Looking to buy a synth- help!

[DiscoStu]

I'm looking to buy a synthesizer, but could really use some advice as to what ones to go for. I'm gonna buy 2nd hand, maybe up to �250, and want something with analogue controls, cos I've mucked about on a friend's Korg MS2000 and that was great fun! I ideally want nice 'fat' synth sounds (a la Mylo, Goldfrapp, Orbital) but I also really want decent midi sounds like piano and strings. Any ideas? So far I like the aforementioned Korg, but what about Yamaha An1x or Cs1x? Any other suggestions?

[woolo]

stu, u should be able to pick up a korg i4s from the mid nineties. they have great analogue sounds. listen to a song called 3 kilos by the prodigy(gilted generation is the album),and ul hear the wonderful i4s. Very expensive 10 years ago but there should be a few for sale around the place. Enjoy

[lionelhutz]

or a bontempi.... rat tat tat shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[spat]

you can get a yamaha DX7 fairly cheap now

an 80s classic

[DiscoStu]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm not really looking for old classics, unfortunately. You can get a Casio cz1000 pretty cheap these days, but it really doesn't fit the bill. I'm not a keyboard player (I'm a guitarist who wants to try something new), and therefore need something that's user friendly. I know a wee bit about synths and know that earlier ones are notoriously difficult to program, like the DX7. I really wouldn't know where to start! What I really need is something more recent, with quality electronica and MIDI sounds that I'm going to be able to get my head round straight out of the box. And I'd really like analogue knobs and stuff cos they're great fun!