drksd4848

Yes indeed. 25 cents and some Tylenol for a headache afterward. 😉 I had a feeling it was the tan connector and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to put the ribbon into the tab. After I posted the pics last night, I went back to the keyboard at about 1AM in a fit of frustration and fiddled around with it for a bit. Then, by accident, I figured out how to push the tab open. It took me a little time but I was able to fit it back in. It disconnected a few times while I was putting the housing back on. A few notes for people who have children who like to slide quarters between the keys of a CDP-S350: That cable - a tsujimoto-c connector - is razor thin and flimsy. It disconnects very easily, and can be really tricky to reconnect. It was maddening until I got the hang of it. Like I said, it disconnected a few times before I got everything back together. You take the ribbon and gently press on the top front of the tab until pops up and clamps down. I probably didn’t have to disassemble the entire case to pop the keys out but it was helpful to have access to underside of the key. I also unscrewed the entire key assembly from the case (the screws are in the back along with two brackets) but that may not have been necessary either. I haven’t found any other documentation of someone opening up and pulling apart a CDP-S350, and the assembly is nothing like any of the other Casio keyboards I’ve seen disassembled online. Hopefully this experience will benefit someone else! Thanks for your help guys!

Quick update… metronome and rhythm patterns play fine through the speaker. The keys are dead. In the first pic I posted below, there is a thin ribbon cable covered in foam that runs from the keyboard that is loose. This could be the problem. I cant see where it is suppose to plug in. Does anyone know where it goes?

There wasn’t. (The quarter is out BTW. Only now I have exchanged one problem for another. More on that in a bit.) I figured out how to pop the key out. Turns out if you lift the bottom of the key with a little bit of pressure it comes up, then pull it out from the back and it comes off. I did that, pulled out the quarter, then pushed the key forward, pressed down and it went back in. That problem, solved… but then… I buttoned it back up, turned it on and… no sound from the speakers, no sound from the headphones. Hopefully its only a speaker wire that came loose. I will say that there was a thin ribbon cable covered in foam that became disconnected, but I could not see where it was plugged in, if it was plugged in at all. I’m going to open it up again and take some pictures and post them here. I should have been taking pictures at every step of the way in order to have something to refer to, but this was one of those slippery slope incidents where one thing leads to another. At least I know how to disassemble a CDP-S350

It is stuck in there rattling around and it ain't coming out. It is in too narrow a space in between the keys to pluck it out with forceps. I have got everything disassembled. The housing is unscrewed and apart from the actual plate with the keys on it. I can peer in from the side and see the quarter sitting there. He literally dropped it at middle C. It looks like the only way to get the quarter out is to remove the keys around it. God knows how I’ll get this thing back together and who knows if it will work properly when/if I do. So, my question: how do I pop the sounding keys out to get to the coin? (without breaking it) It seems like the CDP keys are attached differently than other Casio keys. Anybody with repair experience that could help?

Sure hope not. I'll check back in when it comes... In the meantime, I'm getting myself familiar with the keys by practicing on our other keyboard: Not kidding. It has actually been useful. I am able to legitimately learn chord fingerings with it. But playing a song outside of Twinkle Twinkle...? Eh... not so much. I'm sure I'll be able to progress a little faster with the S350. It'll probably be a bigger hit with the youngsters as well.

Umm.... Uh oh... And I was coming back to announce that I finally ordered the S350 from GC... Yikes. I swear... that's what happens when you buy mail order music instruments - or at least with guitars. I've bought three guitars online and it seems like it never fails: what comes in the mail is a piece of garbage. Last one was I bought was an American Standard Tele back in '08. That guitar has never played right. After that, I learned never to pay for anything that hasn't been in my hands first. I didn't think that would be the case with digital pianos, but jeeze... that's really bad.

I think at this stage of the game, it probably won't matter for us. Right now, I'm working on applying all the chord theory I learned studying guitar to the keys. The kids will be starting from ground zero. If I get to the point where I'm worried about layering, I'd say I've come a long way.

OK, thoughts on this: Given all things equal in terms of price: PX-160 or CDP-S350 Which one do you get?

Alright... alright.. alright.... no need to rub it in... That'll be me... BTW, Rod, what made you also buy the CT X8000? Should I be looking at that in lieu of...?

Where did you get it from? (if you don't mind me asking) I am most likely going buy it at Guitar Center because I have a $300 gift certificate for them... And I'll probably get it with the wooden stand. I was about to finally pull the trigger last Friday, but I have a feeling I should wait for the black Friday deals...

Exactly my thinking... Although the real priority is to light a spark in (at least one of) my boys. And it'll be fun is we learn it together. BTW, one more question. What are your thoughts on Chordana? Is it a good learning tool? Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Yeah, I figured. Once I figure out where Middle C is, then go to Am, F and G, I'll think about the Hammond Anyway, I think you guys sealed the deal. S350 it is... Glad to know there's a go-to forum for Casio Keys as well.

Thanks for the input guys... Quick question: Does the s350 have a vibrato effect? I know it has reverb and pitch shift. BTW, the other option I was considering was this: Actually, maybe not... now. But boy, the holy grail would be to find a voice that could reproduce the sound of the Hammond X66. If I had *really* followed my heart when I was a youngster getting into music, I would have just started with keys all together. There was something about hearing John Kiley play "The Impossible Dream" with all the traps pulled out on the X66 that made me melt. Then hearing David Gilmour play his stratocaster washed it all away...

Hi, Folks I came here because I need insight/advice, etc. I figure, heck, if I'm looking to buy a Casio keyboard, this seems like the place to go... Here's the skinny: I've watched all the videos and read all the reviews. Now, I'm looking at either a S350 or a S100 to buy for both my sons and myself. Both my boys are young and just starting out. One is WAY more inclined to to music than my other boy, but we want to see if it will click with him as well. I also want to learn keys. I have a pretty decent understanding of music theory and I've played guitar off and on for years - sometimes in bands, sometimes not. (I have a love-hate relationship with the guitar). Now, I'm at the point where I feel like it's time to break away from the instrument that has tormented me since my late adolescence and play something that's more valuable in a band setting. (Let's face it, guitar players are dime a dozen. Bass players, Keyboardists and Drummers are worth their weight in gold.) This leads me to my question: Since we are all kind of starting out here, is the S350 worth all the bells and whistles, or would it make more sense to get the S100 and see where we all land with this? Or, would another model be better? My heart says S350, but head says S100. My wife says Casio Keyboard from Target. (Ummm.... No.) Your insight is much appreciated!