From jeep99@bright.net Fri Dec 28 14:01:24 2001
Subject:Keyboard amps was...Re: My new Christmas V5 vs. my old OB3 squared

I'm on my second KB-300 and I have always been very pleased with
them. The one I have now is the newer of the KB 300 line but not a
KBA-300. I had the older one (no XLR input on front panel) for years
and played fairly loud country and classic rock, using a Roland EP-7
piano and Korg synthesizer through it. In that same band we had
another keyboardist who also had one (I played mostly organ parts
while she played piano parts). We loved them. They're also great
for acoustic electric guitar (two of them make a great portable
stereo P.A. for small venues). The one I have now is the one with
blue speckles and an XLR input. It also has the Black Widow 15".
These amps have the dual piezo horn , but I've never blown them. I
still play the EP-7 and the bottom half of my organ sound through it,
again doing basically contemporary country and classic rock, some
light blues and jazz. For those who read my posts, it's already a
known fact that I'm a cheap skate...OB3 squared (but not now..V5 for
Christmas), EP-7, KB300...all off the rack economy pieces. But I
usually work with a soundman out front, so the Peavey is just my
stage monitor most of the time. Also, I only use acoustic piano,
Hammond, and occassional electric piano sounds in the type of music I
play, so it works fine for me in the band mix. Like I have said here
before in defense of my "cheapskatedness", it's not as nice as a
Barbetta or Mackie rig, but I traded a Fender tele which I only had $
100.00 invested in, so not $600.00 difference. I play smokey,
noisey, sometimes dangerous bars so I try not to invest too much but
I try to balance price with roadworthiness and quality, and do alot
of "horse tradin'".

-- In CloneWheel@y..., rick155@a... wrote:
> In a message dated Fri, 28 Dec 2001 8:51:44 AM Eastern Standard
Time, Linda Dachtyl writes:
>
> >>I am not sure which Roland you are talking about...<<
>
> A pic of the KC-500 and details are at the Roland site, here:
http://rolandus.com/PRODUCTS/MI/MI_AMS.HTM#KC-500
>
> I haven't compared it to a KBA300, but I have been using a KC-500
for nearly two years now. It does a fine job with my XK-2 handling
the bass rotor sim when paired with a Pro3T. But I'm not happy with
it sounds with my Yamaha P-80 (piano). Even with a separate EQ I
can't seem to get a nice, *natural* piano sound out of it. Yet I
know it isn't the keyboard, as it sounds terrific through
headphones. And although I mostly play just organ and piano, on
those occasions when I've run a synth through it, it's been
noticeably lacking in clean, crisp highs. I would've sold it long ago
if I had the money for a Mackie or a JBL powered speaker, which from
the descriptions I've read here and elsewhere apparently provide much
superior response.
>
> I know piano is tricky to get just right, and I don't know enough
about the frequency characteristics to do a scientific job of EQ'ing.
If anyone has any tips on EQ'ing a KC-500 for piano, I'm all
ears...er, eyes.
>
> Rick