Roland FR-3s

[nathen]

I picked up my mint-condition FR-3s on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas day my lovely wife announced that it was a Christmas present from her. Yup, miracles do happen. I absolutely love it. Especially since I've basically been unable to play for quite a while because of thin walls and sensitive neighbours. I really like playing late at night which I can't since moving here, but now I can play in the wee hours of the morning, which I often do.

With the headphones on, the sound is out of this world. The speakers however, just don't come near the total experience of the headphones. I'm wondering what would be the minimum amp I would need to get near this sound when I force myself on an unsuspecting public in the future? Of course, with a wireless adapter I could use an existing set up wherever I went if they had one. But it is good to have one your own.

Someone mentioned that the great bass sound wasn't reflected in the bass chords. I also found this, but when I altered the bass reed growl in the parameters from standard to +20 it solved the issue. Now I have this tiger growling in the bass daring me to run with it.

I noticed that the FR8x has a nice chrome grill wheras the 3x doesn't. Pity, because if it did I'd get one, drill some holes and put it on my 3s! Perhaps there's an a way to trim that 8x grill and fit it on a 3s, or is that just wishful thinking! Or, maybe there's an after-market accessory company dealing in this sort of thing that I don't know about, like there is with cars. I know, dream on...

The bellows will take some getting used to, but I've got time to toughen up. When I started to play the clarinet, lip fade was really painful until the lip muscles strengthened to be able to keep upgrading the reed quality, until I eventually got to a professional stiff reed and could play great sounding notes.
Are the bellows really that much improved on the 3x? Anyway, that's really academic as I'm going to dive into playing my box as is.

I hope anyone reading this post who is considering a Roland V will be encouraged by me as a newcomer to this instrument, to go out and get one.

nathen

 

[JIM D.]

Although I repair and sell Roland products I personally dont care for their line of keyboard amps as they are very heavy for their size and the retail prices are high. By all means look for a keyboard or bass amp and stay away from guitar amps as they are high impedance and the Roland requires a low impedance amp to amplify its sounds properly. A unit like a small Peavy keyboard amp such as this one should suit you just fine --http://www.musicgoroundannarbor.com/p/116590/used-peavey-kb-100

 

[ChrisH]

Take a look at the liitle Roland CM-30 cube monitor amp.

http://www.roland.com/products/en/CM-30/

I recently bought one to use with my Roland BK-7m module. The sound quality is outstanding for its size and weight, and its all you need for small venues. Dont take my word for it... read the reviews!

Chris

 

[nathen]

Thanks for the info on amps for the Fr-3s. They both look good. Given your comments on Roland amps what's your take on the Cm 30 Jim?

nathen

 

[JIM D.]

The little Cube 30 is a GUITAR AMP and will work just fine for an electric guitar player. Your Roland is a keyboard instrument with bellows and should be used with a KEYBOARD AMP. Electric guitars use a high impedance signal and guitar amps have high impedance inputs. "V" accordions - keyboards - and microphones use a low impedance signal and work best with a low impedance PA system or keyboard amp. Using the wrong amp for your instrument is like using the wrong octane petrol for your auto. The result is poor performance. JIM D.

 

[ChrisH]

Jim

The CM-30 is not a guitar amp, it's a 'multi-purpose mixing monitor'.

Versatile and portable — the new CM-30 CUBE Monitor delivers 30 watts of punch through a rugged, high-quality 6.5" coaxial two-way speaker. The CM-30 is built to handle a wide range of recording and mixing applications, but it can be used for live monitoring onstage as well. It can be easily and safely toted from location to location thanks to its built-in handle grip, protective metal grill cover, and cabinet corner protectors — features not found on any other monitors in the market.

Chris

 

[JIM D.]

I was referring to the Roland Cube 30 Guitar Amp. The Monitor 30 you speak of here is for MONITOR USE. A monitor speaker is used aimed at the performer and not the audience. JIM D. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_speaker

 

[ChrisH]

I was referring to the Roland Cube 30 Guitar Amp. The Monitor 30 you speak of here is for MONITOR USE. A monitor speaker is used aimed at the performer and not the audience. JIM D. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_speaker

I have a pair of 180W 10 powered speakers that I use for larger halls, but for small venues such as the lounges of old folks homes the CM-30 monitor is ideal, with incredible clarity and ample power and coverage.

I find its great as a mini-PA speaker, and Im not alone ....
http://www.amazon.com/Roland-CM-30C...WA6/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

Also great for home use.

Chris

 

[Soulsaver]

I picked up my mint-condition FR-3s on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas day my lovely wife announced that it was a Christmas present from her.
nathen

You did well Nath, one of these went for £1300 just before xmas on thebayUK!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331083726798?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Assuming it was a legit sale...as the seller sold a Dellape SM 3 seperate times with lots of small increase bids from zero & low feedback bidders... smells like ramping to me.:tdown:

 

[Jim the box]

Your Roland is a keyboard instrument with bellows and should be used with a KEYBOARD AMP. Electric guitars use a high impedance signal and guitar amps have high impedance inputs. V accordions - keyboards - and microphones use a low impedance signal and work best with a low impedance PA system or keyboard amp. Using the wrong amp for your instrument is like using the wrong octane petrol for your auto. The result is poor performance. JIM D.

Jim, I was just wondering on the differences between low and high impedance signals. Are 1/4 jacks not high impedance and XLR low impedance or am I mistaken? :?:
If a Roland requires a low impedance input should it not have an XLR output? :?

 

[JIM D.]

XLR jacks on PA's and amp's are almost always for low impedance - 1/4" jacks are used for both high and low impedance. 99% of electric guitars with magnetic pickups send a high impedance signal and guitar amps have 1/4" inputs to receive the signal. PA's and keyboard amps have XLR's and 1/4" jacks that are made to receive low impedance signals. There are matching line transformers you can by to switch from high to low and low to high but the result is never as good as matching your amp to your instrument. You will find dealers that will sell you anything they have to reduce their stock but a good musical instrument dealer will always steer you in the right direction. The fact is that Guitars work best with Guitar amp's and PA's with high impedance channel's -- Keyboard's, Mic's, and "V" accordions work best with Keyboard amp's and PA's with low impedance channels. JIM D.

 

[Jim the box]

That reminds me that I have an old Trace acoustic amp that has two jack inputs, one low and the other high. I guess that answers that one then, thanks Jim.

Just one more thing then, how do I know therefore which jack to use in future other than the info that you have proffered (say an aux output from my desk, I just normally plug into either )?

 

[JIM D.]

If your unsure of the impedance of a unit you want amplified - try the unit in the high and low channels and then use the channel that results in the best performance. JIM D.

 

[nathen]

Hey there Soulsaver, thanks for that, it made me feel good and it was nice to hear from you. There was one on Ebay.com before Xmas for $2300 (1400 pounds) so I am well pleased with the $985 (560 pounds) I paid at the local store. I"m glad it wasn't a private sale otherwise I might have felt guilty (well, might have, but I doubt it!)

I've just about got 'Petite Fleur' down now using the tenor sax on the 3s, and would love a back up. I really want a Roland BK-7m but that will have to wait. If I still had my snare and brushes I'd record some background harmony. However, we're just a couple of Gypsys, we travel light and move around a lot so I don't keep anything I'm not using. Any ideas would be appreciated on the cheapest smallest back up I could buy to accompany me when I'm playing. I don't need a ton of special effects, just a drum kit of basic brushes for a start. Somehow the onboard metronome isn't that exciting!

It's too bad the left hand bass orch doesnt have a double bass, that would be awsome. The tuba does give a little boomp boomp, but it's not the same.

That info on speakers really cleared a lot of things up for me Jim, thanks.

nathen

 

[JIM D.]

There"s a used Roland RA-30 Expander & Drum machine with manual posted on Ebay for $59.00 --All you need is a MiDi cord to connect to your "V" accordion and your in business. Go For It; JIM D. -- P.S. The speakers in the 3 models are small and although they sound well they don't move a lot of air. Using a small keyboard amp with only a 12" speaker will increase your bass & orchestral sounds 10x .

 

[pentaprism]

Hello Nathen,

Please check PM.

Regards.

 

[nathen]

Hi Pentaprism and Jim.D

Please check your pm's

Thanks guys,

nathen

 

[nathen]

Hi Jim d. and pentaprism, please check your pm's.

Thanks

nathen