I was able to try the G70 today in my local music store. The price was $2679.00.

The 1st impression was that it was VERY WIDE (not long). I had trouble trying to navigate the board by turning on/off the left hand. I found the navigation not very intuitive.

The other thing that bothered me was when you put the Syncro button on, the LED does not flash the tempo like other keyboards. The only thing that blinks is the annoying EXIT button on the LCD screen that really bothered me.

I was not very impressed with the keybed of the G70. I was expecting to be blown away by all the hype, and that just didn't happen. I actually enjoy the new keybed in the T2 better.

The Piano and the Organ sounds were very good, but when I picked a Rock style, and started groovin, I thought the sounds and the style sounded kind of cheezy. I didn't get the LIVE BAND experience that I was expecting.

Admittedly, I did not spend more than 10 minutes with the board, so my opinion is based on that. I'll probably try it again in the future, but I wont be running to do so.



------------------
Al Giordano
www.al-giordano.com

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

Aj.......it was great to hear you took the time out of your busy schedule to try out a G70 in the store. Although only 10 min is not allot of time to really get into all of this units great features and there are so many good ones inside ....I hope you will go and give it a nice long session to give it a chance to make an evaluation then maybe we can offer opinions to address your concerns in a civil manor here on the SZ.


[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 07-21-2006).]

Al,

hmmm. Interesting enough, I spent a COUPLE of HOURS, and on TWO 'separate' occasions as well, auditioning the G70 (OS2), and came away with this very same impression as you.

Scott

10 minutes? Wow! If I spent 10 minutes on a Tyros2 and gave a less than favorable review I can only imagine the responses here, not the mention the hate mail.

I spent hours on the PSR-3000, and 1500 and left with your feelings of the G-70. My hours spent apparently didn't justify my review to some here.

Squeak

Cheesy styles, you must have tried the one called Danish Blues lmao

Al Al Al..

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 07-21-2006).]

I've finally had enough of this cr*p........

It's like watching the Middle East, a bloody tit for tat bitchslap-fest that never ends........

The thread started out OK, Al's entitled to his opinion, he backed it up with reasoned opinion, not just 'G70 sucks', and gradually it devolves into a flame-war.

Why not answer Al's comments point by point?

Yes, it's a big sukka...... built to last is another way of putting it.......

Not really sure what you meant by QUOTE: I had trouble trying to navigate the board by turning on/off the left hand. UNQUOTE:...... What does this mean?

QUOTE: I found the navigation not very intuitive. UNQUOTE: Who, other than coming from another arranger of the same manufacturer (and even that can throw a few curves!) EVER finds a strange arranger's navigation intuitive in 10 minutes?

The keybed issue, well, we all have different needs in a keybed, but if you read most of the reviews here at SZ, even its' detractors usually praise the keybed (while lamenting the weight that such solidity implies)

If piano and organ sounds are NOT of paramount importance, what sounds DO you use most often?

Styles, well....... yes, I admit that some of Roland's styles could use some tweaking, but as I've said 'til I'm blue in the face - the G70 is BY FAR the best arranger for tweaking styles and saving it - something you are not going to find out in a quick 10 min try-out.

In fact, you are unlikely to find out barely anything in a 10 min try-out. It takes at least an hour just to listen to all the sounds, yet alone the styles, yet alone the navigation.......

Walk, run, skip, crawl, whatever it takes.......... find two or three hours (preferably when the store is at it's quietest) and give it a fair shake and post back here when you've at least made an effort. I don't care if the opinion is the same, it's your opinion after all, but I do care that it's relatively un-researched..........

----------------------------

Now, IMHO, that's how you answer a post rather than just flame the poster.........

How about a bit more civility? After all, most of us here are not punk kids, no matter how young we delude ourselves we are!!

hey Fran you pullin a Donny on us here? ....
where the heck did you great post go? I'll bet ya Scott already has it saved in your CIA folder;



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 07-21-2006).]

I felt bad jumping on a good guy that is just misguided by Scott and Craig

Just goes to prove that the sound (and feel) of a keyboard are very subjective things.

I think that we would all benefit if
1. each person had agreed to tell others what sounds/feels good to him/her, and not tell those others what is good for them
and
2. each one stopped taking other people's opinions as putdowns of them.

Of all the current arrangers, I am inclined to favor the G70 (after all, I do like the Roland sound). Yet I did not perceive Al's comments to be offensive. Different strokes for different folks.

Hopefully, we will be able to avoid the fate of the Middle East, just as long as we do not try to take other members' keyboards hostage, and lob rockets at them.

Regards

And as to those cartoonist's pictures of the prophet Tyros, all I can say is.......... JIHAD!!

When I get to heaven, will I still get my 18 cherry G70s??

Must be nice to even have a G70 somewhere close to demo

10 minutes......I didn't like the T2
10 minutes more.....I started liking it
30 minutes later......enjoying it

zuki

zuki

[This message has been edited by Craig_UK (edited 07-22-2006).]

I liked the Tyros 1 in ten seconds. Same with T2. After owning the first for a year and the second for a couple of months, I still like them, though I've barely scratched the surface.
It took me a couple of weeks to like the Midjay. I liked the X1 and SD1 immediately, but it took a long time to be comfortable with them.
My first impressions of the G70 were similar to the Midjay. I liked some of the sounds, wasn't very familiar with the OS, but still got around it o.k. I couldn't find styles to fit some of the songs I do. I'm sure they are available somewhere. It didn't blow me away, except for the vocal harmonizer.
That's good because it's too heavy for my old, pathetic, arthritic, over-weight, out-of-shape body to lug around every night.
Even though I've cut my schedule back, it's still one of the most important things to me.
Sometime in the next few weeks I'll make an effort to spend some quality time with Hank's G70, primarily to enlighten the arranger world with the REAL TRUTH, according to me.
Guys, could be please lighten up and try to see all sides of the situation? It's good to be passionate about a keyboard, but it's also good to know that your passion may not be someone else's.
DonM

Al,

Thanks for sharing your experience with the G70. The next time if and when you go try it again, you might see the Tyros 2 next to it as well. I think you already have one, but I think it's a plus to compare them side by side.

I plan on going back to Alto next week ( Friday I think ) and Chris has promised to put out a T2 for display when I do. Also, I'm going to ask him to hook the G70 into seperate amps for a true stereo sound. If it's still hooked up the way it was when I went last time, they had the G70 plugged into a stereo kb amp w/ 2 speakers but only one cabinet.

I note your take on the rock styles. These are very important to me, but I intend to take a lot of time messing with many of the styles. For me, the PA1x and PA80 are still the standard I look to when I judge styles, even if some of the fills aren't. However I can't say the same for some of the Korg lead voices ( but Yamaha's lead voices for the most part suit me fine ).

Only my take of course, and what's important is how it all works for me, even if the next person doesn't quite see it the same.

AJ

Craig_UK

Why can I find some post from you here at SZ, telling that you have got the G-70????
I think its because you havn�t owned one youself, right? Why are you then telling us that you have played it for 3 months? Its incredible.
I think when it comes to judge the G-70 your a totally amateur, so please stop you childish comments.

[This message has been edited by nielshs (edited 07-21-2006).]

Many people love to give opinions without ever owning, playing or performing with the units ....its weird!

nielshs instead of being the usual arsehole you are to me on here, I can tell you that I did purchase a G70 for �2000 and I had it 3 months before part exchanging it for something else. All my mates on here also know I had a G70. Whether or not you want to believe me or them I couldn't care less. Since I thought it was an absolutely pile of cr*p and a big waste of money that's probably why I didn't post anything on here about it at the time, then again I may have posted something on here, it's a long time ago. Synthzone is not the only music forum I use, so possibly sommat elsewhere.
As for being amatuer and making childish comments you are the true master on SZ when it comes to those. Stop your feable comments and saying that I didn't own one just to try and make me look bad and the G70 look good and to get a few brownie points from the few other Roland buddies you have on here.
As for DNJ if that's aimed at me keep your comments to yourself, you didn't even know me when I had the G70.

Zuki,

I feel very fortunate that our "local" store
now has one of each of the "big 3" for us to try out. The first time I tried the G70, I have to admit I walked away somewhat unimpressed. The second time I dug just a little deeper, and found some things I like about it.

I will say that in the end, if both the T2 and G70 are to my liking, and it's a close call on sounds and styles, that the G70 gets the edge ( for me ) because of the extra keys and the key feel itself.


AJ

Your post tells everything about you Mr. Craig. And it�s really bad!

nielshs whatever your problem is I think it's about time you got some professional help for it, try seeing a counsellor or get some psychiatric help before it's too late.
By the way I never posted on here when I had a Korg Trition, Kurzweil KN2500, or many other keyboards in the past, I don't post on here when I have had a new PA or new mixing desk, new PC etc some things I keep private.

[This message has been edited by Craig_UK (edited 07-21-2006).]

M8 if you owned one thats no sweat off my brow ...I couldnt give a f#ck what you owned played or what your opinions are about....people love to Bs on here & I'll tell ya straight up my friend I dont like your kind & Im glad I didnt know you back then for sure Nuff said....any questions?

Craig, what's going on here?
You seem more of an agitator and very insulting..Is it PMS?

Someone here reminds me of the school bully whining of being bullied when he gets a taste his own medicine.

Someone here reminds me of the school bully whining of being bullied when he gets a taste of his own medicine.

As much as I like (mild) controversy, maybe it's time to get back to good old boring normal.

chas

Chas, yours is bigger then mine!!

No not that...your EGO!!!!

Just my 2 cents. I'm just a semipro musician who is using a PSR3000. I'm looking for a new board and have been watching this forum with great interest. I haven't made the leap yet cuz I'm watching all the research you pros are doing, plus want to see the new products including the replacement for the 3000. One thing I ask myself is will a new keyboard make me anymore money. In my case probably not!! I see the cat fights here and of the opinion, folks as long as you're happy with the board you've got and that it's making you money that's what counts. I also think if you give Scott Yee, DNJ, DonM, Fran and many others a Casio WK whatever board you'd still make plenty of music and continue with the income you enjoy now. Maybe I'm wrong, but as I recall guys like keyboard/pianist greats like Oscar Peterson, Michel Camilo, Chick Corea, Eldar Djangirov, Billy Taylor etc, etc, etc.....just play a plain old 88 key acoustic piano. Carry on gents, it's great reading.

HEY Stephen..thanks for putting me in the company of those guys................................


Not those guys, Don, Donny and Scott...I mean Oscar and Chic....

No problem Fran

Me thinks such things didnt happen in the days of g1000 and psr9000.

Ahhh . . . Oscar Meyer & Chicken Little.

You are correct and i have gigged with the Casio also......but you as a player must be happy on stage & that's what its all about.....the business, marketing side is a totally different strategy. There's so much more to the music business then one would ever think. I say go try a G70 and play its great Grand X piano!!

It's SO unfortunate that Craig_UK chooses to use my native country's initials in his handle (unless he means University of Kentucky - Hmmmm, that might explain the childish nature of his posting!), it is an insult to all British musicians.

Here's a perfectly reasonable thread, and Craig's FIRST post is a picture of a pile of manure..... Well reasoned, sir!

Oh, that's right, soccer season is over, nowhere else left to go and be a hooligan.........

QUOTE nielshs instead of being the usual arsehole you are to me on here, UNQUOTE Doesn't this forum have a moderator?


[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 07-21-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 07-21-2006).]

I thought it might be worth reiterating what I had written about the vitriol spewing forth in a previous topic re. the G70.

I just sort of 'tuned out' somewhere around the middle of page 2 in that topic because of all the abrasion created by the opinions expressed.

For the benefit of all those who are 'rubbed the wrong way' at times, and we all are, I would add this:

You can not control what people say or do, but you can control how you react to it.

Yes Scott Yee

Wow, I didn't think my comments would spark this kind of reaction. You know, when I spent 10 minutes with the Tyros 2 I fell in love and couldn't really find anything I couldn't do with it and the sounds were just great.

They say 1st impressions are important so 10 teeny tiny minutes really says something about the board. However, just like playing a fine instrument like a Hammond B3 or a Concert Grand Piano, you really don't know the personality of the instrument until you spend some time with it.

I'm really sorry I offended anyone with my opinions, they were as honest and as unbiased as I could make them. It's a shame this forum goes into a death spiral everytime some one voices an opinion contrary to ones own.

AJ: I'm going to have to meet you at Alto so we can spend some more time with the G70 and help you pick out a board!

------------------
Al Giordano
www.al-giordano.com

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

Al,

That would be great. I really want to hear both boards through a decent sound system. I really want to like the G70 Al, in large part because of the extra octave of keys and the reports I'm hearing about the harmonizer.

If however, in a fair side by side comparison, I think it sounds inferior to the Tyros 2, then I'm going T2 without looking back. Above all, that's reason #1 why I want to replace my PA80. So many of the lead voices sound weak in comparison to what I hear coming from my Motif ES and my laptop. The main objective for me is to get as close as I can within one box, and the PA80 isn't it, unless I add that extra box ( Motif ES, laptop ) that I don't want to have to rely on for those occasions where space or setup time is at a premium.

AJ

Al you are right about first impressions. I base a lot on my first impressions and probably maintain[keep] the same impressions after I get to know the instrument or in fact a person....but not always..after you spend more time with an instrument or a person, and get to understand what we were not aware of prior, we can do a 180 from our 1st impression.

I guess, the best thing to do is keep an open mind about everything, give things time, and let our knowledge develop that we will know more about a particular instrument or person....Then we will be prepared to make a final conclusion.

Nothings going on with me Fran, I'm just sick of people talking out of their butts on here (we're all guilty of this). I don't care what people think of me and I never have done, I tell the truth about what I have owned and currently own and I also type my opinions when I feel like it be them postivie or negative. People like nielshs only show up on these postings to take the p or have a dig then they crawl back into their little hole not to be seen again until something sparks their interest.
The picture by the way Diki was meant as a joke (where's your English sense of humour?)but as usual people take things far too serious on here. It wasn't my first reply either as you put on this topic. As for calling neilshs what I did, if he is going to act like one I'll call him one. I don't like or watch football anyway. The _UK no one has ever complained about that before, that's a new one on me
Anyway enough of this....

[This message has been edited by Craig_UK (edited 07-22-2006).]

So when you show a picture of manure as a reply to someone's review, it's a joke, but if someone posts something negative to you, it's a personal dig.........?

You got to make your mind up........ Either take their insults in the manner you expect them to take yours, or quit dishing out the poo.............

I keep trying to dial down the rhetoric here and it just keeps coming back. I guess we all know what floats.


(And I stand corrected....... that was your second post. Sorry ;-) )

When neilshs says I haven't had a G70 when many people know on here I have had one that is simply calling me a liar on his part and yes he was having a personal dig. Scott Yee on another post had already told neilshs that I had a G70 for 3 months so surely that should have answered his question without him starting all of this off again? I hadn't said anything to him at all before that comment came from him, so it was totally uncalled for and nasty on his part, thats why I replied back in the manner I did.
I can take the rough with the smooth on here (try looking at other posts) but I'm not being made out to be a liar by someone who I don't know and who doesn't know me. Being called a liar is far different from someone insulting me over a difference of opinion on here. I don't go around Synthzone calling anyone else a liar so I don't expect the same to me - period!

Ok boys . . . let's play nice.

The bottom line is this forum shouldn't be about which arranger keyboard is better, they're all good in their own special way afterall, but about SUPPORTING each other in our common SHARED INTEREST: MAKING MUSIC with an arranger keyboard, no matter what the make/model.

Let's move on . . .

Instead of bickering, how about EVERYONE here actually POSTING your music. Diki & Craig: Looking forward to hearing music from you both.

Scott

Hey, DIKI,I have 2 undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees from UK (The University of Kentucky) and frequently am an adjunct in the Communications Graduate School. Not at all offended, however. Do you know how you can spot a UK graduate? By the initials on his class treing when he picks his nose!

We really need to not take ourselves (and our opinions) so seriously.

Best regards,

Russ (UK redneck( Lay

Oh, and Al (kbrkr), you didn't offend me in the least. Sadly, yours was one of the few posts that actually explained how you felt, and why...... we need more like this and less like (well, you know who they are....!), and we might get this forum off the Lebanon model......

I also hope you weren't offended by my refutation........ All I did was try to address your points and stay respectful, and I can only hope that more members can see that that is what the thread needed.

Enough with the cartoons and pictures of poo..........! Let's return to being adults.

That won't help.....we're still GUYS .

chas