so you bought a keyboard ......has it lived up to it's potential ?

[Dan O]

You buy a keyboard ...................

 

Would you say that the keyboard has satisfied you 100% ? 75% ? 50% ? 25% ? ???

 

How can a manufacturer make a difference with the keyboard you bought ?

 

 

dano

[coyote]

that's an incredibly broad question, just because so many boards are designed to do so many different things. What applies to a clonewheel likely won't apply to a VA which likely won't apply to a rompler. That said....

 

My JP8000 does exactly what it was designed to do and does it well. A few minor issues, but I'd give it 95% satisfaction. Needs MIDI Thru and to get rid of the 'clickiness' on some settings.

 

My QS7.1 is growing on me as time goes on. 75% satisfied. Overall concept was too good to pass up, but could make do with fewer sounds if those sounds were higher quality. The sounds also rely too heavily on effects.

[Rod S]

Originally posted by dano:

How can a manufacturer make a difference with the keyboard you bought ?

Provide after sales support. Examples:

- Yamaha offers a series of 'guides' in pdf format focusing on specific issues. Mandatory reading, it really complements the manual.

- Providing extra patches

 

Provide replacement parts at reasonable costs

 

Participate in online forums and answer questions (Thanks kurzweil guys)

 

I don't think I've ever bought a piece of gear that didn't live to it's potential. Most gear that I've been frustrated with in the beginning I eventually changed my mind (the PLG PF board for my cs6x for instance - I use the main piano sound a lot these days)

[Superbobus]

Hey Rod, do you really use that piano sound? I mean from the CS6x itself? I guess/hope you have a decent piano next to it because I cen't stand that sound anymore.

It went uphill for me.

Roland D5 - horrible board but what do you expect for a budget thing from twelve years ago? 0%

Roland SC55 - was a little better but still very thin. It survived lots of bumps/drop downs/accidents. 25%

Roland FP8 - Did lots of gigs on that one. Really good piano for the time but had malfunctioning sliders. 75%

All of these unit are sold or given away.

Rhodes 54 - 100% of course even after several f**k ups.

Yamaha CS6x - 100% Does everything I expected and more.

Yamaha P120S - 100% Not very luxurious but the essentials kick butt.

[Rod S]

Originally posted by Superbobus:

Hey Rod, do you really use that piano sound? I mean from the CS6x itself? I guess/hope you have a decent piano next to it because I cen't stand that sound anymore.

 

You're absolutely correct, I can't stand that sound either. I was never able too. I rather they didn't waste the preset memories with it.

 

I meant the main piano sound in the plg card, the StrchGndPf - I think it's pretty good for Rock. I was able to adjust it to compensate for the action.

[Krakit]

No keyboard could ever satisfy me 100%. After all, if anyone could do that, I'd never need to buy another keyboard as long as I live. I'd probably sell all my existing keyboards too.

 

However, I will answer a more simplified version of your question.

 

Have I ever regretted buying one of my keyboards?

 

Yes I have, but not for long. I buy from music stores with at least a 30 day return policy. So, I just get my money back .

 

Carl

[Tedly Nightshade]

Ooh a Rhodes 54? COOL!

 

We got the Kawai MP9000 after years of nothing but Hammond and Rhodes. The keys master was getting aggravated by the limitations and the muddy sound... and we wanted SO to have a nice piano sound!

 

Well the piano sound, like ALL fake piano sounds, ultimately sucks... so we're down to 50%, but nothing other than an excellent acoustic piano can provide that 50%.

 

BUT... we added a vibraphone to the rig, which the keys player plays like another keyboard, often with one hand while the other is on the keys. That adds a good 30%! Takes the edge off no real piano (for stage) in a big way, but of course not completely at all.

 

The organ sound is cool on the MP9000, actually the slow leslie simulation is by far the best I ever heard- I'm sure in part because they sampled a real slightly dirty leslie. The fast sound is ridiculous... and no drawbars. Take off another 20%.

 

Add tricked out XM1 with vintage tube amp and 122, OK we're back up that 20%. Not missing the A100 at all, it's available but unused, even in the studio. Take it out for classical kinda things with it's internal speaker.

 

The wooden keyboard is a total hit, fully convincing, feels like a Rhodes with unreal action. It's the only controller or keyboard we want or need, and the internal electric piano, clavi, and vibes sounds truly rock, as do the best of the fat analog sounding digital onboard effects. It's quite a compliment that the vibes sound gets used (through the Leslies) even with a real vibe right there on stage! And the slow organ

 

So we're up to 80%, but have to take 10% off because it's such a spaghetti mess to set up.

 

And when we can rent a nice piano, that's worth 50% still, so we end up at 120%!

 

Not bad.

[Markyboard]

I got my Andromeda 2 weeks ago. After going through the entire manual page by page I can say I'm at 110% and climbing. This thing does stuff I never dreamed of. And I keep coming up with patches that peg my anxiety meter (thats a good thing). Life is good - real good.

[Dave Pierce]

Well, the honeymoon isn't over yet with my RD-700. I've had it for a week. But boy, do I love that keyboard. So far it has not only lived up to everthing I've asked from it, but I've also stopped carrying a third board. If I had a really good analog or VA board, I'd probably carry it, but for now the RD-700 and the vintage CX-3 are all I need!

 

--Dave

[Superbobus]

You're absolutely correct, I can't stand that sound either. I was never able too. I rather they didn't waste the preset memories with it.

I meant the main piano sound in the plg card, the StrchGndPf - I think it's pretty good for Rock. I was able to adjust it to compensate for the action.

Okay! The CS6x piano sound is like it's in a shredder and comes out sooooo thin! No depth at all. Any PSR keyboard does better!

I guess you're using a controller with weighted keys to play that PLG-pf sound. I don't like playing piano on a synth as much as I don't like to play organ on weighted keys.

Nightshade? COOL name! Yeah, the 54 is a real eye catcher.