixing board so I can doodle out melodies whenever.
- Yamaha PSS-140. Lovely sounds- 86 Transistor Organ is to die for.
- Roland VA-3. Not cheap but I got it for free from somebody else’s studio downsize. Cool to muck around with.

[DavidJoelMoffitt]

I didn't realize how my love of synths started with an old casio I had in my childhood. I love how they sound running through that pedal. Epic man, thanks for this video, it's inspiring.

[smokespun]

Love it! I'm a big fan of the cheap gear route myself. I have a tiny old Yamaha keyboard I've had for over 30 years and I'm 33 lolol I'm certainly not afraid to invest in certain pieces of gear when I know what and why I want something, but I really love pulling the most out of quirky things that are often overlooked.

[mistahmath]

Favorite youtuber right now! You rock :)

[happyphace]

Great video! The background music was so good I had to pick up my cheap guitar and practice along with it!

[solarbabies]

I am in the same boat with the cheap keyboards. The key (that i've found anyway) is experimenting with different effects chains and some persistance!