Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    
    	As noted elsewhere, I procrastinated the same question for a
    long time.  I finally went for a modular set up for, among other
    reasons:-
    
    	a)	I think there isn't much more price erosion to be had
    on the "mechanicals".  The KX 88 has been around long enough to
    be at the lowest price its likely to get to.  Well, until it gets
    superceded.
    
    	b)	There seems to be a concensus in this conference that
    the KX 88 is one of the (if not THE) best keyboards.  
    
    	c)	I believe that tone generators will continue to improve
    for several years.  This will either come as more for the same $$$s
    or the same for less $$$s, I suspect the former. 
    
    	d)	The FB-01 is a pretty decent unit.  OK, the TX81Z is
    more flexible, it also costs more, and until recently was difficult
    to get.  The biggest sound improvement for the foreseable future
    will come from improved playing (see, got m'self some confidence
    too).  The next step is = ~ 5 x  the FB 01 price, clearly not
    justifiable in my case.
    
    	e)	I wanted to keep the initial expenditure down.

    	f)	For the time being at least, I want to concentrate on
    learning to play (specifically on a weighted keyboard) better, and
    leave the technology alone.

    	g)	My stereo isn't the greatest, but my speakers are probably
    better than I would have got built into a home piano unit.  They
    also happen to be just about the right height to use as pedestals,
    so the keyboard doesn't really take up any house space.  Aww, you
    could argue about them no longer being the right distance apart
    for good stereo separation, but its good enough.


    	Reg
        

RE < Note 763.1 by EUREKA::REG_B "Moutain Man(iac)" >

	Just how much are KX88's going for these days?

also check the note titled "The new electronic pianos" elsewhere in 
this file

    re .2	I paid $1250 for the KX 88, its not clear how much I
    paid for the FB 01, he said I was getting it for $315 and he would
    throw in the audio cables.  $1565 to "get started" sounded good
    so I nodded, I looked at the sales slip later and the FB was shown
    at $300, the cables at $15.  Maybe there's some weird policy of
    nothing goes for nothing ?, anyway I'm happy.
    
    	Reg
    
    (now if I can just find middle C,  I'll be all set)
    

    
    The 8 voice limit of the fb01 renders it unsuitable for
    serious traditional piano work. 
    
    The kx88 is nice but a bit sluggish action on the way up.
    The rolands are quick but still a little heavy.
    But weve been over this before. Actions are personal.
    Get one you like.
    
    The internals of the roland HP series are Msk-20 piano
    derivatives and produce  good quality, realistic sounds.    

    Your ears (and fingers) may differ, but I was impressed
    by the HP series all-round. 
    
    Check the RD-200 and RD-300 as well. You can save some
    money if you dont have to have an amp built in.
    
    ron
         

    I agree with Juan and disagree with Reg.
    
    The sounds in the Fb01 are dismal compared to the Roland piano
    architecture products.
    
    The RD200/300 might be a cool, lower-priced alternative, if you
    have a stereo amp.
    
    Re the original note: the Harpsichord sound is, at least on the
    MKS20, a little bit velocity sensitive, giving a teensy-weensy
    bit of dynamic expression. It also obeys the sustain pedal, giving
    people like me with poor fingering a bit'o'help.
    
    I've had an MKS20 for over a year now and I'm still quite happy
    with it. On tape it's functionally identical to whatever instrument
    it's set on.
    
    karl

    I'm real happy with whatever incarnation of the MKS-20 is in my
    RD-300.
    
    I agree with Karl about the sounds: all the sounds it claims to
    do are very convincing on tape.
    
    My RD-300 has 8 preset sounds:
    
    	o 3 piano sounds
    	o Harpsichord
     	o Clavinet (you even get the classic clav "bounce" when you
          hit it hard)
    	o Vibraphone (I haven't found this too useful)
    	o Electric Piano I (best Rhodes imitation I've heard.  Add a
           	little (builtin) chorus and a small amount of (builtin)
    		tremelo and what you get is cool enough to play keyboards
    		for Larry Carlton.   This is the sound I've fallen in
    		love with).
    	o Electric Piano II - This might have been intended to sound
    		like a wurlitzer electric piano but its not clear. 
    		Anyway, it's a much "sharper" electric piano sound
    		which is probably better than the other sound for
    		accentuating rhythms, etc.
    
    I often combine these sounds with similar sounds on my ESQ-1.
    
    	db

    Re: .5
    
    While I make not qualms about the sound of the FB-01 not being as
    good something like the MKS-20, you can hook two FB-01's together
    to get 16-note polyphonic, using the odd/even note splitting
    capability.  I thnk this feature is also in the TX81Z, which would
    yield better quality sound than the FB-01 (still no where near the
    MKS-20, however).
    
    						-Dave

    
    agree. In fact *some* of us have 2-fb01s, and still
    
    bought a mks20....;')
    
    Enough. They are different beasts. Let me get a plug in
    
    for the Roland S-50 acoustic piano sample here. 
    
    Go hear it.
    
    ron
    

    After testing  sampled pianos, as Korg SG-1D, Yamaha CLP 50, I am
    convinced the Roland HP 4500 is the best value for money. The sounds
    are fantastic, especially the acoustic piano #1, even if the keyboard
    is too light for someone who used to play mechanical pianos.
    Just a few more details: it weights 30 kgs or so, and is quite big
    for our poor small european cars. If you want to play it on stage
    or have it with you wherever you go, be physical and buy a truck!

For a LOT less money, you can get the Hp-3000, which I believe is 
identical excepting internal amplifier, speakers, and grade of 
imitation walnut casing - back last fall they were going for <$2K

    Acton Music Center has the HP-5600 for around $3K, and the HP-4500
    for around $2K.  I thought both were excellent machines, but the
    5600, with a more powerful amp and larger under-the-keyboard speakers
    sounded much better.
    
    The 4500 has the capability of using the left pedal for soft or
    sustenuto, and the right pedal for sustain or bass sustain.  The
    5600 seemed to only allow soft and sustain functions, which kind
    of surprised me. 

    Beware, Roland's HP line won't have the same midi-controller
    capabilities as the EP line.  I think the EP-50 equivalent (HP-100?)
    lacked the program change.  That may be common up the line.
    
    						-Dave