From jeffinpghpa@yahoo.com Fri Jun 17 03:21:58 2005
Subject:VR-760 vs. Nord Electro (or maybe RD700 with...)

I'm looking for any feedback from users who have used the Roland VR-
760 "V-Combo" board. I realize that if I'm trying to find "one
board" to gig with for organ, electric piano (r's and w's) and
acoustic piano (important! I play jazz), there will never be a "one
size fits all", but I'd like some feedback on the following ideas
from anyone who has tried:

1. Roland VR-760 V-Combo

PROs

- Organ seems decent and has real drawbar controls.
- Leslie sim is usable for my purpose, even though I'm not thrilled
about it
- EP's sound pretty good to my ears through headphones -- especially
the Wurly with tremolo
- I like having controls at the touch of a button without going into
menus to find things
- The acoustic piano is usable -- even better with adding an SRX-11
card

CONs

- waterfall keys not weighted enough for piano. I can pick up a
cheap controller like Studiologic 88 key hammer weighted for $250 or
so on ebay for "just in case" use, I suppose.
- It's expensive

Nord Electro 73

PROs

- Great electric pianos
- Not sure if the organ is any better than the Roland or not, but
it's Leslie sim seems to be
- Less expensive than the Roland V-Combo
- There are more of them for sale on eBay. I can't find a used
Roland V-Combo ANYWHERE!

CONs

- No drawbars
- Acoustic piano is NOT usable for me -- I would need to buy a
dedicated piano like a Yamaha P-90. (Then again, for the cost
savings, I could buy both on Ebay within my budget.... hmmm... not
sure if I'd have money left over for cases or stands -- haha)
- The buttons are small, like video game controllers... Not sure I
could read the menu of things without good lighting on stage or with
too much light in my eyes, etc...
- No SRX type of expandability

Another idea... not sure if it makes sense...

Roland RD-700 Digital piano, with the SRX-11 and SRX-7 ultimate
keys... has some organ tones and virtual drawbar controls in the
menu, and just buy a good external Leslie simulator... or even a VK-
8M

PROs

- Great acoustic piano
- I can't really hear the "Ultimate Keys" add in board, but I would
guess they are ok???

CONs

- Organs may or may not be usable??
- Key weight too heavy for glissandros, etc.

I would be interested in any feedback from those of you have
experience with any of these.

Thanks!

Jeff