Budget board for bass player...?

Hi all. I'm a bass player and I'd like to add keys to my shows. I usually play small stages, so a small board on a stand would be fine. Can you all help me identify a start-out setup that would be:

1. Wayyy budget

2. Full of gooey, funky bass sounds

3. Easy to learn and operate

Thanks in advance for your help.

Welcome. I too am a fellow bass player. Are you looking for strings... or bass sounds? If its bass sounds you may want to try an Alesis ION or Micron. Moog makes some great bass sounding stuff but they are expensive. Alesis also makes a great all around board in the QS6.2. The JunoD is also a good sounding unit with some decent bass and synth sounds. As far as amps go, bass amps make great keyboard amps. Good luck.

Myself finds the micron pitifully weak & thin sounding compared to Korgs Microkorg. But what kind of synth sounds do you want?

You'll a rompler rather then Va if being able to do realistic voices of various acoustic instruments. Same for if you want a workstation, sampling or sequncing ability.

If you want good solid bass voices for synth, the Alesis Micron & Ion will dissapoint imo. For Va I'd say look for used Novation or Nord synths.

For romplers I favor Korg & Alesis sound wise. Plenty nice various performance synths by them available used for $400-500 range. The Yamaha AN1x and CS2x where also nice romplers for those most into electronica. Should be able to get one used for $400-$500 also. The theres the Emu pk6, xk6, again getable used in that price range. What set them apart from the rest was lots more front panal control for less menu diving, and 16 arps useable all at once if desired.

Novation makes some great stuff. A bass playing friend of mine just started using a Novation X-station on stage. He really loves it.