John Bowen Synth Design

[3rdConstruction]

Greetings all,

I am hoping to find a MIDI keyboard controller that has fully-weighted piano style keys. Ideally, one that can generate polyphonic aftertouch, but I guess a good heavy piano-style feel for meaty percussive playing is my priority.

I know at least two players in this neighbourhood have Kurzweil MIDIboards. That sounds like an ideal solution for me, but I have not been able to find any for sale in North America.

Can anyone tell me about their experience with the Roland A-80? Does anyone have any other recommendations? Am I going to have to buy a digital piano ROMpler just to get weighted keys?

Any suggestions would be very welcome! I am, by the way, in Edmonton, Canada.
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... speaking at length about something is no guarantee that understanding is advanced.

[marzzz]

Personally, as a MIDIBoard owner I think it is the best piano-weighted PolyAT controller ever made. Just keep trolling eBay and Craigslist to see if one comes up.

I am a former A-80 owner, had one for nearly a decade before the MIDIBoard. It is a great piano touch controller, but the PolyAT has much to be desired- you need hands of steel to use it, it is like playing concrete.

Modern, though pricy, alternatives are the VAX77, which comes in at $3K, or there are rumors that Rhodes Piano may be coming out with a MIDI-controller only version of their fabulous keyboard. If that happens, I may consider getting one and putting my mint OS 3.0 MIDIBoard up for sale.

[3rdConstruction]

The scarcity of good heavy weighted controller keyboards is sad, as is the loss of polyaftertouch from those now being made. Your comments about the A-80 & MIDIboard are helpful to me. If one ever comes up, I might have to make a call without laying my hands on one, which is a bit scary for me. Given my unsubtle ham-fisted playing style, maybe the A-80 wouldn't be to bad, but given your feedback, I will definitely keep looking for a MIDIboard as my first choice. Those who've posted about the VAX haven't been enthusiastic. The Rhodes rumour is intriguing...

Thank you again, marzzz. If you do ever decide to part with your MIDIboard, I would certainly be interested! Other comments or suggestions are also welcome!
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... speaking at length about something is no guarantee that understanding is advanced.

[marzzz]

Just a word about the VAX77: I played it last year at NAMM (they were just down the aisle from the Solaris) and was profoundly disappointed. This year the VAX77 people were adjacent to JB, and they had greatly improved the VAX77- the only flaw was that the touch was still a bit too light, but they had weighted the keyboard and it was much better in feel- to the point where if I didn't already have a MIDIBoard I would seriously consider it. It is a bit expensive ($2999US), but definitely now worth a try.

Update [Sept 1]: I was offered a nice amount for my MIDIBoard, enough to significantly defray the cost of a VAX77, so I ordered one (Black, with the "Heavy" action) and I am very happy with it- I dare say I even like it more than the MIDIBoard, never thought anything could do that. It is very nice to have a modern keyboard that compared to a MIDIBoard takes up half the space, weighs a third, and plays just as well if not better.