Hi, I’m Greg—52 years old, with a jazz piano degree, and I’ve spent most of my adult life gigging. For ten memorable years, I performed in the high-energy world of dueling pianos, initially drawn by the excitement and financial perks. However, my naturally quiet and introspective personality eventually led me to seek a more sustainable, authentic musical experience. Today, I enjoy calmer, more fulfilling gigs with my duo band, Bell & Field.
If you’re a gigging musician struggling to find the perfect balance between sound, portability, and playability, I’ve been there—and here’s what I’ve learned.
Finding the Right Gear: A Crucial Balance
Choosing gear has always been crucial for me. Balancing sound quality, portability, and playability became my obsession.
Eventually, I decided I needed two keyboards:
- One to stay permanently set up at home.
- Another dedicated exclusively to gigging, reducing the stress of constant transport.
Here’s how my current and previous setups have shaped my gear preferences:
Roland FP-90X: My Home Studio Powerhouse
I chose the Roland FP-90X initially for its advanced “Pure Acoustic Modeling,” promising superior realism over sampled sounds. Unfortunately, I wasn’t convinced that “Pure Acoustic Modeling” was its biggest strength.
- ✅ Exceptional key action, unmatched by any other keyboard I’ve played.
- ✅ Powerful internal speakers (60 watts) that provide rich, full sound.
- ✅ Intuitive sliders make live adjustments effortless.
- ✅ Gorgeous and easy controls.
- ⚠️ At 52 lbs, transporting this keyboard became cumbersome—especially up and down stairs. Add the weight and bulk of the needed protective case, and it became unbearable for me.
- ⚠️ Slight “toy piano” undertone remained despite extensive EQ tweaking.
Due to its weight and premium price tag ($2,000), the FP-90X now stays safely in my home studio, where it excels.
Kawai ES120: My Reliable Gigging Companion
The Kawai ES120 became my go-to gigging keyboard due to its practicality and portability.
- ✅ Lightweight and extremely easy to transport.
- ✅ Solid keyboard action for its weight class.
- ✅ Practical internal speakers adequate for monitoring and quiet practice.
- ✅ Bluetooth connectivity for streaming pre-show playlists—a great bonus!
- ⚠️ Included sustain pedal is flimsy—I recommend upgrading to Kawai’s sturdier F-10H ($69).
This keyboard fits my weekend gigs perfectly, making it easy to quickly set up and focus on performance.
Yamaha MX88 & Casio Privia PX-560M: Valuable Lessons Learned
Previous keyboards taught me crucial lessons about my priorities:
- Yamaha MX88: Phenomenal sampled sounds with realistic and lush piano tones. Unfortunately, it lacked internal speakers, and had mediocre action, making it less practical for my gigging needs. The weight was and bulk was just slightly above what I prefer (30.6 lbs).
- Casio Privia PX-560M: Great portability, decent enough action (not as good as my Kawai ES120. About the same as the Yamaha MX88—which is much better than their predecessor Yamaha MOX8), and excellent sound editing capabilities. Eventually discontinued and had reliability issues with keys failing after extensive use, though still commendable for convenience.
If Yamaha could combine the MX88’s realism with portability and internal speakers, Id probably have my dream Keyboard!
My Gigging Essentials: Piano Shells & Professional Setup
To elevate my stage presentation, I use piano shells from Keyhole and a beautifully designed prop-top from Presto Piano—a sister company to Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos, where I also serve as CTO. Speaking of which—I built the websites for Felix and Fingers, Presto Piano (check those shells out!), and Bell & Field (where you’re reading this post!). Hope you like my work! 😊
I give myself about 90 minutes for setup, though we typically finish within 45 minutes. My current lighting setup includes:
- Chuavet Bluetooth Products: 4 Chauvet uplights and 4 Chauvet 4-bars, controlled through the BT Air app.
- Carefully crafted lighting scenes that avoid harsh strobes or flashy colors, opting instead for soft, expressive visuals that complement our music.
- A black backdrop curtain, which is especially useful in venues with unattractive backgrounds or poor reflection for uplights.
We take pride in our professional setup—no corners cut—and it’s a genuine pleasure performing in our thoughtfully prepared mobile “office” every week.
My Dream Keyboard: Could It Exist?
If I could design my ideal keyboard, it would feature:
- Roland FP-90X’s unmatched action
- Yamaha MX88’s authentic piano realism
- Casio Privia PX-560M’s lightweight portability
- Kawai ES120’s practical internal speakers
I do enjoy the Bluetooth connectivity, as well (which the Roland FP-90X and Kawai ES120 both have!)
Technology hasn’t quite caught up with this dream yet—but I’m hopeful and constantly monitoring emerging gear.
Final Thoughts for Fellow Musicians
Choosing the right gear is always a balancing act. Prioritize what makes your performances enjoyable and practical:
- Never underestimate portability.
- Don’t compromise too much on sound realism.
- Always value the feel of your keyboard action.
Keep an eye on the market—you never know when the perfect keyboard might arrive!
I’d love to hear from you!
What’s your current gigging setup? Any favorite gear recommendations or surprising discoveries? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Elevate Your Fine Dining Experience with Bell & Field
