Looking back - over ALL the cool toys, both electric, electronic or otherwise .... I have to say the keyboard instrument that influenced me the most .... WAIT !!!

It's 24 -9 EAGLES !! Yippie !!!

What was I saying ........ Oh yeah -

my very FIRST Fender Rhodes. That instrument was cool cool cool. It behaved differently with every slight nuance of pressure, and had a bright, bell-like tone that just fit EVERYthing. The Rhodes is why I played keyboard in the first place - acoustic piano was never a love of mine, and to this day .... unless it's a superb instrument, I HATE playing "regular" pianos. I love the great ones, but life's too short to play junky pianos.
WOAH !!! Troy Vincent just intercepted a pass in the endzone !!!! Atta boy !
(Bring on those Bears !)

So after all is said & done ..... making a list of all my "rejects" would serve no usefull purpose, but I will say that since 1969 .... I've had more tha a 1/2 dozen different Rhodes pianos.... I'm an old softy.

Digital instruments have no personality - they are all the same out of the box. With the Rhodes - you developed a "friendship" with the thing, it adjusted to your playing style, it listened to you .... (OK - I made THAT one up) but it was more of a "personal choice" instrument than others were.

MY favorite arranger ....... hmmmmmmmmm so far the one that opened my eyes and ears the most was the X1 - too bad it had more drawbacks (for me) than advantages. I'm still waiting for something to "grab" me like that one did.
The BARE minimum requirements to do that will HAVE to include -
1)61 keys that feel good
2)powerful speakers
3)audio inputs (or at least a mic input)
4)small size & weight
the rest is all up for grabs - there are patterns I like, sounds I like, looks I like - I just need someone to package them all in to the case I like !

My keyboard history is a bit shorter than the pasadoble & DonM's, but here goes anyway:

Baldwin acoustic piano (spinet)
* my first keyboard (childhood piano lessons)

Steinway B acoustic Grand Piano (7 foot) - 1987
* you can't take THIS away from me EVER !

Korg 707 - 1990
* my very FIRST synth: Space Age retro design, classic FM, battery powered.

Korg O1W/FD - 1993
* classic Korg sounds

Korg T1 - 1994
* 88 note weighted action but too HEAVY for gigging

Roland RA800 tabletop arranger (with Roland A33 KB controler)
* my FIRST arranger (tabletop module version of G800).
* impractical as access to controls is awkward using separate keyboard controller (A33).

Technics KN5000 (classic pride & joy)
* Excellent jazz chord recognition, very good sounds/styles and EZ to use. great for jazz lounge venues

Yamaha PSR2000 (new kid on the block) - 2001
* Lightweight, great acoustic sounds/pop styles, and currently the BEST bang for the BUCK !

Well, as best I can remember.. here goes...also starting around 1965

Magnus chord organ - mid 1960's - ( still have it in the attic )

Silvertone organ and amp - late 1960's ( 67 ?? what a horrible sounding beast,...boy I miss it..lol ) long gone now

Lowry organ and amp - approx 1972 ? ( I can't remember which kind either ) long gone

Hohner Clavinet - approx 1976- sold ( unfortunately ) several years ago

One of those original 4 voice Casiotone things ( given to me as a gift approx 1981??
I think my mom still has it

Yamaha CP25 electric piano - 1982 - given to a friend approx 1995

Korg poly Six synth - 1983 - lost in a flood 1992

Casio SK1, and a casio MT something or other - mid 80s..long gone

Yamaha PSS something or other..mid 80s - long gone

Technics Sx K something or other ( sx-k700 ?? ) - approx 1987 - sold many years ago to my friend Mel who I will be gigging with later in the year.

Yamaha PSS 480 - approx 1988 - still have it. My grandaughter pounds on it now.

Ensoniq SQ1 - 1989 ? - quickly replaced ( within weeks ) by a Korg M1

Korg M1 - 1989 ? - just sold it recently

Casio FZ1 - approx 1990 ?? - Sold a few years later

Yamaha PSR 85 - 1994 ? - given to my daughter about 2 years ago

Yamaha PSR 530 - 1997 - sold in 1999

Yamaha PSR 740 - 1999 - sold a few months ago

Casio MZ2000 - Jan 2001 - traded it in June 2001

Korg PA80 - June 2001 to present

Yamaha PSR2000 - Nov 2001 to present

Of course those are just the keyboards. I have or have had different software samplers / synths, guitars / amps, Harmonicas /Chromonicas, software ( tons of it ), and a slew of other goodies including my original Yamaha MT100 4 track cassette recorder ( still used as a crude makeshift mixer on occasion ) and drum machines. I still have the Synsonic drums that were given to me as a present in the early 80's . ( I bet they don't have 10 hrs of use on them though..lol )

Of all the things I don't have anymore, I think I miss that old Poly6 the most. I'd still like a knob to tweak now and then. I also wish I'd have kept the Clavinet

AJ




[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 01-13-2002).]

Hi to all PSR2000 owner's,
Used my PSR2000 for the first time, onstage last night .... verdict! ''STUNNING'' no real hiccups, chord recognition struggled a few times with my fast left hand work but I can adapt too that, but what a difference from the PSR740, so much more depth and warmth to the sounds and the drums really kick, I can tell you I was inspired, wish you guys could been there, I really put it through its paces.
Another thing was, it seemed to compliment my Yammy S03 synth beautifuly, all in all a very successful gig.
Would like to thank everyone on the forum who have sung the 2000's praises and offered valuable and constructive information on the keyboard, also thanks goes to those people who have offered personal replies to my frantic cries for help on some of the 2000's programming quirks.
Regards
Noel.

I can forget something, but it is my list:
The first : Honner accordion/48
The last: 9000Pro
Accordions:Honner48,Scandalli80,Scandalli120 super 6.
Organs:
Solina,Hammond+leslie,Wurlitzer.
Electones:B4,BK5,B55,B75N,D85,FX10,FX20,HX1
Synths:
Korg Poly 800,01/W,N264 Yamaha DX7,DX7II,SY77, Roland JD800, JP80, XP60.
Eletric pianos: Yamaha CP70 Clavi Cvp4
Arrangers:
Technics:Kn800,1000,1500,3000,5000
Korg:I3,I4s,I30
Roland:E20,30,70,66,86,96; G800,1000; EMIB,2000;VA7,VA7II.
Yamaha:Psr6100,6300,5700,6700,215,410,510,
630,739,740,8000,9000,550,9000Pro.
GEM:Wk4.
Solton:Ms60.
TODAY:
My museum:Yamaha DX7
My music school:
Yamaha PSR 215(8pcs)/510(4pcs) (Basic step)
Yamaha PSR 550 (Advanced step)
My one man band:
Yamaha 9000Pro
Yamaha B50
Yamaha PSR 550.
huurrrr.The End.
Chico

Nice one Chico, best so far (no cheating I hope

Chico,
what do you mean for "VA7 II"?
Did you purchase two VA 7s?
(Just curious)

Ahhhhh Hohner Clavinet. What wonderful, funky memories.
My only true "love" is playing bass, but if I HAD to be a keyboard player in a band ..... I'd be so happy if I could just pound out the changes on a Rhodes suitcase, a Clavinet D6, and a digital Hammond organ with a real leslie..or two. That would do it, for me. I wouldn't miss these plastic, junky keyboards a bit.

Hi Dreamer.

Before to purchase the 9000Pro , I tried a VA7 version II with nice features as:
1-A big database with more than 800 regist.
2-R1,R2,Left access on main screen.
The external layout is the same;only a adesive up the pitch bender.
Brasilian regards,
Chico

The 9kpr0 has R1, R2 and R3 right at the side of the screen for instant selection, or you can combine any of the 3 over at the right of the keyboard.
An on-board,(inexpensive)hard drive can hold WAAAAAAAY more registerations than a 100MB zip can.

The VA series sounds great, but make sure you don't need more real-time control (buttons) before you buy. I can't see me EVER using a touch screen in a live performance - too many chances for error, and too much POUNDING on the screen ..... can't be good for it.
I think the touch screen belongs at home....but not MY home. (Just my thoughts - I hate 'em)

[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 01-13-2002).]