rd700gx: fatigue and health issues?

[magronbass]

It's been a short while since the rd700gx was release, and I was wondering if anyone's got stuff to say about rd700gx's action that relates to heatlh. I'm on a p-250, and don't think it's the healthiest action around.. so was wondering how rd700gx was.

 

I speculate the escapement helps a little... I'm not too sure, since I haven't had the time to find one and fiddle with it. Of course, in the meanwhile I'm working on better technique so I can be more action agnostic..

 

There's just something about feeling resistance all the way down, and also feeling the hammer push back while the key is down (push back with full weight) that bothers me a bit.. With a real piano, it seems once it's down, or passed the trigger point or whatever it's called, the push back becomes much less.

 

Anyway, just asking for a second round of feed back on the action. I would die for an action that just sits right in the hands... My kawai baby grand in Taiwan is just that, actually most well maintained grands... At one point I was actually thinking about soundproofing my room and just getting a second hand grand... (cuz if I can't use it when I want to, then it looses its value)

[delirium]

It's been a short while since the rd700gx was release, and I was wondering if anyone's got stuff to say about rd700gx's action that relates to heatlh.

 

I've developed some rash and occasionally bronchiocrisis but besides that I love the action and yes escapement does make a difference. It definitely makes RD700GX unique, it allows effortless trills and faster repeated notes without hand fatigue.

 

 

[Song80s]

I have lost 10 pounds since owning my Rd700GX

 

My clothes look better and I am in better shape

 

Plus 1 of my stocks has gone up since owning the RD700GX, Very impressive given todays terrible US stock market

 

I also have a much better tan and now mountain bike about 15 miles every other day

 

I think escapement made the difference

[Dave Horne]

I have lost 10 pounds since owning my Rd700GX

 

My clothes look better and I am in better shape

 

Plus 1 of my stocks has gone up since owning the RD700GX, Very impressive given todays terrible US stock market

 

I also have a much better tan and now mountain bike about 15 miles every other day

 

I think escapement made the difference

 

I bet you're drinking the Holy Tea as well.

[Song80s]

I have lost 10 pounds since owning my Rd700GX

 

My clothes look better and I am in better shape

 

Plus 1 of my stocks has gone up since owning the RD700GX, Very impressive given todays terrible US stock market

 

I also have a much better tan and now mountain bike about 15 miles every other day

 

I think escapement made the difference

 

I bet you're drinking the Holy Tea as well.

 

Yes ! Actually, I have ben drinking Green tea since buying the RD700GX

 

My cholesterol is now normal

 

Amazing !

 

Highly recommend the Rd700GX for good health

 

 

[Jazz+]

For hand health I avoid the RD-700GX, P250, MP8, etc... and play the lighter FP4 action. Lifting and carrying them is also a hand health issue.

 

Somehow the the 32 lb FP4 also has a better stage EQ than the 700 series

[mikeNZ1]

The Kurzweil synth/stage piano actions are generally player friendly also. The action on my PC1X is so close in weight to my antique baby grand piano - I can literally play all night without fatigue. Most of the other fully weighted actions I have tried would be painful after a 4 hour rock band gig.

 

It seems that many makers are trying to emulate the feel of a heavy action, or at least a 'new' upright piano action before it is worn in. Kurzweil has long realised that pro keyboard players need something lighter and faster.

 

Michael

[magronbass]

I still can't find me a kurz pc3x to play with.. I was able to spend time with the 700gx today.. can't comment much on the sound since all I heard was some other guy rocking away on a different piano.

 

I did like that it had a quicker action (seems faster than all acoustics I've played), but the way it bottoms out was a little hard. Not that it's a deal breaker, just that it seemed a little pronounced. It's probably one of those preference things tho. The other thing was that it felt like the key depth (pitch?) was very shallow. Does anyone else agree? It could be that it feels shallow because the key bottoms out quicker as a result of the ligher action/fast acceleration. Otherwise the action felt awesome, felt very sure and sturdy, etc. And yeah, I think the part where you pass the esacapement is exaggerated.. I don't think the point is to actually "feel" that point, just that it happens mechanically in the background, while the keystroke progresses smoothly. I mean, isn't that the whole point of escapement?

 

If I were gigging, and could replace the keyboard as it paid for itself, I'd definitely go for the rd700gx without second thought.. but it's only going to be a practice board, so I'm going to wait 'till I've fiddled with a pc3x.

 

Strange though, I checked out the cp300, and noticed it felt much lighter than p250, with quicker drop off. Maybe it's that the demo unit's been played to death, or did the revise their action?

 

Sad thing is, I'm buying just for keybed and action since I use vsti.. still great for noodling with onboard sounds... just seems like it's so much extra i'm paying..

[kanker.]

For hand health I avoid the RD-700GX, P250, MP8, etc... and play the lighter FP4 action. Somehow the FP4 also has a better stage EQ. Would you agree, "sk"?

I agree with the assessment of the GX and the P250. The MP8II works well for me, but the tendonitis issues that Jazz+ and I have probably react to different actions quite differently. I don't think I've tried an FP4, but if it's very light, that too might not work for me. I need the resistance in a piano style action, but I also need a more realistic bottom to the action, and most piano action keyboards bottom out very hard.

 

[delirium]

For hand health I avoid the RD-700GX, P250, MP8, etc... and play the lighter FP4 action.

 

looks like you guys need to work more on your hand technique then.

[montunoman]

I guess you're kidding? Sometimes I wonder why when I practice/play on my acoustic piano(which has fairly heavy acction) for several hours my hands/fingers don't hurt but when I do the same on a un-weighted synth I'll feel some pain.

[Mr. Nightime]

I just played an 8-hour gig using my Korg SP200 (Fatar action). While the rest of me was exausted, my hands were loose and without any fatigue. That's the way it should be.

[Jazz+]

Lifting and carrying the RD-700GX and P250 is also a hand health issue.

[ProfD]

Lifting and carrying the RD-700GX and P250 is also a hand health issue.

In terms of weight, carrying both would be a little heavier than a Fender Rhodes. My first thought beyond a hand health issue is redundancy.

[Aidan]

Weight was the one thing which gave me pause when upgrading from the FP4 to the RD700GX but in truth, I haven't found it to be as much of an issue as I feared. I use Gigskinz soft case with wheels and get the piano in pretty much anywhere just using the end handle to wheel it in. Load into car involves resting it halfway on the bumper, then picking up the far end to tilt and slide in. I've even moved the piano to second performance locations on the same gig with it under my arm, held machine gun fashion.

 

As far as the bottoming-out is concerned, I've played regular three-hour engagements with only 2x15min breaks in there with no ill effects. The only time I've suffered was when I played rock and roll tunes all night (Chuck, Jerry etc) and my fingernail beds didn't like me much next morning.