WOW the G-70 is just plain AWESOME! Check out this new video demo on Roland's website. He demostrates the Guitar Mode. Holy Sh@t!!!!!!! Blew me (a guitarist) away! All I can say is yeah baby. I have a feeling I'll be buying the Roland E-60. G-70's out of my price range (otherwise it would be here in my home). Anyways, check out this new video.
http://rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=656&ParentId=18

It's the fist video by: Ed Diaz.

Wonderful...you have to get one Squeak.

Ian

Hi Squeak
This was demonstrated at the Caister Festival last October, and as I said at the time was very impressive, however after listening to the Real Guitar VST http://www.musiclab.com/products/realgtr_info.htm I have to say that all arranger keyboard guitars just become so-so sounds, with a must try harder as a footnote.

Bill

I'll be getting a Roland, but the E-80 and G-70 are way out of my price range. I've got a child starting pre-school, and that alone is going to cost my wife and I several hundred dollars a month, that's on top of our mortgage, and other bills (yikes).

So the E-60 looks like my cup of tea (if it ends up out of my price range too--there's the ever so compact E-50). I personally know that I'd use that guitar mode on the E series.

Squeak

Ya this is cool too

What is the price range of the G70 or E-80 ?
Many of you mention it is out of your price range.

Dennis

I could be wrong, but I thought the average price was $3,000 and up (I could be wrong though).

Squeak

Thanks Squeak,

Would it be fair to say it is around the same price as the Tyros 2? or is it less?


D.

I'd say so. That's why I've never bought a high end arranger. They're just so expensive. For the performer, they'll see a return on the investment, but to those of us who don't perform..., that's like giving a kidney

Here's how I weigh the price. Just 2 years ago I bought my wife a 1998 (mint) condition Ford Taurus with less than 60,000 miles. The price I paid then... well that's the current online price of the Tyros 2 and Korg PA1X/Pro. (not too sure at the moment on the G-70's price).

Squeak

At this point the price of the G70 in italy is more less 2900$, the tyros 2 3150$ and the Roland E80 3800$. For the E60 i had an offer for 1450$.

Hey Squeak...I can relate to the cash man.

That's why I drive an 11 year old Honda...no money for fancy cars when it's tied up in an arranger..

Hope you can get the E-60.

Ian

Squeak: Thanks for sharing the kool Guitar demo.

Interestingly enough, on that SAME Roland demo clip link page, while at Namm 2006, I received the exact same (albeit in person) lackluster demo presentation from Michael Stegner, as the one shown in the accompanying vid clip. Viewing Michael Stegner's demo (it's the 2nd video clip), you might understand why I wasn't able to get very excited about G70.

Scott

Hi Squeak
Why don’t you just buy a midi lead and connect your keyboard to the computer, and an audio lead to connect your computer to the keyboard.
When this is done you can purchase the Real Guitar software program for a fraction of the price of a new arranger. (The software can be easily controlled by your keyboard)
Just a thought

Bill

I can't understand how a guitarist like Squeak can get excited over a gadget that simply produces a poor mans imitation of a guitar. When I had my G70 my bands guitarist laughed his head off at the sounds it produced. No arranger has come close to providing us with a realistic guitar emulation yet, be it Roland or Yamaha.
Abacus is right on his posting, the VST is way ahead. Is that the same VST that you can buy for the Wersi? I heard something inside the Ikarus when I played one which was a plugin of guitars, it was very good, had some nice acoustic sounds and also strat sounds. Either VST or very good samples loaded into it.

Craig,
It excited me becuase "I" feel it's the closet thing I've heard to date "coming from ANY keyboard" on the market.

Sure there's software that will blow the G-70's guitar mode out of the water, but as far as "internal keyboard" guitar simulation again "I" feel Roland's done the best job.

What.., are you taking a cheap shot at my guitar skills just because the Roland impresses me?

Squeak

Scott,
I totally agree on Michael's G-70 video. I honestly think Roland should pull that one. I don't think he does justice to what is a great arranger.

They should also pull the 2nd video of the VP-550 by Corey Fournier (which originally was the first and only one available). The latest video done by Don Lewis makes his look like crap

Squeak

Craig UK;


Have you owned a G-70 yourself?????????

Regards
Niels


[This message has been edited by nielshs (edited 07-20-2006).]

Neils,

I can confirm that Craig Eyre did indeed actually owned a G-70, discovered he didn't like it, and subsequently sold it. He currently owns a G1000 and Tyros2.

Scott

the strumming and plucking function on the g70 is really very cool. That was impressive but did you actaully listen to he tone of the guitar ? I still think there is a problem with the sound engine of the g70 .sorry folks

I will say that I also notice some very slight nuances in the actual tone itself. When he was playing single note arps, it did sound like a guitar, but more a guitar where the action was either a bit too low, or what we guitarist dread (a warped neck)--which in turns causes what's called "fret buzzing". To me I hear fret buzzing in the sample. It's possible Roland added that to try and make the sound more authentic.

I've heard some samples of bass guitar that will also add fret buzz to the sound itself. Whether this was intended by Roland I really can't say.

As far as the strumming in concerned, I think Roland did a great job there

Squeak

As to Roland's vocal harmonizer..I don't recall seeing a video that would do justice to the best there is...second to none..

Fran go to Roland's site and check out Don Lewis's Video Demo of the Roland VP-550. In my opinion with the VP-550 Roland has topped every keyboard based vocal harmonizer out there--Imagine having this beast in the G-70.

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 07-20-2006).]

The Guitar Mode demo was definitely NOT the best that can be achieved on the G70, Honestly, where does Roland get these guys??

Firstly, the guitar sound used in the demo is only one of several, there are nylons, steel strings and electrics all able to use this triggering method (and the E80 has even more........), secondly, for my taste, the velocity curve on the sound he used was too low - those hard hits should only trigger when you pound it (just like a real guitar) - he needs to change the Vel, curve to 'High' for that sound.

There is a 'doubling' mode (just like Virtual Guitarist) that puts different guitars 'in the corners' and detunes them (there IS a control for width) that is VERY effective.

He didn't demo the fact that as you play higher or lower in the chord recognition section, the inversion of the guitar chords change from open to barre.......

The electrics can do a fine 'skank' for reggae.......

Jeez, Roland need to find guys that can PLAY the features before they let them make videos.............

Squeak, I did check it out..That fella does a great job..not because of his vocal ability, but his voicing on the keyboard.

I believe you can simulate this and get the same results with the vocal harmonizer in the G70[vocoder mode with a selected gospel choir]..
I was able to do this with the DisCover5..
Tomorrow I will experiment again on the DisCover5..

Posted By Diki:
---------------------------------------------
He didn't demo the fact that as you play higher or lower in the chord recognition section, the inversion of the guitar chords change from open to barre.......
--------------------------------------------

Now that's cool! Man I wish I could afford to buy the G-70...

Diki, I also agree with you in regards to Rolands demo specialists on their videos. Some are good though, such as Scott Tibbs, Don Lewis, Chris Halon, and Phil Gates (to name a few).

Squeak

The guitar demo is very cool. I hope it is similar on the E50/60 . Reading the documentation was a little hard to viusualize, but this demo makes it clear, although might take a while to get use to actually using it. Have these units showed up in America yet?
I was really impressed by the B3 organ voices.
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 07-21-2006).]

Scott I currently own a G1000, Ketron SD1 (for sale) Tyros 2 and S90ES plus the usual PC stuff (samplers, VST, giga...... too much)
And yes I had the G70 for just over 3 months before part exchanging it, my neighbour also had a G70 for about 9 months before swapping it for a T2, so I've had plenty of hands on experience with them. It was simply not for me, I hated the sounds and styles but loved the keys and the vocaliser was good. I also had a V76 a few years ago and that only lasted 2 weeks before I swapped it. I guess since the G1000 Roland has just not managed to keep me interested, someday they may win me back, but not even the E80 which I heard at Blackpool triggered any remote interest.
Each to their own, so all you Roland owners enjoy making music

I think finally with all the opinion driven never ending posts maybe now we'll get the point that the bottom line is that only thing that matters is WHAT YOU ENJOY....
With that said go make wonderful music & share the gift with the masses.

I am glad that most of the Rolandhaters are in prison now for bashing the Rolandarrangers. A few are still here but they are free on probation.

K.Boarder:

Exactly "WHO" are the Roland HATERS here?!

Does simply not prefering the G70 alone make you one?

Not going to point fingers, but it's no secret, there have been some Roland haters here trashing their products. This forum has gotten a lot better because for a while it clearly had quite a few members that were biased towards Yamaha arrangers, and they let that be known.

On the other side of the coin, there also have been some Roland fans too that trashed Yamaha. There is poo being flung on both sides of the fence

Squeak

I'm a Roland marketing department hater.
Who knows, maybe they finally woke up. Will find out soon.
Starkeeper

The problem with Roland is that there wasnt a good enough improvement in sound quality between the va7 and g70..kinda makes me wonder where all those extra megabytes went? But thats just my opinion and my personal reason for not liking it.

Rolandfan...can you elaborate a bit on your reply.. I want to understand your position?

I own a G-70. Love it....I used to play a clavinova for a Christian Praise band (small church group). A great deal has changed since 1995 when that clavinova was launched. I think my A90, G-70 and Fantom X-7 make a wonderful home rig.

its just weird that anyone would think that a musician would hate any make of instrument...sure they might prefer one over another but even that only aplies from product to product. If roland had got the initial product launch and distribution right from the begining there would have been more DNJ and fran conversions from the get go. They may still convert as new OS systems become available and the instrument develops the way it should have been at the launch. I think this issue has become over blown and i cant wait till DNJ or fran or whoever starts making some music with the instrument apart from neilsh who i have respect for simply for the fact that he actually posts music on the forum and not just trash talk !

Come on guys ! this used to be a great place to talk about the thing we love, music. Lately its become a minefield of accusation , retaliatio and sometimes down right rudeness. Are we men in here or what ?

Hi Scottyee,
Everybody is free to play on the keyboard he/she prefers. Not playing a Roland does not make you a Roland Hater.
Just when you are bashing a Roland you are a Hater. When you say I prefer a Yamaha, an SD , a PA or a Genesys there is nothing wrong with you.
But for some unknown reasons some members and former members really are trying to get Roland down, they are and were the Haters.
We all know them.

There are no bad toparrangers more today.

You are right Wis as ever, all the toparrangers are great instruments. They are just a bit different and that makes that you have to get used to it when changing to another one.

Guitar is Guitar, An Electronic Keyboard is just an electronic thing..I really appreciate to Roland, Yamaha, Korg and the other sound engineering companies too. But I cannot hear any real Guitar, violin or saxophone sounds from them yet..

------------------
nobody never calls me MAD DOG!!

WOW.....
The power of the delete key is truly mightier than the sword.

Dennis

We definitely KNOW who the 'real' king of SZ is now. - Scott

lol

Did I miss something?

... apparently so did I ...
t.

I love Roland
I love Yamaha
I love Korg and Wersi, too.
I love Solton
I love Technics
I love Kawai and Casiooo!

Now, can we all just get along?!

Thats perfect Scott.

I bet Nigel wishes we would do that more often...

Best regards,

Dennis