Rockjam 88 Review

Last time, I checked out the Rockjam 54. I was a bit more fond of the Rockjam 88 than the smaller models, as this one has semi-weighted keys, a full-sized keyboard, and an included stand and bench! While this is far from my favorite brand, you will get far more bang for your buck out of the Rockjam 88 than you will the Rockjam 54. I took off points for the lack of hardiness in the stand and pedal, as well as the fact that some of the sounds were just alright– or worse.  But honestly, what else can we ask for for $200? 

Rockjam 88: Overview

The Rockjam 88 key digital piano is a full-sized instrument with a package that includes a stand, bench, sustain pedal, and other accessories. While it is marketed as being for piano learners of any age, I think it’s best suited for children. However, there are a handful of nice features included in this budget model. Let’s check them out below!

Features

Beginner-Friendly Keyboard  

The feel of the keyboard was better than I thought it would be- plus the keys are full-sized and partially weighted, making it more ideal for learners than many of the other unweighted budget keyboards out there. 

10 Voices

The Rockjam 88 has 10 basic voices in the sound bank including:

• Upright piano
• Electric keyboard piano
• Grand piano
• Strings
• Synth
•  Bass
• Guitar
• Percussion
• Hammond organ
• Church organ

I’ll admit that there aren’t very many harmonics in the tones and that they all sound kind of like budget MIDI samples, but for a kid, the pianos will be acceptable for practice purposes. 

Simply Piano App Access

The Simply Piano App is one of the most well-known piano apps around, and with each purchase of a Rockjam digital piano, you get access to the learning features it has to offer. Some of these include beginner/chordal lessons and soloist lessons. 

Other Features

Some more nifty features onboard include:

• The ability to change the tempo of each song 
• A digital display that shows the details of the music (Tone number, rhythms, etc…)
• Separate rhythm and master volumes
• Sustain, vibrato, and transpose buttons
• Buttons for the following percussion/sounds

Specifications

• Weight: About 15.5 pounds 
• Dimensions: 49.2 x 11.3 x 3.1 inches 

Who is it suitable for?

The Rockjam 88 is best suited for beginners of a young age or for those looking for a MIDI controller with a low price tag. Those who are looking for a super cheap keyboard to input notes into their DAW will definitely find the Rockjam 88 useful! If you aren’t sure if your child is going to be into music or not, the Rockjam 88 might be for you and your family. 

Amazon Ratings

This keyboard has thousands of positive reviews on Amazon.com. It seems like a lot of people are buying it because it can be used as both a beginner’s learning tool and a cheap-yet-full-sized MIDI controller. Overall it is rated 4.5/5 stars. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The keys are full-sized and have a bit of weight to them
• It’s portable
• It includes everything you need to get started
• It has a decent amount of polyphony
• The keys are balanced
• Can be used as a MIDI controller

The nice thing about this particular package is that it’s pretty plug-and-play. Everything is already assembled for you, and the stand, bench, and pedal are all included. It’s pretty portable, has a really good amount of polyphony, and the keys aren’t totally light. 

Cons

• The included stand doesn’t seem to be the sturdiest
• The sustain pedal feels cheap
• Fewer voices than the Rockjam 54
• Not very much power behind these speakers
• The price varies a fair bit
• The sound samples aren’t really that good

The biggest thing I was bummed out about was the sound samples. The smaller RJ54 has many more ‘just okay’ voices than this one. I had hoped that the quality would’ve been a bit better given the fact that there are only 10 tones, but it seems about the same as the smaller cheaper models. Also as a side note, I thought it was really interesting that the price varies by $100 (30%!) depending on where you choose to get it.  I was not enthralled with the hardware either, but I did expect the sustain pedal and stand to be a bit flimsy for the price

The Issue of Marketed Age Range 

Last time, we rated the Rockjam 54 just a passing grade. We’re not going to lie to you, this is another toyish beginner digital piano. It is at the right price, but we still feel that the company isn’t entirely truthful in its advertising statements. This 88-key keyboard is semi-weighted so it is a bit better than the last…But it’s also being marketed as being perfect for beginners or intermediates which we wish the company wouldn’t do. 

Other Features

• Split mode
• Layer mode
• Included interactive lessons onboard
• The bench is both padded and adjustable
• The entire setup is preassembled- So you have less work to do!
• Easy-to-use onboard setup

Comparable Instruments

• SP-10
• The Button Version of the RJ88 
• Other Rockjams
• Casio CTS200 
• “The One” 

A brand that is comparable to the Rockjam line that you’ll often see pop up on Amazon is the Starfavor. The Starfavor 88, for example, is a bit more economical than this model but has similar features and accessories (such as the X-style stand, built-in speakers, single sustain pedal, and so on). Personally, I will almost always recommend a bare-bones Casio over these non-household name brands, but a Starfavor or Rockjam may suit you and your musical needs. 

It is also worth noting that there is a ‘Button Version” of this same model which you can find at the link above. If you are looking for a smaller Rockjam, consider the 49, 51, or 61 key models.  The One is also a good contender for only $280. 

Quick View 

Rockjam 88: Conclusion

In conclusion, the Rockjam 88 is an okay beginner piano for kids. If you can’t afford something with full weight, it is better to get something with semi-weight rather than an unweighted keyboard (especially if you are interested in classical or jazz)! I did find some features inside the Rockjam 88 that pleasantly surprised me. I always err on the side of choosing an intermediate instrument even if you are a beginner, but as they say, get the best that you can afford. 

Thanks for sticking around until the end! Next week I’ll be looking into the Rockjam 49. 

Music quote of the week: 

“Never just run through a study because you happen to be familiar with it, but use it to see what you can get from it on this new day which has been granted you.”  – Sir James Galway

7.5Expert Score

Last time, I checked out the Rockjam 54. I was a bit more fond of the Rockjam 88 than the smaller models, as this one has semi-weighted keys, a full-sized keyboard, and an included stand and bench! While this is far from my favorite brand, you will get far more bang for your buck out of the Rockjam 88 than you will the Rockjam 54. I took off points for the lack of hardiness in the stand and pedal, as well as the fact that some of the sounds were just alright– or worse. But honestly, what else can we ask for for $200?

PROS

• The keys are full-sized and have a bit of weight to them
• It’s portable
• It includes everything you need to get started
• It has a decent amount of polyphony
• The keys are balanced
• Can be used as a MIDI controller

CONS

• The included stand doesn’t seem to be the sturdiest
• The sustain pedal feels cheap
• Fewer voices than the Rockjam 54
• Not very much power behind these speakers
• The price varies a fair bit
• The sound samples aren’t really that good