And it looks like it's only $1000 less than their flagship Fisa. $7000. That's an awful lot of cash for a mid-size digital accordion with reduced feature sets. I would only consider the full-size for that relatively marginal difference in price, but I understand your use case.
Especially for the CBA version the size difference is important because the full-size version is really too large for a CBA. The compact version appears to have a better size. Of course real-world hands-on experience will be needed...
Sounds like you’re curious enough to try one, which brings up an important question: Are there dealers in your area who keep a demonstrator model on hand?
I'm not in a hurry, but I am going to be at the World Music Festival in Innsbruck (May 29 - June 1). That's a huge competition for accordion ensembles and orchestras. There are always demos and information and sales booths from major accordion vendors. I expect there to be demos by Korg and chances to try some hands-on.
I was thinking, at first, that comparing the Fisa Suprema to the Fisa Suprema C is something like comparing the Roland FR-8x to the 4x. But that’s not really fair.
Have you really looked at the info from Korg? The Korg Suprema C in PA version has a 37 key keyboard, just like the FR4x. However, the Korg goes F to F whereas the Roland goes G to G. The Suprema C is most useful in its CBA version because it has the same keyboard as the full-size one (92 buttons). The same also holds true for the Roland CBA versions.
Thanks for pointing that out.
Late to the party, but... I'm with Paul on this one. The case for an digital accordion shares a lot with the case for an digital piano, gizmos not withstanding:Just my opinion, but I've said this for a very long time... if you want an acoustic... use an acoustic. This is very specifically made to be a devil-do-all electronic gizmo, in this case, an even slightly smaller one.
Likewise, an accordion that have different musette tunings on a whim, cassotto or not, etc., is pretty handy.
You are preaching to the choir on that Jeff, but for all the benefits, it's still not quite there with the sound. I say it often, I am blessed not just with the best acoustics but a "former king" of the digital world, I don't have to settle, I get to enjoy both and understand and accept the advantages and limitations of both.Late to the party, but... I'm with Paul on this one. The case for an digital accordion shares a lot with the case for an digital piano, gizmos not withstanding:
I'd be totally fine with a digital accordion that was just an accordion. That's all I need one to be. Although since it's all a matter of software, that probably wouldn't change the price much.
- Never needs tuning (but can be easily tuned to match another instrument that does!)
- Emulates not just one acoustic instrument, but several. My Yamaha P-515 models both a Yamaha CFX and a Bösendorfer Imperial, which really saves room in the house.
- Can be played silently, with headphones
- Orders of magnitude easier to deal with in a live, amplified situation. That's the big one for me. No mics, no feedback, no problems! This is also the reason why people like Elton John, etc., who can afford to have a real piano brought in, tuned, and miked up for a concert, still go with a digital piano in a fake piano cabinet.
Looks like 55 treble notes, compared to 37 in the piano version! Quite a difference. Similar to the Roland FR-3x and FR-4x.Yup, "C" for "compact".
The button version really seems to benefit the most with less compromises moving to the smaller size than the PA.
Korg/Dexibel do seem to be taking a lot of the cues from the Roland line indeed!
And the 55 notes start with C in the C-system version (with the lowest C only on the 4rd row however).
Yeah, I'd say we're about where we were in the '90s with digital pianos like the Roland RD-300: You can tell it's fake if you listen closely, and you certainly wouldn't want to do a solo classical recording using one. But on a stage, with a band, over the PA, it will do the job quite nicely.You are preaching to the choir on that Jeff, but for all the benefits, it's still not quite there with the sound. I say it often, I am blessed not just with the best acoustics but a "former king" of the digital world, I don't have to settle, I get to enjoy both and understand and accept the advantages and limitations of both.
Don't hold your breath...
It would be nice, but I doubt it is going to happen.
Best of luck! I'm waiting for Korg to show up at the World Music Festival in Innsbruck at the end of May. (That's a large competition for accordion ensembles and orchestras.) I want to see, hear and hopefully also try a Fisa Compact before ordering one.
