I know there is thread after thread of ‘why I chose and love this keyboard over that one’, but I felt we can always use another! I remember reading reviews and forums, playing the boards for hours and researching to no end while I was looking to buy a top end arranger. I had narrowed it down a long time ago to the big three from Korg, Yamaha and Roland. I always enjoyed reading the bantering back and forth as to why this one is better than that one. Even though I felt most of them to be fairly subjective, there was merit and truth behind them all, because obviously they are all great in there own ways. I have owned a G-70 for some time now and I thought I would give you my experience that led me to choose that board. Now, I want to make it very clear that I am not of the opinion that one keyboard is ultimately superior to another and that my tastes/needs/wants apply to everybody. Because, if I had the money, I’d own all three. Instead, I want to relay what I was looking for, and why I found it with the G-70. Hopefully, this may be of assistance to anyone who was in my, or a similar situation.

Firstly, a bit about myself. I am not a professional musician. I have never been paid a dollar for any notes I’ve ever played. Who knows, I may in the future, but that’s not me. I do however feel that music is my life. It is the greatest diversion, the greatest expression of praise and worship that I have, and I’m sure you would all agree that it can be the greatest expression of ourselves. I’ve been playing organs and keyboards all my life, and more recently become accustom to piano (though by no means am I a pianist) and have been playing them in church since I was about twelve years old. I’ve only ever owned an older Hammond Spinet organ and a piano, so most of my keyboard experience was on the church’s keyboards. So, I felt it was time to get one for myself. I wanted one that I would be able to use at church and home. I had to have no compromises when it came to the organs. Being an organist first and foremost, this was most important. I know that a keyboard won’t replace a classical organ. It would be glorious to have a full Allen or Rodgers in my basement, but a little unrealistic for me now. But I wanted at least some great church organ settings. I also wanted great Hammond/Leslie emulation. I knew that this was possible in a keyboard. Keyfeel and touch were important too. I needed something with organ like touch that I could really fly around on and be able to convincingly use for piano applications too. That’s another thing…I didn’t want to have to settle for a mediocre piano sound. A good array of synth, string, brass, orchestra etc. sounds was also important. I wanted an arranger for home use, something with inspirational styles that I could play along with, and use for my own compositions. The arranger wouldn’t be needed at church because I play in a praise and worship band.

When comparing keyboards, the organ parts was a no brainer. The G-70 as far as I’m concerned blew everyone else away. The PA1X has come good patches and the TII’s organs have come a long ways since even the T1, but IMHO they don’t match Roland. The only noticeably better Hammond/Leslie emulation I’ve played on a keyboard was on the new Hammonds, and even then, it’s completely subjective. I find it interesting that everyone has been trying to exactly copy the sound of an organ that was made decades ago as if it were the standard by which all others are measured. Now don’t get me wrong, you can’t beat that sound, but I think the new clones have merits and sounds unique to them that I think we should appreciate. Maybe not now, but perhaps in fifty years, we will be trying to copy the sound that those ’clonewheels’ made back in the day. Nevertheless, with the G-70’s dedicated organ mode, I can turn up the leakage, maybe some overdrive and, voila, this thing screams. Will it replace a B3? In a band setting especially, 99% of the population would never know the difference. Then the classic organ sounds… while again this is not going to replace a full console organ, but when those thunderous sounds are needed, especially with some layering, the G-70 shines.

As far as other sounds go, there are positives and negatives here. I think the Roland’s piano is beautiful, but so are the Korg’s and Yammy’s. I figured here that if I was going to buy a digital piano, I’d buy the Roland RD700SX. I wasn’t going to base my decision on the sound of the stock piano. Here though, is where key feel and touch came into effect for me. If I’m going to pay an arm and a leg for a keyboard, I don’t want it to feel like a toy. I feel that this is another area where Roland is the clear winner. The keybed is great. The weight is a perfect blend of synth/organ, and I have definitely become a better pianist because of it. The more I play it, the more I like it. It is the best I’ve felt, and every time I play something else now, I miss the G-70 for this. And 76 keys. I have decided that I had to have at least 76, particularly for piano playing. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard some stellar piano performances on the TII, but my style of playing ran out of room on the TII. This is also a must for a three way split on the keyboard.

Strings/brass/synth etc., I’d give the edge to the PA1X and Tyros. However, with some tweaking of sounds and layering, the G-70 comes very close to sounding like a full orchestra. Nevertheless, I decided I wasn’t going to base my decision on how thick the stock strings sounded. As far as synths go, have you ever noticed how hard it is to find a real genuine sounding, thick, edgey Oberheim synth sound? I actually think that Technics had some really good sounds here. But again, with the way we can modify and layer sounds, most boards can come pretty close.

I wasn’t to picky when it came to the styles. This obviously comes down to taste, but I personally preferred more styles on the Tyros II. However, the G-70 has some great ones too and with all the tools to mess with the styles as I see fit, this was not much of a deciding factor.

Functionality was another determining factor for me. I found my way around the G-70 the fastest of all. Especially in church, when I’d use the organ mode one minute, then switch over to strings or pads, it was very intuitive and easy. I’m constantly using the sliders for easy real time control. Polyphony also came into play. When I’m using a really involved style and sounds, I often experience note drop out, even with the G-70 (which has 128 voice, along with the TII). So the Korg with only 62, didn’t cut it. I would have been disappointed with 62 when I knew that I could have gotten one with 128 (256 like the big Ateliers would be nice). I also was not impressed with the layout of the Korg. I got frustrated with it after I had played the Roland and Yamaha first and found them so natural. I do like the touch screens (easy for dummies - see what you want, reach out and touch it!)

All in all, what sold me on the Roland were the following: organs, 76 keys and their feel, polyphony and ease of use. If Yamaha had better organs and more keys, I’d have gotten that one. If Korg had a better interface, 128 voice polyphony and again, some better organs with 9 footage sliders, perhaps I’d have gotten that one. If I was getting this for church use only, then as I mentioned I wouldn’t need an aranger, I’d get the RD700SX and the Hammond XK-3, (or the Roland VK-8 which is almost as good and much cheaper). But as I said, I wanted an all in one machine that I could use everywhere…this is arranger world baby!

So, I hope this helps, or at least gave you something to do for half an hour while you read it. I hope I haven’t offended anybody, because as I’ve said this is my opinion based on what I need. And that’s just it…it’s mine, and an opinion. I’ve come to respect a lot of you here because obviously you know what you’re talking about. Isn’t it fun to talk keyboards? I sure don’t get the chance to walk up to somebody on the street and say, hey, how ‘bout those Super Articulation Voices on the TII, or what do you think of the action of my modulation/bender lever??!

I’d sure love to hear from you all, especially if there are any other church musicians out there. I’m sure you’d agree that it’s a whole different world to play for a congregation. You know that you never do the same song the same way twice, you’re always changing dynamics, speeds, repetitions etc. It’s sure fun to be able to take some chances and make some mistakes if need be, because if you’re heart is in the right place, somehow what you put into the keyboard, or at least what you think you’re putting into the keyboard, is not always what comes out. It’s not about me.

-Jon

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-For the Glory of His Name

Jon,

Thanks for your post. All I can say is that it would be a privilege to have you as a member of my worship team! I appreciate your attitude.

Tim

Good way to describe the G-70. I've found the same experiences especially with the 76 keys allowing me to "playout" and less limiting than 61 note arrangers. I highly recommend adding the Roland SRX-06 "COMPLETE ORCHESTRAL" sound bank and you will have strings and church organ settings to die for.

I must say I found your post informative and friendly. It is the type of writing that builds a forum. I found no reason to protect anything – or to stand and say this is better than that one. Nice, thank you Jon.

I do feel the touch of a God loving man in your words, that's special.

John C.

Jon... nice post, thanks.

Glenn

I am also using my arranger in praise and worship situations. I have meetings at my home quite often almost on a weekly basis.

Yamaha PSR3000 so far have fit the bill nicely. Lately I upgraded my playing skills and was able to sound like a full band utilizing various sounds in the right way such as electric guitars, brass, synth, etc on top of the usual pianos and bass.

Canadian,

I know what you mean about the Roland B3 Emulation. I use a Roland VK8m module with my Korg Triton and Tyros 2 and people who hear it swear it is a Hammond.

For someone who has never played a Roland G70, I found your review informative and helpful.

Thanks!


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Al Giordano
www.al-giordano.com

Tyros 2, Yamaha P-250, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums

Jon,
I hope many of my potential customers who have never been into my store and are reluctant to buy the G70 because of negatives they've read on this forum, get a chance to read your well stated review. The past 2 days I've been coresponding with a Synthzone customer from Brazil who would like to either buy a G70 or PA1XPRO from my store by way of a family member of his who live in Philadeliphia. I have given him pro's and con's of each and concluded that the G70 would be the best for his uses. Now, because he trusts my opinion but has read so many negatives, he is having a hard time deciding. Perhaps you review will help him.
It's been really interesting to see the faces on musicians who make it into my store and get a chance to actually hear and try the G70. I almost always get the same response from everyone, which is "is this really the same keyboard so many have disliked?". I think you've nailed the pluses of this keyboard. Those that have wished for more styles have either made their own, downloaded new ones, or purchased from style software companies. What you point out as strengths, I couldn't agree more with you. Thanks for your well written observations.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, Ca.

This, George is the crux of the matter...........
So few people ever get to play a G70 because of Roland's decision to market them through the very poorly equipped and FAR less numerous CK division, rather than the regular MI division that marketed the G1000 so effectively, that all they have to rely on is the VERY partisan user reviews they see here (and ANYONE that buys a keyboard THAT expensive, unheard, must have ones of steel!).

FINALLY, a well stated review that isn't immediately drowned in a chorus of 'My Tyros rocks, your choice sucks' from the peanut gallery (mostly, as far as I can tell, hobbyists that want something out of the box that makes them sound good without effort, rather than a keyboard they can put their own stamp on and tweak to the way THEY need, not what the instrument dictates). Perhaps the mention of Worship makes them pause before committing a sonic sin!!

Anyway, you are correct..... before you decide against the G70...... PLAY ONE! MAKE YOUR OWN MIND UP!

Don't buy a Tyros until you've spent a couple of hours on one (and remember to try editing a Style or SMF rather than just play....... you haven't lived until you realize how easy Roland make editing......)

This is why I bought me G70.