First time out. Can you imagine what Andre would sound like on this thing? Anyway here it is. First Zydeco on a Roland on the net. Link #1

Next, durability.... but I still want one.

well!
you make it sound pretty good!
wle

curley taylor was playing the piano version of it as early as 5 years ago

you;d hear saxes and harmonicas out of it, violins, etc

but he recently quit playing it because it wouldn;t start up one time, he couldn;t get it to play

said if he had to carry another piano acc for backup, he may as well not bring the roland, so he quit

wle

I spoke to Curley about that. He had battery problems. You get about 5 hours on a charge. Being on the road it was hard to recharge the batteries and he didn't like using a cord. I had some problems with it today but it was of my own doing. And because it is a computer, I guess it can just quit on you. I have the single rows to rely on so for me it's not a problem. Curley has added a single row to his show too but he is still dragging around that Alessandrini. Sweet piano note for sure. This digital stuff is just not intuitive for me so I ended up lowering the octaves again (how did I ever so that?) and then couldn't figure out how to get it back. I managed to fix it and I think I can avoid doing that again. I'm gonna keep using it and just keep working on it.

oh yeah

it does seem like he said it centered around the battery

maybe you can;t just keep it plugged in, in case it;s not charged, to play

so if it isn;t charged ahead of time, it won;t work..?


and he wouldn;t like to always depend on planning ahead

or maybe the battery went bad, lost capacity, and he couldn;t trust it any more



wle

some of the early users of the piano and chromatic versions reported issues with buttons falling off, if i recall correctly

wle

Sounds pretty darn good, Johnny. That solves a lot of potential problems with reeds and valves, but maybe has a few others?

Hell, yeah..that sounds GREAT and you played great...good tight band and I love that raunchy sound setting you have on the Roland..what is it??..is it an on-board FX or did you download something.?
What did you play through..that Powered Mixer or a stand alone amp?

The issues of battery life etc . are noted, but, hey, there's always ways and means around that..like good planning, using mains power, back up battery?, back -up instrument, etc.
If you're just noodlin' around on your front porch andthere's a system breakdown you just stop playing take it to the repairman, but at a gig you never, ever start without a back up plan...

I'd like to think the Roland people are noting these feedback comments and planning a stage 2 long life battery...anyone know??

Even quality non digital instruments can play up...like busted reeds, buttons, flappers and keys breaking, wax blocks melting in the heat, internal mikes feeding back like crazy , etc...you must always have contingency plans for a gig.
And for me, the lesser price of an FR-18 allows you room to buy or retain a back up of some sort.

Man..I'd love one of these Rolands..all to gain and little to lose in my opinion.

Thought this site and tech. info. was interesting.

http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4780

.............

In Australia we pay over $1000 more for the Roland than you guys in the USA ( man, you guys get stuff SO cheap over there, music gear, clothes, cars, fuel, etc. )..and our dollars about the same..UK pounds price? refer web site..not sure how that price compares.

Think I'll check with Roland Australia for Service Support capabilities..that's extremely important!..don't want to be stranded with an instrument that suddenly won't work and nobody knows how to fix !

BTW..knowing that an FR-18 would cost somewhere between $1800 and $2800, what would you pay for, say, a, new Dino Baffetti 9 switch with internal pick ups?..and who would sell them in the USA?

I've also read that the DBs are quite heavy in that 9 switch configuration...another reason to go Roland if you can get the performance out of it.

Check out Liberty Bellows in Philly on line. They have a 9 switch Fantini in GCF at a ridiculously low price. Anyone who wants a real triple row should jump on this one.

Sounds *very* good to me!

--bn

Thanks Big. and thanks for keeping the board up and for the teaching vids.