From james_eaton@btopenworld.com Tue May 06 10:33:13 2003
Subject:Re: STUDIOLOGIC SL-161 by Fatar. Anyone use? Any good? B4?

--- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, "schel_d_sullivan"
wrote:
> reviews for it have been poor. But im also poor, so if its half

I have used its lesser brother the SL-61 as a lower manual. My
experience as follows:

Pros
====
- Fast keyboard response

- very light

- relatively cheap compared to other 5-octave controllers with full-
sized piano shaped keys (the evolution keyboards have squared off
sharps and flats which detract from the playing experience)

- Two MIDI outs

- Easy to program

Cons
====
- very light - bounces about it

- cheap - construction is pretty flimsy. If you don't manage to
break it, it will probably self destruct itself

- Prone to bend in the middle. I added a piece of aluminium angle
the same way Bruce Wahler did to fix this.

- Action hinges too close to back of keys so takes a lot of pressure
to press a key near the back, meaning fingertips hurt after a long
gig, so the action feels a bit heavier than it should. I find that
grace notes that would sound on my Hammond with my left hand don't
come out as well using this keyboard. A B-3 key hinges 4 1/2"
further back from the back of the key.

- It sometimes re-programs itself if there is a power spike

If you can afford it you're probably better off getting a used
Roland A33 or A37. You might even pick up a used 5-octave polysynth
such as an Alesis QS6 that would do the job better than the SL-61.

James