Audio Systems: Buying a keyboard amp, keyboard amp, yamaha s90

Question
hi- thanks for the advice- i'll check around for the behringer.  he has a yamaha s90, i think that's the model number.  maybe se90 or 90es- any of those sound right?  it was a couple thousand bucks, but it does most everything really well (its Hammond sound SOUNDS like a Hammond, its steinway like a steinway, etc)
let me know if that changes your recommendation, or if you think of anything else- it's all appreciated.
leslie
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Followup To

Question -
hi- my husband's birthday is coming up and i'd like to get him a keyboard amp.  he's in a band (kind of jump-blues, loungy stuff-- not too loud but they play casinos, etc) but also wants to record.  can you tell me of any good amps for these applications?
(sorry to say, price is a factor- both our occupations are feast or famine)
any advice would be much appreciated-
leslie

Answer -
Very good.  It is a broad question you ask as the range of products and brand is broad and prices are from low to very, very high.

Please tell me what keyboard he is using (brand and model and rough price range and I can give you some ideas for matching the quality level).

However, if you are near to a Sam Ash store or other good musical instruments place they can guide you on a more intimate basis.  It depends really on how much other stuff he already has.  To record you need a mixer and mic inputs in addition to the amp.

Peavey, for example, makes mixer/amp combination products that are quite good and relatively low price (but still in the hundreds).  Yamaha makes good stuff and there are Yamaha music stores all around, especially in the CA area.

For a really moderate priced powered recording system all in one take a look at
  Behringer PMH1000 12-Channel Powered Mixer with FX (400 Watts, Formerly PMX1000) (around $300.000)

which can be found at:

http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Powered-Mixers--2748

or other shops.

Hope this helps.

Cleggsan  

Answer
Yes, Yamaha has a real nice sound.  That is about the right price for a middle class (pro) keyboard.

The unit I suggest from Behringer is good; they have some models that are a little more expensive, have more power and more features.

Also, If you want to stay with Yamaha, they have some nice products, also. The AW1600 is a good portable recording mixer and has outputs that feed into powered speakers or to external amplifiers. Price is around $1,000.

I really think you should talk with someone in a music store, however, as these animals are very subjective and you want to get what he will want.  Mostly, musicians drool over a product before they buy it and if you choose one that has no drool passion it may not go over so great. On the other hand if you get one with high drool factor it will please him greatly.

Hope this helps.

Cleggsan