Connecting a Stage Piano to a Keyboard Amp

Do you want to play piano in a live band? Then you’re gonna need some power! Of course, you could use a guitar amp to boost the sound of your stage piano. However, the classic solution is connecting a keyboard amp to your stage piano or keyboard: Practical for jam sessions, band rehearsals, and live gigs, keyboard combo amplifiers provide pianists and keyboardists with all the necessary tools to stand out in a band.

Unlike a guitar amp, you don’t want your keyboard amp to add distortion – you want the opposite: a clean sound with clear highs, bass, and powerful mids. Also, keyboards and stage pianos usually play sound in stereo.

Connecting a Keyboard Amp to a Stage Piano: Stereo or Mono?

When connecting a stage piano to a combo amp, you may encounter a problem: Stage pianos often have a stereo sound whereas combo amps are typically mono. When playing the piano through such a combo amp, it will sound different from what you are used to when playing through headphones or stereo monitors.

Most stage pianos and digital pianos have a monophonic audio output (e.g. L/mono). In this case, simply connect this jack to the input jack of the keyboard amplifier. Even if a keyboard amplifier has stereo inputs, this does not matter if the sound coming out of the speakers is always mono. In this case, the stereo-sampled piano sound can never develop its full potential. Instead, it may sound significantly worse than usual. On the other hand, if the combo amp is fully stereo, it will enhance the sound.

Keyboard Amp Placement

You should never set up your keyboard amplifier with the speakers too close to your ears! Otherwise, it is important to note that there is no ideal placement for an amplifier. Most of the time you will have to compromise. The best way to place your amp depends on the situation:

• Band rehearsal: You want to be heard by as many band members as possible. Set up the amp so that the speakers emit sound towards the other members.
• Small gigs: This can be a little trickier as in addition to the sound of the band on stage, you also want the audience to hear you as a keyboard player. In this case, you need to choose a setup where the speakers of the keyboard amp face forward.
• Amp as monitor: In larger live setups with a front-of-house (FOH) mixer, the keyboard amp is more likely to be used as a monitor for yourself. Again, you can experiment with speaker placement so that the band on stage can hear the keyboard amp as well.

Since it is counterproductive to place the amp on the floor, you can help yourself by placing it on a slightly elevated surface, such as a chair. Professional amp stands with adjustable tilt angles are also available.

Route Monitor Mix via Line Out

If you want to use a keyboard amp as a monitor for larger live gigs, make sure the amp has a line output when you buy it. If the keyboard amp is stereo, the line output should also be stereo. A line-out output is standard on keyboard amps, but there are (rare) exceptions, so it’s best to check.

You can use the line-out output (Thru for active PA monitors) to route the signal of the amp to a vocal performance or PA mixer while using the keyboard amp as a monitor on stage. Since you want to adjust the volume of the amp itself to match the volume of the stage sound, this mustn’t affect the volume of the line output. Changing the volume in this way may really annoy a FOH mixer…

Keyboard Amps at Thomann*

Stage Piano and Keyboard Amp: 3 Different Combo Amps

As we all know, there are different ways to reach your goal – the right amp depends primarily on the intended use. Further, many keyboard amplifiers are available in different sizes. This little overview shows three different options…

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