new keys-quality?

[docjohn]

Spent a good part of sat pm @ Sam Ash in keys room.It struck me some of the newest stuff is;like cheesy.The Roland G8 keys-like a 1900 's piano,

the Jupiter 8( a $3500 board) why? bad organ sounds-like the juno($600) nice bass+guitar sounds,pretty lights(like a home organ) ,Kronos 61

bad keys,some of the lower end Korg ,Yamaha,Roland stuff-real cheap.There was one Korg PS 6 that a whole octave + keys were stuck/jammed.

I know these boards get abuse-but so does the real world!

The manufacturers have some great ideas but maybe trying too hard to meet a price point.Not trying to dis anybody either-just being honest.

[Mysteryman]

There was an issue with the keys on the yamaha s90 getting stuck in temperature changes. I have seen this first hand. Some of the newer yamahas seem to have the same keyboard which makes me wonder about them. I have not been keeping up with the new keyboards. I have been surprised at what they are doing now but not as impressed as I used to be. Someone needs to make an affordable keyboard on which you can master your music on and burn straight to an attached CD or music burner. This includes vocals.

[docjohn]

I've wondered a bit about the XF's.I have an xs6-playing the XF6;just feels like something is dif.

Really surprised @ Roland 88 on the G8-the last ones I played @ Sam Ash and GC felt like 100 yrs. old and worn out.A vast dif from the older Rolands.I always thought Roland had about the best feel in their 88 wtd. keys.I played an RD on a weekly basis for several yrs and was killer!

Maybe it's time for the mnftrs. to come up with a cross btween Muse Receptor/Korg M3 with features you're talking about.

[Mrandrew]

I think the purpose of the keys on the G8 is to prevent fingers from sliding on the keys as you play, so they have a rough surface.

[docjohn]

I wondered about that-thanks MA-what about how "sloopy"the action is?The last 2 I played-lot of side to side motion-literally like the old upright stuck in the high school music room.Yikes!

The last seris for Fantoms-before the G 8 -much tighter feel.

[Mysteryman]

I played a motif es6 this weekend and the keys are terrible. Feels like you are playing a sponge. lol

[floaded27]

I played a motif es6 this weekend and the keys are terrible. Feels like you are playing a sponge. lol

?? interesting. i find my Motif ES6 keys feel much better than any other keyboard i've played.

[under13]

I think the purpose of the keys on the G8 is to prevent fingers from sliding on the keys as you play, so they have a rough surface.

Id hate that, i like  sliding on the keys.

[csedwards2]

I think that G8 was beat up, that you played on. I played on one at a Sam Ash in Charlotte, and my GCs up here in Virginia and both felt as good as the Fantom X8, which has an outstanding feel, even better than the Motif 8s

[musallio]

Gents, are you only looking at weighted keys?

What i've gathered is that a review of the action has alot to do with the user's preference [Under 13 would say it's the best board coz one can can slide, then Floaded will come in and say it's not good coz it slides personally I like the slide feeling- but it has to have some balance.

I'm yet to find a weighted-key board that I feel has the perfect feel [I share similar sentiments to the doc].

ps: about 3 weeks ago, I almost swallowed my tongue when my pastor said my casio keys felt better than his Korg's and Yamaha's. I thought his triton has a better feel.

[floaded27]

Gents, are you only looking at weighted keys?

What i've gathered is that a review of the action has alot to do with the user's preference [Under 13 would say it's the best board coz one can can slide, then Floaded will come in and say it's not good coz it slides personally I like the slide feeling- but it has to have some balance.

I'm yet to find a weighted-key board that I feel has the perfect feel [I share similar sentiments to the doc].

ps: about 3 weeks ago, I almost swallowed my tongue when my pastor said my casio keys felt better than his Korg's and Yamaha's. I thought his triton has a better feel.

i never said anything about sliding. lol. that was Mr Andrew. never played a Fantom G8 (personally hating weighted keys right now, partially because of the bad experiences with them at other churches)

[under13]

I think that G8 was beat up, that you played on. I played on one at a Sam Ash in Charlotte, and my GCs up here in Virginia and both felt as good as the Fantom X8, which has an outstanding feel, even better than the Motif 8s

The one I played had rough keys as well.

[musallio]

My little experience tells me that never play a weighted key board in a live setting unless if you've played it before or you know what it feels like.
The few I've played had keys that jammed while I was playing

[Mrandrew]

Here are some explanations I found. When I said slide I was actually talking about your finger slipping on the keys, due to finger moisture.

Its simulated "ivory feel" (I think its called) texture of the G8's keys. Yes it is supposed (to me it does) make the keys seem like a *real* piano keys.

The keys do have a rough look to them up close, which I assume is part of the moisture absorbing technology, (which works!)

[floaded27]

My little experience tells me that never play a weighted key board in a live setting unless if you've played it before or you know what it feels like.
The few I've played had keys that jammed while I was playing

sometimes you dont know what you get until they call your group/choir up to sing. and i cannot play an organ (hate it) so i usually have to play that keyboard thats collecting dust or has issues that the keyboardist is so used to, it doesnt even phase  him (so he's jamming the whole service like things are all good, and when you go to switch he has to point out which keys are broke. lol)

[under13]

I have a question: Do you keyboard players prefer a real ivory piano keyboard over the synthetic stuff?

They haven't used ivory on pianos since the 1950s.

My piano back at home has ivory keys, they are alright, but I'd prefer the synthetic stuff, from what I've experienced.

[docjohn]

Actually;I've played 2 or 3 G8 where the key action was sloppy,worse than the HS band room piano;a big(downward departure imo) for Roland.

The RD feel is good;never noticed what you are saying about the G8 moisture  deal.

[smalls85s]

I've actually taken apart an old Roland weighted keyboard that had a few stuck keys and found the problem.
It turns out the the glue they used to stick the weights (small rectangular pieces of metal) underneath the keys would melt if the keyboard is stored somewhere at high temperatures.  Once this happens, the glue goes everywhere, even onto the contacts underneath the keys making them permanently non-functional.
I tried cleaning every trace of glue that I could see, but the damage was much too extensive.
Just a warning to all with weighted keys, especially Roland owners.  Keep stored in a cool dry place or be prepared to toss it.

[docjohn]

makes sense