2017 NAMM Visit

At, NAMM I stumpbled upon Aspen's booth Center point Stereo. I never get the name right. A lighter version with the exact same sound quality and volume. Also, he has a bigger model. Both units sounded good in that noisy place.

I enjoyed watching demo of the MZX 500. I thought it is a great board, but I wanted to see 88 keys. I really liked RD2000 and the new FP series pianos by Roland. I ran into someone who posts a lot of videos on Youtube and compare keyboards/digital pianos. I asked him about his most favorite digital piano. He said without hesitation the Kawai MP11. It was a good looking board, and I remember having some rave reviews and but it didn't grab the way Roland other boaards did. Dexibell had crowds always. They had good players, too. Not a bad board, but I didn't spend enough time.

More than anything, I wanted to see Ketron, but I don't think they were at Winter NAMM in the last 10 years.

I'm getting a new DP very soon. Problem is which one? Only one I can demo is the Roland FP 30. No screen or 1/4" outs puts me off that one. Casio 360 is just a small upgrade from my current 350. Touch screen and improved sounds are nice but the keyboard and basic piano sounds are the same. So now I'm leaning toward the Roland FP90. Can link it to an app for lots of extras and supposedly has a whole new sound source and keybed. But heavy ! Really not planning to gig with it so that's a minor problem.
Please tell me more about your impressions of the FP90. Hard to buy sight unseen.

Both the FP90 as well as the RD2000 have the incredible PHA50 keybed... looks like shop prices will not be hugely different just under 2k vs just over 2k over here in € lands..

Anyway, for piano players,the PHa50 is the only real alternative to Kawai keybeds...

Among other things, I liked the keyboard action on the FP90. Then again, the action is a subjective thing.

The weight of the FP90 is a deal breaker for me. You mentioned Casio. I wonder if you considered the 560 by Casio?

Now that I play more VSTs these days, I spent more time at the Fatar booth and tried all their keyboard controllers. Their new Studiologic was awesome. The combination of the controller and the plug-in kept me wanting to play on.

I was set to get the Casio 360. I just want a good piano and action . The 560 has some extras I just don't think I'll use but everything is up for grabs now. The FP90 looks like the best pro level board for me and I don't plan on taking it to gigs. I have my BK-9 for that. I wish I could just line them up and make a choice. I may get a call any day from the Music Store Mgr. where I work. He is at NAMM and may get me a good deal while ther so I'm kind of under pressure. I did get a super pre-order price online for the FP90 but Still not sure enough to commit. Help!

I think you are answering your own question. If you don't plan to take FP90 to gigs, and you have a good discount on it, the FP90 is appealing all the more. I tried out the RD2000 at NAMM. It is becoming more like a workstaion with many sounds and features rather than a stage piano. More expensive, too. Overall, I'd choose the FP90. The onboard speakers will come in handy, too. The weight of the FP90 action would be very similar to your Casio, not too heavy nor too light.

Thanks for the input. I think I've settled on the FP90. Beakybird posted on the Piano Forum he got his and loves it."Still would be nice to actually play one first but in that range there isn't a lot of choice until you get into home furniture,pieces and the forget it, your head spins.
Thanks again

More expensive is relative, the RD2000, is just as expensive as the RD800 at release..

The fp90 is more a mobile piano, a stagepiano is a conbination of sounds and controll these days... if you dont need the controll part, fp 90 Still misses what makes the RD2000 even more spectacualr soundwise, the V-piano part aa well as the advanced effects

Shop pricees after the initial high, are probably 1700 vs 2300 euro here in europe

I may be wrong but don't the 2000 and FP90 use the same keybed and Piano sound source ? The 2000 adds a second sound source for all the extra PCM sounds. And has more controller capabilities.

Keybed same
10 instruments with V-piano limitless polyphony vs 6 super natural piano modeling sounds (limited edditability) on the fp 90
1100 vs 350 super natural sounds, 128 poly on the 2000 and 384 poly on the fp90
Effects engine of the RD is much more advanced thne the fp90
Very limited controll on the fp 90 vs advanced master keyboard functions on the RD
RD has audio over USB, which effectively turns the RD in an audio interface for a connected computef...
Advanced midi on the RD2000, 2 midi outs, rainlink to PC

Except for the keybed, i dont think there is a lot the same on these 2 instruments..

Thanks Mostly stuff I won't use on the 2000. I just want a good pia in so I'm still thinking FP90. Thanks for the in depth info. You should be in sales, you know more than any keyboard salesman I've talked to researching my new keyboard.

I use the Roland FP50... love it as my light, portable 88 key. From everything I've read... you would be happy with the FP90!!

I had my hands on the FP90, and it definately is a great instrument, i can say if it suits your needs its a perfect buy.. i really rate it much higher then its competition from Yamaha and the kawai ES8.. and the keybed is so gorgeous for piano..

Thanks everyone ( Beakybird also on the Piano forum ) for your feedback. Looks like I'll be ordering the FP90.

Hey Bill
I just saw a review of the FP90 on Youtube. Very impressive.
Congrats
Bernie

Yes, not pertinent to arranger forum, but the FP-90 has a great piano feel and great sounds. For home use, I don't think I've ever need another MIDI controller.

After getting info from you guys and making up my mind I took a ride over to the Music Store where I teach. Mgr just got back from NAMM and said "good news, I ordered your Casio 360 !" Whoa, I told him to call me from NAMM if he saw anything new in DPs, otherwise get the Casio. He saw the 2000 but missed the FP90. He got right on the phone with the the Casio rep and cancelled the order.
FP90 is on its way. Really my fault but it all worked out, can't wait.

Bill..good luck with the FP90

There is an excellent demo at Bonner Music on the new Roland FP90
digital piano. Have a look. Lloyd

it really Nice Donny I going to pick one up

RJ

it really Nice Donny I going to pick one up

RJ

RD 2000

Had a chance this morning tonsit behind the fp90 again, it was standing next to a kronos 88, which i own and an fp50 and a kawai mp7

The touch of the pha-50 keybed is incredible, for piano it was better suited then all 3 others, it even made the RH3 which i am used to dor piano parts feel like a 2nd rate keybed (but then the rh3 is a trade off, its also suited to play fast syth and organ parts to some extend) but for comfort, controll and touch, the fp90(and so will the rd2000) is a perfect instrument..

About the piano sounds (and the many other sounds) i can be clear, they are typically Roland sounds, if you like Roland sounds, they are perfect... i personally like them better for piano and organ than any other Dp..

The fp90 is quite easy to operate, straightforward, you can add a2nd sound and kayer or split it... nice direct controll over the volume of both layers and the totall eq..indeed more then enough for most piano players...

Sound trough the onboard speakers is also quite okay, for build in speakers its actually very good, its kind of unfair to compare them to my studio monitors or some kind of high end pa

Thanks for the review. Mines on the way and I'm sure it's going to be great for my purposes. I like Roland piano sounds and I think this one takes a big step forward by not relying totally on samples. It will be different from anything before.
All reviews say the keybed is A+ so that's great.
I never liked onboard speakers on any keyboard but the FP90s are supposed to approach what a real piano would sound like so if you gig with it you may not need an amp.
It also does have some limited backing functions with the Roland IPad App so it can be more than just a DP.
I'll update when I get it.

Looking forward to that...

Hi Bill......I thought you might want to read this. From Keyboard magazine March/2017.

Mark
Thanks for the link, great review and if anyone is interested at all in a keyboard like this they should take a look. Covers a lot of info.
If I didn't already order one That review would of sold me.
FYI I was interested in a new case for my BK-9 and Frank at Audioworks who sold me the keyboard turned me on to the new line of cases from Roland. They look very solid but a bit pricey. I may go hard shell but haven't made up my mind yet.