Hi everyone,

I want to buy an arranger kb, but (unfortunately) I cannot afford to buy a good new one. I am looking at entry-level keyboards. I have found a used Roland EM-2000 and a used Roland EM-55 for about the same price. I know the EM-55 is newer, but the EM-2000 was at one point considered a higher-end kb. I have heard the EM-55 and the sounds are great (I never knew that keyboards could produce that "squeak" produced when sliding your fingers along the neck of a guitar). However, I cannot find any EM-2000 audio samples. Does anyone know where I may be able to find some? If not, can someone who has used both give me a comparison of the two?

-Holiday

Holiday, I would buy the EM2000, There is a larger selection of tones[around 1100]. They range from very good to excellent..The added features of the EM2000 over the 55 are many, namely a zip drive and ssci port..The 2000 has the same basic features of the G1000...I use a EM2000 in my band[we pack it up with the sound gear] and it is always on the job..For my solo work I use my preferred G1000[also studio work]..Even in todays market the Old Rolands still shine..Fran

I agree the Em-2000 is a good choice. Also to point out that the Keys of the Em-2000 is better than the ones on the EM55.

I don't have a ton of experience with the these boards. Mainly I've played the G1000 a few times and dabbled a little with the EM2000 and EM55 as well. That said, the tonal quality and features of the G1000 and EM2000 seemed to be better than those of an EM55.

BTW, the PA80 has a few of those guitar patches built in that have guitar sound effects. When I altered what was in the board and made my own custom guitar patches, I realized that it wasn't at all like I thought it would be. The PA80 has a key off feature, that allows a sample to be played as you release pressure from the keys. This differs from aftertouch or delay, because even if I hold the key down for 5 minutes, the sample I assign to the key off feature will not sound until I let the key up. Also to my surpirse, the key click or string slap effects were not used in the original patches. Instead, a regular guitar sound was used that was edited via synth parameters to sound almost like a muted slide. The effect works very well.

AJ

[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 12-21-2003).]

Holiday,

I have a Roland VA7 for sale which is better than any board you mentioned. It has over 3,000 sounds, including the V Guitar and other V-type realistic instrument sounds. We might be able to do a deal plus I live just one state away in PA, so the delivery might be real easy. Send me an email if you want to pursue this.

Tim

Roland VA7 is the king.

The EM2000 sounds like the best choice of the two, unless Tim's offer is exceptional.

Tim, if Holiday passes, drop me a line.

Thanks everyone. I have e-mailed CoasterTim about his offer. If it does not go through, I will take the EM-2000. Once again, thanks for replying.

-Holiday