I now have an old Roland E-36 autoacompaniment keyboard and would like to buy a new one. I use the autoaccompaniment when I play the cajun accordion and my wife changes the chords with a bass pedal PK5 on the E-36 when I play the pedal steel guitar. I would like some suggestions as to what keyboard would give me the best styles for 50's to 80's country music. dontess@home.com

Hi Dben,

An important 'input parameter' is missing :
"How much money do you have to spend ?"

There are soo many arranger keyboards on the market and the best thing is to make visits to all music-stores in your neighbourhood. (I hope there are some ?)

I own an SD1 made by Ketron and I think the Country styles are excellent.

Roel

I realize that I would have to spend at least $2000 US. My max would be $4000.
Don

Don,
Get the 9kpro - it's so good at what you want. I LOVE mine.

Hi dben.

I think Roel give you a really good advice here, and if we all now start
up the "choir" abut "my keyboard is the best" refrain again, then
probably both you and me going to be more confused than ever.

I think you will find that most of the brands available in the new series
of keyboards today is really something.
You have to make a list about what you wish to find and your way of use
the keyboard. Then visit the shops and try out or maybe make a deal for
borrow and try out at home before you buy one.
Also look out for what accessories and software available for your needs.

I.e. if you only use the "onboard" rhythms to play along, and don't make
any editing or make new ones by yourself it might be one brand to prefer
and "vice versa".
(Many of the keyboards do have a great library of styles on diskettes avail-
able to buy for "add on", so that should not be any reason for why to buy
this or that keyboard).

Your description about what styles you use most, and if that is one of your
no.1 wishes and needs, and if a warmth sounding keyboard is what you desire
and looking for, then it's maybe a little more easy for you to make a choice.
But again, it's the ear who listen (not to forget who's playing) and every
single persons taste who make all this colourful meanings and discussions.

I guess that you've already read most of the topics at the forum, and also
found out about many of the "adverts", reflections and advices about this and
that to compare and sort out.

All the best and Good Luck in your
hunt for a new "partner & bandmember".

GJ

Hi guys,
I think what Don's asking us here is which Kb leans more toward country music, rythmns & country lead voices such as a lot of guitars ,pianos,& lots of string insterments.
And we all know that not ever keyboard has a
lot of country rythmns, at least not the older style. It's even hard to find them to download from the web! Oh sure you can find Country Music! But it's not like the old country rythmns from the 50's, 60's, & 70's. Yea I no some would say it's much better! I can't agree with that!
I don't dislike todays country music.
But it's not better it's different! As different as night & day. What do you guys
think? I'm expecting you to tell me!!
Just my 2cents worth!
Gods Speed,
Nobby



[This message has been edited by Nobby (edited 08-08-2001).]

Of all the keyboards I've owned and tried, the PSR9000 is the "most country" out of the box. It has all the lead sounds, and most of the styles.
Of course any of the keyboards can be taught to play country. Most of them are good at the newer stuff, but the older basic styles are what's usually missing. Fortunately they are easy to make, if you can't find them on the internet somewhere.
I don't see how you can really go wrong with any of the modern crop of keyboards. Some just suit different people better than others.
DonM

Nobby...You have hit the nail on the head about what I want! I will take some samples to some music shops in Vancouver and see which one most closely matches what I am looking for. I don't mind making up my own styles as long as it is not too time consuming.

Don

Don't forget to try out a VA7/76 ROLAND KEY-
BOARD.They have several good styles as preset
and more than 600 on the ZIPdisk.If you do
want make or change styles yourself it will
take some time on every keyboard.The topin-
struments from more than one factory are
great but they are different.Make the choice
after trying them out if possible.

What is the best module available now with country styles, especially shuffles.

Wow, that post you resurrected was from 8 years ago!

I'm still here, and I've changed my mind about the keyboard offering the best Country and Western. I think it's now the Ketrons, easily.
And, they make several modules, including the Midjay, which I used for a couple of years and can recommend highly.
I have found just about every country style and sound I've needed.
DonM

wow, that's something! I did not even realised how old the topic was...
cool!
for the numbers, I believe yamaha has alot of country styles. not so "old", but many.
the best thing to do is to make them, especially if the keyboard is able to produce realistic guitar parts...

Thaanks for the replies. How does the Midjay plus compare to the XD3 and SD3? Somebody told me that styles can be created on the XD3. I am in western Canada and there is no dealer near me that I can try one out. Anybody know if there is a dealer in Seattle?

Look for Petosa Music. They are dealers for Ketron and specialize in Accordion and auto adaptions of modules. I got my first arranger from Joe Petosa...Nice Guy!


Russ

The midjay plus and the SD3 share the same styles but the SD3 has more. The Midjay also plays MP3, wavs, midi but has less buttons so your forced to a lot of menu scrolling. The SD3 is just lake the SD5 with keys. As far as the xd3 styles vs. sd3 styles. the sd3 uses a new sound engine , which I find the styles to sound much better than the xd3 styles. re-worked xd3 styles also sound better on the SD new drums.

good luck

Actually, the Midjay plays SD1-type styles, and the Plus has SD5 styles, which are newer and sound a little better. However, there are fewer available.
Ketron is supposed to be working on more compatible styles for MJ Plus.
DonM

Which module can I alter or create my own styles? Which is newest module? XD3 or SD3? I am guessing that the SD3 is the newest.
Also which module can import styles from other arranger brands?

[This message has been edited by dben (edited 12-11-2009).]

[This message has been edited by dben (edited 12-11-2009).]

[This message has been edited by dben (edited 12-11-2009).]

I guess I must be gettin' old, but for me I have always enjoyed the country styles Yamaha provided. Additionally, with all the third-party country styles available for Yamaha arranger keyboards, and the ability to modify them right on the keyboard, I have more country styles than any other music genre.

Good luck from an OLD country boy,

Gary

Gary

I don't want a keyboard. I just need a module to operate with a bass pedal like the PK5.
Don

I got this answer from a Ketron retail store when I asked if the SD3 was better than the XD3. "In my opinion SD3 is an old MS40 in a new frame" Any comments from users on this forum would be appreciated.

Some one on Kijiji has a XD3 for sale for $600. Sounds like a good deal if it is in good shape.

But is'nt the XD3 a module of the X series and SD3 of the SD series?
X4 is probably the one who are closest to the MS?
Anyway, good luck in your hount, I agree that Ketron have the best
country styles onboard.

Cheers
GJ

The SD3 is the latest model (module) released by Ketron 2007. The XD3 was released in 2004 which it has some X4 & SD1 styles and sounds. The SD3 and SD5 were fitted in a modified MS series case. The Sd3 styles are great, they upgraded the sound engine from the original sd1 series. the drums are improved from the x4 and xd3 models. IF your looking for a module, SD3 is the one.

[This message has been edited by mc (edited 12-13-2009).]

Thanks MC. The XD3 on Kijiji is sold anyway. Anybody on this forum from Wahington Sate or BC got an SD3?

Where is the repair depot for Ketron? Anybody experienced any repair problems Midjays and SD3?

Hi Don
I'm from Kelowna B.C. -still playing a Ketron
SD1-you can have a listen if your up this way. There are two music stores in Kelowna
that handle arranger keyboards-no Ketron product. The Ketron repair depot for Canada is in Montreal.
Cheers!
Gord Wastle