contemplating a midi monster

[TW]

I'm very happy for you, and trust all will remain well with your analogue versions.

I just prefer the digital ones with the many variations and sound adjustments available within the same instrument - together with transposition, free base (if you are adventurous) and so on...

Each to his/her own.

 

[jarvo]

We all started out playing so nicely !....... I honestly believe that you can be happy with both .....I play electric and acoustic versions of guitar,piano and mandolin .....and each type suits and plays different music ....well differently.......(I cannot imagine how "Voodoo Chile" will sound on an electric Mandolin with wah Pedal attached ....but this afternoon I am going to give it a go.......Just a minute.....VOODOO CHILE :twisted: .............JIMI HENDRIX :twisted: .....BLUES ROCK :mrgreen: ............no voices of dissent,dischord or dismay..............truly we are all playing together nicely.. {} .....)


Anyway I digress.........I want a Roland for reasons stated earlier.....Silent practice.......the multitude of Accordion Voices available.....and if required, though not a priority the other voices available.........power packs will always be a consideration,but as long as you can bang it into the mains then just put a bloody great extension lead on it ,that should do for gigging ...........and if not appreciated by the audience I can commit hari kari by electrocuting meself after....... :mrgreen:

I wil;l always enjoy the acoustics though I viciously resent the overblown prices thaat are charged but hey-ho I suppose in a dwindling market the owners and builders have to make a living.............which is why it is vital that we improve the image of this wheezing ,bellowy box of bits that we all love.....whatever powers it :tup:

 

[Adam-T]

I have no issues whatsoever with Digital Accordions as a genre, I only have an issue with Ripoff prices of limited lifespan dedicated li-ion batteries one model series in the roland range uses - as I said, avoid it by avoiding the 7 series, the rest use AAs ......

 

[Glenn]

.....always enjoy the acoustics though I viciously resent the overblown prices thaat are charged but hey-ho I suppose in a dwindling market the owners and builders have to make a living.............which is why it is vital that we improve the image of this wheezing ,bellowy box of bits that we all love.....whatever powers it

Do you think we will have to maintain the lifestyle of the worlds accordion makers single handedly?
I do concur though, if we can bring fun and music using the accordion more often they will eventually become more and more fashionable.

Its a sad thing but the first accordion I bought was from a guy that played accordion for years at wedding and parties for a living but decided to sell his collection off because everyone wanted an electric keyboard today. He pointed towards a weedy Roland keyboard and smiled. I winced and bought an accordion....

 

[Johnathan]

I have played both acoustic accordions (Excelsior, Beltuna, Hohner) and a Roland FR3S (which is for sale as it is a piano accordion and I have changed over to Chromatic Button Accordions)

The FR3S is a full 37 key, 120 bass accordion and a more convenient midi controller than the FR7 as it has the midi connection on the accordion. However it only ways 8.3kg (18lb. 4 oz.) so its no monster.

The most common criticism of the Roland's is the bellows action, but this usually comes from people who are trying out the Roland for the first time. They expect it to duplicate that of an acoustic accordion when in fairness they should expect it to duplicate an acoustic accordion with midi fitted. As the Roland V Accordions have no reeds the air flow is the same no matter how many keys you depress. This to me is similar to my Beltuna Euro IV when I activate the bass midi register. This cuts off air flow to the bass side of the instrument so that the bass reeds will not sound when midi bass is in use. Then it does not matter how many bass keys you press, the air flow is unaffected.

When the First Rolands came out - the FR7 and FR5 (FR7 without speakers) there was no means of adjusting the amount of air flow through the instrument. Then when the FR3S came out (I think there was also an FR3 which was the same as the FR3S but without internal speakers) they introduced an air flow adjustment that allowed you to adjust the amount of air flow. So with an FR3S, and all the later models you can adjust the air flow depending on your preference. This is coupled with a setting on the V Accordion for bellows sensitivity so with a little trying out of different combinations you can soon set up the instrument to your taste.

If you look in on the Roland user group on Yahoo you will find that after a short time people adjust to the action of the Roland and even come to prefer it. The latest Roland the FR8X is the new top of the range instrument, replacing the FR7X and it comes with a new stepper motor controlled valve that adjusts the bellows air flow to match the keys pressed and the reeds used. Many Roland users on the forum are suggesting that this will be unnecessary and that they will shut it off. For many Roland users on the forum the Roland action is considered superior to an acoustic accordion. You can get into some really heated debates on this.

The bottom line is you won't know until you try it, and you will need to give it a while to get used to it.

Another nice feature of the FR3S is that it uses AA batteries. This means you can use rechargeable batteries. I had two sets of rechargeable batteries that I used alternately and they lasted me over 3 years. So battery costs are low and you will never be locked in to a single supplier or be in the situation where the battery is no longer available.

I will be putting the Roland up in the for sale section over the next few days.

In brief it is in full working order, bought from new, has had light use and I am looking for £799 for it. It is the Grey model and comes with all the original extras (manual, power supply, cloth, spare bass buttons) and a gig bag.

If any one is interested in finding out more please feel free to contact me, I will try to get more details posted in the next few days in the for sale section.

Kind regards

Johnathan

 

[goldtopia]

I had a Roland 3S. I sold it because the stiff bellows, even with adjustment of the bellows curve it made my left arm ache. I liked the orchestral instruments though it did sound electronic. Also it was very light. I would have kept it if the bellows were easier. The reviews on the new Roland 8X is very favourable. It seems they have made great improvements to sound quality and response with the bellows and the bellows (stiff) movement. They are about £4,000. No second hand ones about yet.

 

[Soulsaver]

I had a Roland 3S. I sold it because the stiff bellows, even with adjustment of the bellows curve it made my left arm ache. I liked the orchestral instruments though it did sound electronic. Also it was very light. I would have kept it if the bellows were easier. The reviews on the new Roland 8X is very favourable. It seems they have made great improvements to sound quality and response with the bellows and the bellows (stiff) movement. They are about £4,000. No second hand ones about yet.

I think its worth a thread by itself - Fr8 - is it dedicated battery & charger - same as FR7?

 

[goldtopia]

The FR8 can be played with mains or the internal battery which I think now has a longer battery life.

 

[JIM D.]

The new FR-8 will use the same 24 volt nimh battery as the FR-7 and FR-7x and the battery life will remain the same. The new FR-8 will not require the large foot pedal and will use a small power supply and charger similar to a laptop power supply. JIM D.

 

[jarvo]

I can now contemplate a " midi monster " close up and personal as I view the latest acquisition to the Jarvis Accordion Family sat over by it's own personal power point as it awaits it's feed of batteries which are winging their way through the mail as we type......it's all connected and strapped up, headphones in and ready to go. The headphone socket is what proved to be the clincher, as after a warm day, open windows and a slightly unrestrained 5- ish hour long
pracky aktiss session the neighbours asked my wife as she passed them on her return from work,if perhaps I could "keep it down a little" as they were sat outside and it had been going on ALL day"

I think that they were very nice about. ~They also probably have a good point..

Though they could have come round themselves and asked. :roll:

So next day was spent trying to play quietly ....which does not lead to great fluidity at the moment ,apart from the buckets of sweat what with playing with all the doors and windows closed and a monumental feeling of guilt eventually I stopped and picked up the Uke.....which is much quieter....though no less cacophonous in my sticky mitts.......

Consequently an agreement was made with the goodwife that what was needed was a form of "stealth accordion".

So on the back of this thread, and as a very nice sort of outcome for me and the neighbours a brand new FR1X nestles as previously described........the 3 was really tempting though unfortunately too many zorgs,ackers or beans.....pounds even.

Now I suppose I should really play it !

:ch

 

[Glenn]

Consequently an agreement was made with the goodwife that what was needed was a form of stealth accordion.

That is indeed what I call a good wife.
Can I borrow her next time Im in an accordion shop?

 

[jarvo]

yup,no problem.....

 

[Soulsaver]

Is there no mains tranformer power supply with the fr1x?

 

[jarvo]

Is there no mains tranformer power supply with the fr1x?

Oh yes......I have used it with that, but I like to move about and trailing wires are not conducive to this .........because they trail right down in front ....not like a leccy guitar lead which leads off to the side and behind you.......~I no doubt will find a way to keep the leads clear of all limbs in the near future....currently I am having too much fun frowning at the near incomprehensible manual...........manuals about menu driven equipment are always written by people who know how to use it who forget that their target audience are those who dont know how to use it......so until that epiphany moment when you finally click with the psyche of the author the house reverberates to roars of NO IT BLOODY WELL DOESNT....until you suss out that, actually, when done properly it bloody well does .............so far I have switched it on ....friendly little blue light.......worked out that each of three register/coupler buttons has four sounds and the fourth two........and that if you use the set button you can increase this fourfold ....and then went for a lie down with a damp facecloth in a darkened room........more bulletins as events warrant :hb :ugeek: {} :b

 

[Soulsaver]

I know what you mean - both the manual AND the wires - I dont like the earphone wire either, it always seem to have snagged on something and distracts my concentration. However I have found I can practice without phones if I turn the volume down, at least getting the tune 'into the fingers' - adding volume and bellows to follow, on an acoustic.
Did you buy yours with the intention of 'going digital'? Or just for near silent practice? I'm firmly in the latter camp and haven't change now I have one (FR3s).
I've just had some lunch and now I'm going to practice with it quietly outside in the (rare here) sunshine

PS How many AA batteries? Rechargeables?

 

[jarvo]

Well I already have a Yamaha Keyboard , although I use it like a piano so I am not too hung up on the whole
digi v acoustic thing....I believe that there is a place and music for both....I do like the responsiveness of the keyboard.......not so much the sensitivity but the feel....the push back if you like.....that makes my piano sausages feel a little at home......

the sound is clean and there is not the slighy emphasemic wheezing that comes from my two acoustics ,but hey they were £120 and £499 respectively Weltmeister Stella 60 and Scandalli 80, isuppose if you start getting into the near couple of grand for a good box then the qualities will improve.......the silent,or adjustable volume is what swung it for the wifey and the need for her to keep in with our new environment and not annoy the nerighbours....an acoustic played quietly is a hard discipline to maintain at the moment and even quietly played they still are loud !

8 x Nimh batteries required so I splurged out about 50 sovs on 16 duracells and an 8 x batt charger,that way I should always have mobility when required.............

The head phones give a better sound than the onboard speakers.......though that is generally true as a rule anyway.......which is why you should never edit or master by headphones alone.....I am tempted to get a keyboard amp which will double as an acoustic guitar amp as well......about 89 to 150 beans.........but then I'll have to be good and do a lot of washing up and drying as well as cook the dinners......

 

[Soulsaver]

I have no issues with the digital thing - just prefer the sound & response of an acoustic - for now. I'll see how it goes, but, as I say its acoustic it is for now.

 

[JIM D.]

The FR-3x and FR-3xb models use 10 rechargeable "AA" batteries (12 VOLT) and are not provided by Roland. There are however some dealers that provide them with a purchase. I offer a FR-3x with a set of rechargeable "AA"'s with charger, A Gig Bag, All available software installed and free lessons and workshops for $3495.00 USD -- JIM D.

 

[lasvegascolonel]

Just got a quote from a dealer for the FR7X and FR8X battery, since they don't seem to be available on the battery store websites....it was $250, in the UK I saw it cheaper, even with shipping and their 20% Value Added Tax. Roland's manual says these batteries will take "up to 300 charges" before replacement. At that price, that's a lot more expensive than getting your acoustic serviced every other year. Of course, if a person is willing to spend thousands of dollars (or pounds) for an FR7X or 8X, battery cost may not be important, but the rechargeable AA system in the other models is ideal. This would make me think twice about getting those higher end models, unless Roland could guarantee those batteries would be around. It also might be more difficult to sell these models as used V accordions if batteries are difficult to find. I was told even running on house current (A/C or mains) requires the batteries to be installed as the current runs through the batteries, like a cord/cordless electric shaver. Perhaps Roland will go back to the low cost, easy-to-obtain AA battery system.

 

[JIM D.]

All the Roland models can be run on A/C house current without the batteries installed. I had an FR-7 for six years and never had to replace the battery pack. The gent I sold it to four years ago is still using the same battery pack. The FR-5, FR-7, FR7x, and the new FR8x all use the same battery pack. JIM D.