Considering upgrade to FR-8 - opinions?

[joden]

I am seriously contemplating moving up from the FR4 to the FR8. I've read the specs and glanced at the manual, however I'd like to get some "real-world" opinions from folks who have made such a jump.

Was it worth it?
Did the extra functions and capabilities make a big difference?

And so on....

The current Fr4 I am leasing, but I can buy it for $3500 (AUD) the FR8 I can get for $7500 (AUD) so it is a MAJOR jump in price, albeit both are used.
Best price I can get for a new one is about $8400.
The used one I am looking at is about 2 years old....do these Roland FR series instruments hold up well over time?
I've noticed a few squeaks and vibrations/rattles on this FR 4 which I think is about 3-4 years old.

Please feel free to air honest opinions, good or bad. I'd like to hear both

thanks

D

 

[Jibberin]

It seems a huge amount of cash for basically the same machine with a few extra notes and added weight. I’ve no experience of the 4 but have owned an 8 for 4 years or so with no problems. Played approx 1hour per day during this period. Prior to the 8 I owned a 7 which gave seamless service for a decade or so. If the Roland sounds arn’t to your liking or required augmenting then a sound module might fit the bill and still leave you quids in.

 

[joden]

Thanks - it's not the sounds really (although I do have some gripes about some of them) it is more the extra control it offers...chin buttons, the bar on the right, ability to layer all three sounds - have two orchestra sounds (which would ameliorate somewhat the keyboard sounds by allowing layering). haha, and the number of times I need that high A surprised me.

As you say ity is a large amount of cash difference so it is a big decision!

 

[Tom]

You can always buy the Mathis or Noel sounds if you need them. It is NOT an acoustic accordion and you will NEVER get an acoustic feel or sounds. Period. See "electric versus acoustic guitar." You have the money, the question is will you actually use the additional features or want a smaller, lighter accordion.

 

[Chris Laarman]

You can always buy the Mathis or Noel sounds if you need them. It is NOT an acoustic accordion and you will NEVER get an acoustic feel. Period. See "electric versus acoustic guitar." You have the money, the question is will you actually use the additional features or want a smaller, lighter accordion.

I can see it your way. But please accept from me, that "electric versus acoustic guitar" is not as clear-cut as you seem to think. (Discussing that here would be too far off-topic.)

 

[Tom]

Thanks Chris, I'd be interested to hear your take on it...

 

[joden]

You can always buy the Mathis or Noel sounds if you need them. It is NOT an acoustic accordion and you will NEVER get an acoustic feel or sounds. Period. See "electric versus acoustic guitar." You have the money, the question is will you actually use the additional features or want a smaller, lighter accordion.

Yes I have the Noel sounds...a good set, although not a lot of the stuff I need. The accordion based UPGs are good though!
TBH, the OP is not about acoustic -v- digital anything??

Re your last sentence - I do setup for my gigs with some rather detailed arrangements (including MIDI), hence the need for those extra features (operational)....just need to weigh up the cost factor/real-world usage. Hence the REAL purpose of the OP (as written) - to gauge how other folks perceive and use them.

 

[John M]

If you can swing the cost, I don't think you will be disappointed especially in the future when you will forget about the cost. I like the extra features of the 8X. I looked at the exchange rate and your 8X [$7500 (AUD)] would be about $5,000.00 US dollars. This is a good price if the accordion is in good condition and not all "banged up and scratched".

John M.

 

[joden]

If you can swing the cost, I don't think you will be disappointed especially in the future when you will forget about the cost. I like the extra features of the 8X. I looked at the exchange rate and your 8X [$7500 (AUD)] would be about $5,000.00 US dollars. This is a good price if the accordion is in good condition and not all "banged up and scratched".

John M.

Cool, thx John
It also comes with a spare battery - only downside is it is red

 

[joden]

One other advantage I think, is apparently you can have up to 1500 user programs on the 8...and for someone who has a lot of (well most really) song based setups, having that many will be very useful.

Will save a lot of loading "UPG sets" (as in playlists) from the USB drv, although that method is still workable, albeit not as well for dynamic playing. IE no pre-determined setlist.

 

[JerryPH]

One other advantage I think, is apparently you can have up to 1500 user programs on the 8...and for someone who has a lot of (well most really) song based setups, having that many will be very useful.

Will save a lot of loading "UPG sets" (as in playlists) from the USB drv, although that method is still workable, albeit not as well for dynamic playing. IE no pre-determined setlist.

No, it’s actually 2800… 1400 in sets and 1400 in UPG. Plus if one was conceivably so inclined, you could place two or three thousand UPGs on a USB stick and in a matter of 2 minutes or less load another UPG that holds another 1400 custom programmed sounds (times three thousand…. lol) which is more than you would ever play in a single set, even if you used 14 registers per song (in my life I have NEVER played 100 songs back to back).

I am sure the 4x can do the same.

To get a 4x or 8X… it’s 99% personal choice. My take is I research the HECK out of anything before I make a serious purchase, I never experience buyer’s remorse. I find I base my decision on my budget and aim for the highest most expensive model that meets MY needs. If it is way out of budget, I re-think or save longer before making a purchase… I NEVER go in to debt for a hobby. You will also note that I never ask someone else what I should buy… how can anyone BUT me know what my needs are??

For me the 8X was my best choice. Most effects, most RH keys, most configurable, most MIDI in-outs and so on. I was also keenly aware of what the downsides of a v-accordion were well before I even strapped the 8X on for the first time… my expectations were realistic and I am super happy with the 8X.

I’ll never play free bass on the 8X, except for access to effects, I generally avoid classical music on the 8X… both because I have a nice 36 pound MORINO that serves my Free Bass and classical needs better. Does that mean that the 8X is crap with classical music? No, but it doesn’t meet MY needs for that genre.

 

[Tom]

I went with the 4x after serious consideration. I was sold on the smaller size/weight and price. Seemed like it had plenty of keys and features for my needs. I'm not dissapointed. I'll never need even 100 upgs, never mind 3000. My repertoire is such that 37 treble keys are fine enough, thank you, and I'm not getting any younger. I already bought a 37 key acoustic because my full sized was too much to stand and play for even an hour.

 

[JerryPH]

Weight savings and lower cost are the big positives of the 4X. 37 vs 45 keys, no pressure sensitive keys, single port for MIDI in/out and lower quality screen are the big negatives of the 4X. The questions everyone needs to ask themselves is... are these negatives/positives important to you?

These are all things, incidentally, that are in the free PDF online manuals.

 

[joden]

Yes thanks Jerry - VERY well aware of the online resources, having viewed most of them!!...I' not asking for anyone to make a decision for me, as I do a lot of research. It is just interesting to get other views.

Firstly, SETS and UPGS' are totally different and THAT is attributable to both Richard Noel and Dale Mathis! Similar concepts but different objectives and operation. FWIW, I agree with their views.

I guess you did not understand what I meant by "dynamic" playing of song rep. Although if you are content with your set 45 songs day in day out, then good for you, who am I to say nay
I often go to a gig with no playlist in mind and rather leave it to what the audience seems to be in the mood for. I have never played more than a hundred at one time, but that is NOT the point.
Being able to dynamically (randomly) select a tune (that maybe is # 275) would require a loading of an alternate UPG or UPA file, or indeed drilling down into a list of UPGs on the FR4, not conducive to continuity at a show.

I link all my charts (iPad) to the song setups on my instrument so when a chart is loaded, the song setup is loaded on the device/s at the same time.

Further, I play in several bands (even a 50's R+R band) and this instrument needs to cover a lot of bases. Not just Sunday afternoon polkas at the local old folks centre. Hence the need for other quality orchestral instruments and many different setups. I may or may not go back to my freebass (or so called "classical") roots (having won a championship or two in my youth) - I WILL at some point being using the Freebass mode for playing basslines (assuming I can get the pitching needed on either the 4 or 8) for the jazz rep.
But at this stage it is all prep and decision making. And that, along with the others above, is the reason I am leasing the FR4 and have not committed to buying

Lots of research, which includes garnering opinions on "real-world" usage is where I am at the moment - along with a few baseline gigs.

 

[Tom]

Yes thanks Jerry - VERY well aware of the online resources, having viewed most of them!!...I' not asking for anyone to make a decision for me, as I do a lot of research. It is just interesting to get other views.

Firstly, SETS and UPGS' are totally different and THAT is attributable to both Richard Noel and Dale Mathis! Similar concepts but different objectives and operation. FWIW, I agree with their views.

I guess you did not understand what I meant by "dynamic" playing of song rep. Although if you are content with your set 45 songs day in day out, then good for you, who am I to say nay
I often go to a gig with no playlist in mind and rather leave it to what the audience seems to be in the mood for. I have never played more than a hundred at one time, but that is NOT the point.
Being able to dynamically (randomly) select a tune (that maybe is # 275) would require a loading of an alternate UPG or UPA file, or indeed drilling down into a list of UPGs on the FR4, not conducive to continuity at a show.

I link all my charts (iPad) to the song setups on my instrument so when a chart is loaded, the song setup is loaded on the device/s at the same time.

Further, I play in several bands (even a 50's R+R band) and this instrument needs to cover a lot of bases. Not just Sunday afternoon polkas at the local old folks centre. Hence the need for other quality orchestral instruments and many different setups. I may or may not go back to my freebass (or so called "classical") roots (having won a championship or two in my youth) - I WILL at some point being using the Freebass mode for playing basslines (assuming I can get the pitching needed on either the 4 or 8) for the jazz rep.
But at this stage it is all prep and decision making. And that, along with the others above, is the reason I am leasing the FR4 and have not committed to buying

Lots of research, which includes garnering opinions on "real-world" usage is where I am at the moment - along with a few baseline gigs.

Yeah, there's no question about it, you need the 8x. Good luck and great music to you!

 

[joden]

Yeah, there's no question about it, you need the 8x. Good luck and great music to you!

After another chat to a dealer m8, seem I MIGHT be able to get a new one (albeit a showroom model) but with full warranty for the same price. So yeah, mebbe the pieces are all starting to fit

 

[JerryPH]

After another chat to a dealer m8, seem I MIGHT be able to get a new one (albeit a showroom model) but with full warranty for the same price. So yeah, mebbe the pieces are all starting to fit

There you go... a little luck never hurts!

"I link all my charts (iPad) to the song setups on my instrument so when a chart is loaded, the song setup is loaded on the device/s at the same time."

I've got that setup and working all nice and wireless for the last year or so... its INVALUABLE to a gigging musician.



Though my song collection is likely not as extensive as yours (perhaps only a couple thousand songs), I could not see NOT using it on a paid gig.

 

[joden]

I've just discovered the FR8 has no audio input jack as does the Fr-4? Wonder why they left it off on the $10k (RRP-MSRP) version?

 

[joden]

Thanks for the vid Jerry. Yep I use the iPad the same way...been doing it a few years now...could never go back to a manual system haha! I can use a Widi-Master for wireless midi, but I'd be interested in what you are using for your wi-fi audio...

About 2000 is my "rotating" rep - I also sight read very well, so occasionally I just open a Real Book (pdf version) at a gig and just pick random tunes. Same for the busker books. hahaha, keeps you on your toes for sure!!

 

[JerryPH]

I've just discovered the FR8 has no audio input jack as does the Fr-4? Wonder why they left it off on the $10k (RRP-MSRP) version?

Because the 4X came out a few years after the 8X, I suppose.