I've been a synth nut since the mid 70's...even helped Bob Easton with creating his sound set for his "360 Systems" digital sampling keyboard (back in the early 80's).
After following the posts here for many years and demoing so many incredible keyboards I am completely perplexed by Roland's philosophy. Maybe someone can explain it to me because I just don't get it. They build this beautiful...incredible sounding keyboard, the G-70. They follow it up with the E series arrangers which appear to utilize the same wonderful sound set used in the G-70. I remember hearing the G-70 for the first time and being blown away by the sounds. Even though I never got a chance to play the G-70...I did get to play the E-80. Again...knocked out by the sound. Next to the E-80 sat a Prelude. The Prelude is not even in the same league from a sound set stand point. What baffles me is why Roland has chosen to not move this incredible sound set developed for the G-70/E series down through their GW-8 and Prelude series. Yamaha, Korg, and Ketron seemed to have found a way to maintain the quality of sounds from the top models to their lower end models. Maybe they've sacrificed in certain areas...but the quality of sound seems to be in the same ballpark. It seems to me that Roland would have had greater success if they would have maintained consistency from the top models down through the lower end. The other companies have done it. I've had a Tyros...an PSR-S900...and now have the PSR-S710. The quality of sound is consistent. If the Prelude sounded as good as the E-80 next to it...I think it would have given Yamaha a considerable amount of competition. Why is Roland hoarding this wonderful sound set? Seems crazy to me. Anyway...I've ranted long enough. By the way...the E-80 I did the comparison with is still available at Brent's Music in Fort Myers, FL. Just ask for Jim in keyboards and tell him Mitch sent you. I know he's anxious to sell it. If I had the money I'd buy it myself.
800-936-7625.