A post Ian made on another thread prompts me to examine my organ-to-arranger "journey".

My LAST organ was Yamaha FS500, in 1984. It had three manuals and weighed about a million pounds. By the time i got it on dollies, loaded leslie, bench, and pa gear, it filled an entire full-size Chevy van.
After about a year of carrying it around, I sold it and bought a Yamaha PSR 70, a DX7, an RX7 drum machine, and a piano module. I connected them all via midi. Never looked back.
Soon updated to PS 6100, added a TX81Z and FB-O1, changed to Alesis drum machine. Added V50 for second keyboard and
Next step was 6300, which was last Yammy for a while.
Technics came on the scene and I started with KN800. Still needed the outboard midi gear. KN1000 was next, then came the KN2000, which at last had a usable drum machine. It was way ahead of its time. Then came the KN5000, which I played until Yamaha came out with PSR8000, which had built-in vocal processor and harmonizer. (Harmonizer was BETTER than the one in later models!)
By then I was back to one keyboard. At various times I had PSR510 (never used it alone, though it was pretty good), PSR640, PSR740, PSR2000, 2100, 9000, Tyros, Tyros 2.
The time frame gets a little fuzzy, but Roland G800, Korg PA80, Solton X1, Yamaha PSR S900, Ketron SD1, SD5, Audya, Roland G70, G80, BK7m, Yamaha PSR S950, Korg PA3X, Roland BK9, Korg PA900, which I'm currently using.
No brand loyalty! I will use whatever best suits what I want to do at the time.
Oh, I also have Casio WK3000, which I loaned to a friend about five years ago. Excellent piano and organ sounds, lousy arranger.
I expect if I live long enough, the Korg replacement for PA3x may be next. And we'll see what replaces S950
ANY of these arranger in the past 10 years are perfectly capable of doing most everything I need, but I do enjoy new challenges!

These things have kept from having to get a real job since they were invented!

That's quite the history Don. You must be pretty adept at selling off your old gear to acquire the replacements,

God Bless,
Don

The secret is buying them at the right price!

And finding a "fish" in the bluegrass to buy the old stuff (LOL)!


Russ (the grouper) Lay

The secret is buying them at a good price and selling them at an even better price... I allways try to buy used, and in general never loose to much and most of the time even make money when selling them...

The key word here is LOOSE! If you loose, you loose - not a god way to stay in business. I guess that's why some of us have retained the same keyboards for several years, which is why we're still making a profit as musician/entertainers. Now, like DonM, I've been fortunate to make hundreds of dollars in this business. However, I can attest that I've never lost a dime as an entertainer (I'm not a musician.)

Cheers,

Gary

Don, not too many marriages would have survived that purchasing history . Mine did but I lied a lot (about purchase prices). So the kids missed a few meals, so what. That builds character.

chas

That KN5000 brought Don & me together many many years ago...

Wow, Don, that is quite a list of instruments...especially considering you didn't start out your musical journey as a keyboardist...I believe you started on trumpet.

I actually have a written list of the keyboard instruments I have owned since I started playing pro, and for Arranger Keyboards only (and not counting Electone organs), there were 21 different models (mainly Yamaha and a few Roland), the number not taking into account the ones I bought a pair at a time for backup ( I had pairs of PSR-8000's, PSR-3000's, PSR-1700's just to name a few, for example).

Because I worked in various aspects of the business (sales, teaching, demoing), I often got my instruments at (or a little below) dealer cost, and I was usually able to make a profit (or at least break even) when I sold them after a year or two of making money with them.

Instruments were always an investment for me, and until my retirement, I treated them as tools of the trade...plus I was generally able to write off portions of the investment at income tax time.

The Tyros4 will quite likely be my last Arranger Keyboard, unless it has to be eventually be replaced due to hardware wearing out and parts no longer being available. Knowing how to program/edit my own styles, and being very content with the instrument's sounds makes getting a newer instrument unnecessary...thankfully!

I think we may have briefly discussed this topic some time ago, and, from what I remember...I think Fran might have owned the most instruments, but I'm not sure if they were Arranger Keyboards only.

In any case, it will be interesting to hear what others have been buying and using over the years.

Ian

Don,
Why would anyone go from the PAX3 to the PA800 or PA900? I thought the PAX3 was the top 0f the line for the Korg arrangers, NO?

I have four guitars and don't even really play guitar! Maybe I will though.
In addition to two Yamaha organs, I had four Lowery organs and a B3, a couple of bass guitars, one drum kit, numerous guitars. Too much PA gear to even remember!
I gave 10 mics to a church last year. I'm back to no more than a dozen now. Stop me, I'm out of control!

WOW ... I guess I'm just a guy who doesn't change things much ... same wife for 51+ years, only three houses since we've been married, worked for the same company for 40 years, ... in my musical journey, I've had 2 accordions, 1 cordovox, 1 Fender Rhodes, a kn1000, a kn6000, a Pa600 and a Pa900 ... still own the cordovox, the Rhodes, kn1000, kn6000, and the Pa900 ...

Don,
Why would anyone go from the PAX3 to the PA800 or PA900? I thought the PAX3 was the top 0f the line for the Korg arrangers, NO?

As far as non arranger keyboad instruments, I've owned, in roughly the order of purchase...


Steinway upright piano
Hohner Melodica
Galanti accordion (120 bass)
Howard Baldwin Combo Organ,
Farfisa VIP 223 two manual Combo Organ
Hammond (1963) M3 with Leslie 147RV
Hammond B-3 with 2 Leslie 147RV (one kept over from the above M3)
Wurlitzer 200 Electric Piano
Roland SH-2000 Preset Synthesizer
Polymoog Synthesizer & Polypedal
Roland Jupiter 8 Synthesizer
Yamaha D-85 three manual Electone organ
Yamaha C-605 two manual Electone organ
Yamaha C-605P two manual portabilized Electone organ
Yamaha SK-20 Ensemble (Organ/Strings/Brass/Synth)
Yamaha CP-30 Electronic Piano (Analog)
Yamaha CLP-300 Digital Piano
Roland KR-55 Digital Piano
Yamaha PF-15 FM 76 key Electronic Piano
Yamaha CE-20 preset FM synthesizer
Yamaha CE-25 preset FM synthesizer
Yamaha GS-2 preset FM synthesizer
Yamaha DX7 FM Synthesizer
Yamaha DX-100 FM Synthesizer
Yamaha DX7 Mk-II Dual FM synthesizer (Grey Matter E! chip equipped)
Casio CZ-101 PD (Phase Distortion) Synthesizer
Casio CZ-1000 PD (Phase Distortion) Synthesizer (two)...one modified for use as keytar
Casio CZ-1 PD Synthesizer
Casio FZ-1 sampler

Arrangers...

Yamaha PS-6100 Arranger
Yamaha PSR-6300 Arranger
Yamaha PSR-500 Arranger
Roland E-20 Arranger
Roland RA-50 Arranger Module
Roland RA-90 Arranger Module
Roland E-30 Arranger
Roland E-5 Arranger
Roland KR-500 Arranger/piano
Roland KR-650 Arranger/piano
Roland KR-55 Digital Piano
Yamaha PSR-510 (Two)
Yamaha PSR-1700 (Two)
Yamaha PSR-8000 (Two)
Yamaha PSR-2000 (Two)
Yamaha PSR-3000 (Two)
Yamaha PSR-S900
Yamaha PSR-S910
Yamaha Tyros4 with 1 Gig memory upgrade (Present Keyboard)



Other amp/speakers (not including Leslie cabinets above):

Two Fender Twin Reverb Amplifiers with Celestion Full Range speakers and added tweeters & crossover
Two Yorkville KB-100 keyboard amp
Two Yamaha MS-60S powered monitors Still use these today.

Although some instruments were only used for a period of months, when I look at this list, even considering it is over an approximately 45 year career working full time in music, I'm not quite sure whether to be amazed or ashamed.

One thing for sure, it was a great education regarding keyboards.

Ian

And the sad part year after year now it get's LESS & LESS as if you didn't notice at this past NAMM in January,....things are changing, less gear offered, it's sad & boring. Glad I was around to enjoy the
"Good Times Abundance Gear Years"

When I still have a S950 over 2 years something ain't right

Don,
Why would anyone go from the PAX3 to the PA800 or PA900? I thought the PAX3 was the top 0f the line for the Korg arrangers, NO?

Certainly less as far as Arranger Keyboards are concerned, at least at the mid to high ranges.

Even Roland, which was very competitive and quite often a leader in Arranger Keyboard technology, is a mere shadow of its former self in Arranger production.

Arranger units may be become more software based, so perhaps Dan2000 is on the right track...I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually gets approached by one of the major Arranger Keyboard manufacturers...if that hasn't happened already.

Ian

Here is my list... at home with my parents we played organs..but when i moved on my self i switched to arrangers and synths..


Yamaha DX7
Roland TR 909
Roland E70 *
Roland D50
Technics KN1000
Roland Sound canvas *
GEM WX2 *
Yamaha MU80 *
Yamaha PSR 9000 pro *
Roland V/synth *
Roland G70
Yamaha VL70 *
Roland V/synth GT *
Yamaha Tyros 1
Korg M3
yamaha EX5 rack
Yamaha S90ES
Wersi OX7 *
Ketron audya 4
Korg Kronos 88
Korg PA3x
Tyros 5-76
Roland FA08
Roland V/synth GT2 (again)
Roland Integra 7
Yamaha Motif ES rack with FM and VL expansion boards
Roland A-88
Roland V-synth XT

There is also a long list of music computers and software, ever since my Atari XT..

The stuff marked with a * where new instruments i bought in a shop, everything else is used gear...

Currently i own T5, A-88, V-synth XT, Motif ES rack, Integra 7

Well, this also relates to an earlier post. I had a chance to sell the PA3X, after two plus years, for the same price I paid for it new. Also, the PA900 is much lighter, has a bigger screen, speakers, and sounds so close that I can't tell a difference.
I did lose some controls that I wish I had, such as Touch Strip (Ribbon Controller), three banks of programmable sliders, dedicated buttons for changing lead sounds and ability to use the FC5 foot controller. All in all, I used the PA3X for all that time at a net cost of zero $! I bought the 900 used.

Pretty slim list here:

1962 Some sort of Hohner chord organ (my mum liked the shiny cabinet)
1964 Watkins Telstar - yours truly in action here with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6SOEWXddFw
1966 Hammond L102 with a homemade (not by me) rotary cabinet
1968 Hammond M100 straight across swap
1975 Micromoog
1980 Hammond X1 (a bit ashamed to admit that really, but life happens :))
1980 Yamaha CP30
1987 Some cheesy Kawai arranger
1996 Roland e38 arranger
2001 Korg i30
2009 Korg Pa1XPro

Don, last year I had a Pa900 in the house - couldn't live without the sliders and the EC5.

I purchased a Peak midi foot controller that works fine. I would prefer the EC5 though.

Whoops...I actually forgot a few...

Silvertone chord organ.

Yamaha Electone HS-8 digital organ

Yamaha PSR-70

Roland E-70 Arranger, which I bought while in Newfoundland, and sold to get the KR-650.

And two that I still have, and use, here at the apartment and in the studio:

Yamaha CS-01 analog synthesizer

Yamaha TQ-5 Tone Generator.

Plus I have my adopted Mum's extremely old Ruggeri violin (superb condition, with original case and bow), which I never learned to play.

I have to say, I'm enjoying seeing these lists of gear...some pretty cool instruments, especially 124's Watkins Telstar (and performance)...did you play the song Telstar on it as well?



Ian

This is a great sounding tone module, Bachus...the modeled sounds were very realistic. A friend of mine used one of these in the studio, controlled by a wind controller, a Yamaha WX-11, I believe.

What did you use to control it? Did you use a breath controller?

Why did you sell/trade it...were you able to get its equivalent in another instrument or module?

Ian

The KORG SAS 20 was my first Arranger Kb a first for Korg also 1983..


Before this model for on stage gigging around 15 years before this
I had so many keyboards, synths, organs, E pianos, etc, that were
non arrangers playing in bands.



Pic 1983 playing SAS20 on stage.....

My total keyboard list is probably a bit longer than Don's if I could sit down and think about it all thru the years....

Vox Continental, Farfisa Compact duo, Doric organ, Yamaha CS-01, Rhodes Suitcase, Hammond B3, Juno 60, Arp Omni 2, and many many more...

One of my favorite 80's Arranger style gig rigs was a Korg M1 Synth & a Roland RA90 w/Supercard....oh baby !!

Well, as a big fan of the VL series, i never realised how much a breath controller was needed... what then happened was almost like a nightmare...

So after buying and playing the unit, i decided to get the breathcontroller, only to find out that the WX series of breathcontrollers where full wind emulation instruments and not what we envision with a keyboard solution breathcontroller..

Luckilly we found a device that converted the Yamaha BC1 breathcontroller information directly into Midi, this midi got connected to my keyboards midi IN.. with the Midi out connected to the VL70m...

It was a great sounding unit, at a great price, and probably way better then the VL plugin board i curently have in my Motif rack.

I never understood why Yamaha abandoned this track of VL synthesis..


Good thing is, this box allows me to connect my current BC3 to any Keyboard i want... i personally just love breathcontrollers and their expressiveness. Not being a singer adds even more to the usefullness..

Here's a great site all about combo organs.

http://www.combo-organ.com/

Will bring back a lot of memories to some of us here.

Ian

Forgot to answer your last question Ian...

I sold it after i got the EX5 which also got A VL synth inside, which could be coupled with the AWM synthesis to create great stuffs...

Ah ha...when I saw that EX-5 further down on your list, I wondered if that had the VL-board inside....well, I guess that answers my question.

Thanks kind sir.

Ian

Actually the EX5 was pre boards... It had 1 VL to e build in natively, however as said both the EX5 as the later VL boards never seemd to be close to the stellar VL70, however, they are still incredible fun to play with, thats the reason i bought a Motif ES in December with the VL board inside...

With the exception of the Suitcase that UD got and an Electone organ I gave a former partner, a Piaa string maching and a Micro Korg from the 80's I sold to the Old Synth Guy, every keyboard I ever owned is still in my warehouse. I stopped counting at 40, but found Hohner, DX-7, several Whirlitzers, an M, an M-3, an M100, a C-3, a Nord C-1, 7 misc synths and lots more.

And stringed instruments...back up to over 300.

Looks like a pop music museum around here.


R.

Yep, I think everyone and his dog would've been knocking out that old Tornados hit back then:). That little Watkins organ was a dandy, though. It had percussion on it, not to the degree of Hammond of course, but nevertheless it set it above the Vox Continentals and Farfisa Duos that were the main keyboards of choice in the UK in those glorious times. In fact, I don't think many Telstars were made. I never saw another one 'on the road'.

Watkins were only a small manufacturer, but they made amps and speaker cabinets as well under the WEM (Watkins Electric Music) brand name. Pretty well regarded stuff in general.

BTW, Ian. Did you spot the to-be rock legend in the opening dialogue in that movie clip? Steve Marriott of the Small Faces. We were talking about his putting a group together and he asked if I'd be interested in joining. Nah, says I. I'm doing okay with my band now.

Oh, well.

If I listed stringed instruments...it would go back 50+ years.

Fender
Gibson
Gretch
Martin
Flatiron

Owned a Saga music franchise back in the late 60's.

Taylor(owned part of a franchise in the early years) still have or have owned about a dozen or so Taylor guitars with my son.

Several Chinese, Japanese, Asian instruments

Handbuilt LaPlant Mandolin. Handbuilt Kennedy guitar.

Since I'm a real newbie to keyboards:

Roland digital piano..1990?
Casio Privia...2003?
Casio keyboards that went to kids and grandkids over the years.

Yamaha E423
Yamaha S710
Yamaha S950
Tyros 4
My kids/brother are keyboardists, I'm just learning.

PA Systems

Peavey
Kustom
Yorkville
Mackie
Yamaha
Fender
JBL
HK
Bose
EV

Mostly something line array now.

Microphones.

Almost every brand. Rode and Sennheiser my main brand now. Like others, gave away lots of mikes to the church.

I've owned quite a few boards in my time but this has slowed right down within the last 10 years. I'll try to remember them all though and in the order I got them.

So from 1987 from when I purchased my first keyboard as follows:

Yamaha PSS-790
Yamaha PSR-410
Yamaha PSR-520
Yamaha PSR-620
Yamaha PSR-8000 (first experience of a TOTL)
GEM WX2se
GEM WK6
Korg i30
Yamaha DJX (as a side keyboard to experiment with but sold it on fairly quickly)
Solton X1
Korg PA60
Korg PA80HD
Korg PA1X
Yamaha Tyros3
GEM WK8 Megastation (in exchange for the PA1X)

And now the three that I currently own and have no real intentions of moving away from:
Yamaha Tyros4
Yamaha PSR-S950
Korg PA900

I've had fun with every keyboard I've owned. I have been surprised with some of them for either not being as good as I anticipated or for being better than I expected.

Regret not owning any of the Technics boards and for all their initial amazing bell's & whistles, I shouldn't have bought the WK6 & the Solton X1 boards as they caused me a few problems.

Worst purchase has been the GEM-WK6, best purchase has been the Korg PA900 as I think it's the most beautiful keyboard I've owned to date although the Tyros 4 is pretty amazing too.

I can't see myself changing again really for many years now, boards are really that good that there isn't a need to, not for sounds & styles anyway, the database now is so huge that you cannot go wrong especially on the Yamaha brands.

However, the only *possible* next purchase I may consider would be upgrading the current Yamaha models to the S950's replacement (if one should ever exist) because since moving home, room has become an issue and the T4 is taking more room than I need it to. The replacement though would depend on many things as the minimum requirement for it would have to be an exact replica of the T4 in portable form (including all sounds, styles and features), any less than that then I'll of already of forgotten about it!!!

But going through all the keyboards over the years has been really fun and a great experience.

Take care all,
Danny.