This is my review of the CME Z-key 88. My previous post should give you a sense of the build quality of this instrument. And while it’s possible for someone to destroy any instrument, this one makes it easier. The internal connections are engineered a little on the light side. I suspect it is all meant for quick assembly, but it falls below the curve of what is acceptable. I love the spartan design. The clean lines and uncluttered control surface immediately caught my eye, and played into my aesthetic for simple function. It seemed like a steal at one seventh of its MSRP, but clearly it is over priced as a retail item. That being said the savvy DIYer could soon have a fun box available on the used market. And these guys will hit the used market sooner than others.

What is the target audience for this machine? I think it is meant to appeal to home recordists who are moving up from the M-audio Keyrig 49, or similar controllers. People who don’t want full DAW control but are tired of the octave limitations of the smaller keyboards. The look of the Z-key series fits nicely into a home studio, and offers the appearance of a full piano keys.

The promo material touts a new technology called Zenith, that is alleged to have the feel of a standard piano keyboard. No. This keyboard feels much more like a Keyrig 49 than a Steinway. I was going to say it feels more like a little Christmas organ  (the kind with a little electric bellows, that kind of wheezes out notes), but that would’ve been more for effect since I can’t really remember the feel. It’s been a while.

Why would anyone want one of these? Here’s why. It offers larger keys than the standard minimal controller. There is some slight weight to it. There are seven octaves immediately available, (it’s fun to stretch two arms out over the playing surface). And it is fast. The action is faster than many of the more professional true weighted keyboard. I guess less weight equals quicker movement. Yamahas seem piano like (but not as wooden as say a Steinway – which is lighter beneath the finger and heavier toward the hammer), Rolands are a bit thicker, heavier; concrete. The Zkey is not in the weighted class, but it is a fun hybrid and the adaptable player could find it a gas to play.

Look for used ones. The retail price is laughable.

Got home found a box on the deck. Knew what it was. Early. Took out my knife, cut open the box; styrofoam peanuts. Dove in and came up with a 7 octave keyboard. Glee. Pulled it out set it on the table. Gloom. The pitch bend wheel was gone; punched into the machine, but I could see it. When you buy “as is” off Ebay what do you expect. Well, I expected it to look like the photo. The one with an intact pitch wheel. Flashlight spilunking. Doom. This probably means it won’t function at all. Plug it into USB. Lights flash on. Hope. Call up music program, depress keys. Sound comes pouring out. It works. Change gears.

Disassembly was a delicate task. Best to go slow when you don’t know the terrain. Forty screws later. Oh, the screws they used were too small. I go buy bigger ones. Reattach pitch bend wheel (two screws). Start reassembly. 40, 39, 38, 37, … 2, 1. Test keys. Some notes hang. Note Offs not recognized. First the G above middle C. Then that self corrects, then A,A#,and B one octave above. Then B two octaves below. Waste of time and money. Grrr. Continue reassembly anyway. Last screw. Set keyboard in another position; in doing so I had to change to a longer USB cable. Works perfectly. IT WAS THE DAMNED USB CABLE. What a bargain, how brilliant I am.

It’s bedtime +. I’ll review the keyboard later.

I just got a new (to me) set of drums. Not real drums. These are quiet Simmons SD9K drums. And that’s exactly what I needed. No grumpy cat neighbors looking displeased at my existence, at least for keeping them up all night. Now if I just had the skill to play them. Nah, the hell with that, let me just beat on ’em.

And I mean first. I’ve been playing guitar for at least twenty years and I just broke my first string. I was wailing into a full bend when “thwonk”, my B string broke. I’ve known this to be a disaster for other players. Once in the wilds of Canada, while adjusting a loose fret on a thirty dollar Kay guitar (the thing was as big as a boat), a guitarist friend broke a string right in the middle. That meant a trip to Ottawa, for a string! Of course there are the stage breaks. When you have to go to the back-up guitar. That can kill the mood of the song, sometimes the whole show.

But my little break was a symbol of joyful exuberance, and I’m taking it as a call from the guitar for a fret job, which it needs. Maybe I’ll get them dressed too.

Yes, I am totally infatuated with this guitar. It was cheap. It met my hipster sensibilities. And it gives such good sounds. Someday I think I’ll try a telecaster pick-up at the neck position, cause I really like that tone, but for now I’ll just explore what’s inside this crunchy little guitar. The split humbucker  gives me a warm single coil sound which my ear grew to love from the Melody Maker. Anyway, I love to strap this on and wail.