Fans of Roland

TC3 · 2024-06-01T01:10:31+00:00

Since Yamaha and Kawai have their own threads already. 🙂 Who all owns and plays Rolands?

Bellyman

Have a Roland RD-2000 that I gig with. Really like it. Smoooooooth action. I did upgrade to the "German Grand Expansion" which adds some nice piano sounds, and I use it extensively.

I also have an old Fantom X8 that still plays great despite being about 20 years old.

Haven't tried Pianoteq yet but wouldn't mind trying it out.

TC3

Bellyman I love my RD-2000. No plans to buy another stage piano unless it just plain breaks down.

klausi6

i own a RD88. i love the synth sounds and the midi capabilities.
i placed it under my desk and use it for some Libraries like NI and Arturia.

Berto

Rd2000 with numerous vst's...as AP sounds are very subpar. Ableton Live 12 to record, GigPerformer 4 for live. Pha50 action very good, not quite excellent though....but the slab is built like a tank! An absolute beast of a controller in the studio or on the stage. Four pedal inputs, two mod wheels, 8 sliders, 8 knobs, and everything is assignable.....it's worth the 50 lbs plus 20 more for the case to lug around. 😎

BartK

I have a RP501R and had a FP50 a few years ago. Roland pianos are very good but I find that the action is a bit loud. Nowadays I have a grand piano and don't practice very often on the Roland.

Bellyman

BartK, my old Fantom X8 action is quite noisy. My new RD-2000 action is very quiet.

Interestingly, some acoustic pianos also have very loud, sometimes annoying action noises.

Whether digital or acoustic, they cover a pretty wide spectrum of noisiness. 🙂

TLH21

I had an F-140R. I liked it best of all the digital instruments that were available to try at the time I bought it. It replaced a much older Roland (HP-1700) that was starting to fail during hot weather. The old Roland was given to a family whose kid was just starting out on piano lessons (full disclosure about the warm weather issue - they were still thrilled with it). The F-140R didn't see as much use when I got an acoustic, although it was very handy to be able to use headphones when working on fingering and tricky sections. I eventually, and with a little regret, sold it when I needed the space for a guest bed.

Stephen_James

I bought an FP10 from Costco in March of this year. It’s the FP10 ACR and it came with a bench, a stand(the black wooden one) and headphones for a little over $700. I just started playing so I was looking for something as economical as possible and the accessories package made it very attractive to me.
It’s a great instrument but it’s very limited in the bells and whistles aspect. No drum machine, no 1/4 inch dedicated output Jack. It uses the headphones out for connecting to an amp or external speakers. It’s not very loud but I’m over that because I mostly play with the headphones anyway. NOBODY wants to listen to a beginner play anything so that’s fine.
The weighted key action was highly recommended for the most realistic feel. Honestly. I don’t know how realistic the feel is but it’s better than the springy key action of a regular keyboard I’ve had and others I have played at other times.

This FP10 is a very standard, no frills keyboard that is 100% suffice to learning how to play piano. I cannot think of ANY reason that it isn’t a perfect beginner piano that won’t distract a beginner with anything more than necessary at their fingertips.

Jazzpunk

FP-90X owner here. Play it mainly with Native Instrument’s Noire for jazz and VI Labs Modern U for blues. Very enjoyable experience!

hebele

Bellyman action loudness was a top priority for me 🙂 I can't be waking people up with action clicks/clacks. Fortunately PHA4 is quieter than I've expected. Nice to hear that PHA50 is also quiet.

TC3

I see the RD-2000 is nice and cheap (relatively speaking ... ) at Sweetwater right now:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RD2000--roland-rd-2000-88-key-stage-piano

Probably in advance of a new model coming out, but it's such a damn good stage piano, it's not a terrible idea to buy one ... 🙂

Bellyman

TC3, that is cheaper. Never know what they might have comin' out. Guess we'll see.

One thing I've appreciated about Sweetwater, if ya call 'em and talk to 'em on the phone, especially if you're a repeat customer, they can almost always work some kind of a "deal" or "discount" for you, I've had them throw something cheap I wanted in for free at times when I was ordering something a bit more expensive. A person can easily order online, but the discounts seem to happen when calling on the phone. I hate talking on the phone but when it comes to Sweetwater, I'll call.

Also, my wife likes finding the candy in the boxes when they come! LOL! 😃

TC3

Bellyman Laffy Taffy is the best! 😃

johnstaf

Roland FP90 here. I really like the PHA50 action. I don't use the internal sounds.

TC3

I was in a music shop today tobuy a bass. guitar strap and I popped into the keyboard room for a minute to check out some of the stage pianos. Several or them were on the wall one above the other, close so it was hard t see what the board was without looking down between them. I went through the actions thinking "OK, bad, pretty good, so-so ... hey, this one is pretty darn good, what is it?" It was a Roland, naturally. 😃

Pallas

TC3 I think I'll have to go try a Roland!

TC3

As an owner of the RD-2000, I was interested when I heard the RD-2000 EX is out. Turns out it's the same physical board with a software upgrade, including some new V-Pianos. I already bought the German Concert piano upgrade and was pleased to see that entitled me to a coupon for the rest of the upgrade, which one can purchase and download from the Roland Cloud. Doing that now!

TC3

Boy, these directions are TERRIBLE ... I think I'm figuring it out. Will report back! 😃

Bellyman

Thanks for the thoughts! This is on my list of things I want to accomplish when I have the time to sit and do it. I definitely appreciate the coupon from Roland, though.

Bellyman

Hey TC, if you don't mind me asking...

As another RD-2000 owner, maybe you have some thoughts. I love my RD-2000, no question, it's a great keyboard for me. But I am kinda thinking towards another lighter weight keyboard, "throw it in the car and go" kind of thing, maybe even onboard speakers. But having a decent action, light weight, and even speakers is a pretty tall order. Any suggestions?

Have been considering maybe a Kawai ES920. But there might be others more worthy. (?) Lots say get the MP7 instead, more features,... but... no speakers, which means I gotta carry them around in addition. I'm mostly just piano, sometimes adding some strings. I rarely use anything else at all for sounds.

My old Casio (PX-560) is gettin' real tired, plus, it has a crappy keyboard, way light touch, "clickly / noisy". And I keep wondering when it's gonna implode on me at a rehearsal.

Was just curious, especially from another RD-2000 owner. Not wanting to replace it. Only add a little brother to the family. 🙂

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