Good morning folks,

I'm planning to visit the annual Japan Musical Instrument Fair next week, and hope to spend a little time visiting the various piano/DP manufacturers to play-test their latest instruments.

There are some new models that I am obviously keen to try, and a number of questions to ask the booth representatives. If you have any queries that you would like me to put directly to the staff, please let me know.

While Japan's musical instrument fair is a relatively small exhibition (especially when compared with NAMM or Musikmesse), it's still a popular, well attended event, and I am rather looking forward to comparing the various brands and models.

Cheers,
James
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Ask them when they might possibly get off their butts, come into the 20th century (never mind the 21st), and put >4GB piano sample sets in their DPs already.

If they give you any flack tell them Dr Popper put you up to it.

And, absolutely dead seriously, I would be very interested in their responses (or non-responses).

Korg Kronos?

Will you be able to tell us about the new models you see/try? I am curious if Yamaha is bringing out more digitals in their P series.

Zoe, Yamaha have not announced any updated P series models as part of their Autumn-Winter refresh, however if I see any new models, I'll obviously let you know.

Cheers,
James
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More of a workstation than a DP.

The RM3 and AG key actions really deserve the best sound possible, it's kind of weird to have looping anywhere near them.

Tell them we want a $1000 MIDI controller with a three-sensor RM3 action. Or even better, a AvantGrand-like action (Kawai, I'm looking at you on both counts).

Oh wait, I was supposed to have questions. Ask them why they don't give us those things.

I'd be curious to learn as well if they'll be more AvantGrand-like keyboards.

I'd like you to talk to the Yamaha folks and ask what their plans are for the next generation of hybrids but I know they won't say anything.

Asked what their favorite color was, DP industry types would likely hem and haw.

You'd probably have better luck obtaining nuclear launch codes from the Secret Service.

James,

Please ask them when they are going to make the digital output available on the USB connection to a computer (i.e., just to a USB drive doesn't count).

Have a great time.

You could ask Roland (if my question isn't embarrassingly naive) if they contemplate designing a hybrid piano or would consider incorporating an AvantGrand-like real piano action into their V-Piano or other SN model. (You needn't ask Kawai, you no doubt already know the answer.)

Ask Yamaha when is their first DP with its sounds sampled from their CFX concert grand (which replaces the CF-IIIS concert grand, from which all their current DPs are sampled) coming out, and whether it's going to be in a new AvantGrand model.

Surely they're not going to wait until all the CF-IIIS pianos in use in concert halls around the world have bitten the dust and been replaced by the CFX before a DP based on it comes out?

I would love to have a truly portable keyboard:

Three 25 key sections that fit together, no internal speakers or amp(too much weight and size), but output for phones, line out, usb midi out, pedal in, line in. Good variety of internal piano and organ sounds. All packs up in a nifty oversize briefcase. They can market the amp and external speakers separately.

Hi James,

Please ask casio when they will release privia PX335 in Europe ? And what exactly is their keys action or build quality improvements on PX XX5 series...

Please ask yamaha why P155 is so expensive in france (europe ?) compare to US...

Thanks in advance.

Yes, that ^ about the p155 - also the Roland Fp-7f.

Unfortunately, I doubt the folks at a domestic trade fair will have a great deal of knowledge/experience about pricing in overseas markets.

James
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I understand, but anyway, please rant for me, just for the poetry, just sens of humor then

By the way, I like very my your new CL-36. Please try to convince me to to buy one here :
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthrea...tml#Post1779998

PS : I think you're the only one to answer some of my questions.

I'm glad to read that you find the CL36 to be agreeable. However, I believe you should purchase the instrument that satisfies your own specific needs - it's not my role, nor my desire to convince you.

Kind regards,
James
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Supposed to be funny, missing a smiley perhaps ? It was not really a serious asking, just an invitation to discuss a little and help (a non specialist) to decide among all DP offering. I read you have some inputs about kawai and PX335 actions, so it was interesting for me. But obvioulsy, I can understand it is not so interesting for you.

And about my "own specific needs", well, that the difficult part . The easy one, is that RH is really pleasure to my fingers, and not so expensive.

Yes, I too am keen to try the updated Casio Privia models, and perhaps ask the company representatives about how the action has been improved etc.

Cheers,
James
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Thanks a lot James.

By the way, James. I have some questions.

I take some piano lesson 30 years ago, my parents rent me something that look like the current accoustic upright K-15 in my brochure. I don't know if other model has the same look, I don't know if upright model change a lot in 30 years. I have no instrument knowledge, and didn't play long enough to have a real good appraisal of piano quality... But never the less, it was the best piano I ever tried (even if I didn't try that much ;), for example I never have the chance to play a grand piano).

The question now, is it possible that the Kawai Cl-36 and this kind of accoustic model share some "feeling", explaining why i liked it immediatly at first try, or is it just a "coincidence" ?

And a last one, CL-36 has the same action has CN-33 and MP6, except the let-off, right ? And it is normal I don't miss the CN33 improvement if I was used to a K15 ?

Regards

zack, I'm afraid I don't really know if the CL36 and K-15 share the same feeling. If you believe they do, that's good enough for me!

As for your question, yes, the CL36 uses essentially the same keyboard action as the CN33/MP6, albeit without the let-off simulation.

Kind regards,
James
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I don't know James, it was 30 years ago ! It is why I ask you

Just by curiosity , I wanted to know if DP and accoustic are separate entity, or if some engineering and manufacturing are shared among the product lines (or at least if a brand identity is desired between accoustic and digital product)...

BR

James,

One more question if you don't mind : How do you compare Kawai ES6 to CL36 in term of key action ? I see it is not the same, but are they close ? Then, how do you compare ES6 to PX330 ? Do you think I must try this model if I liked the PX330 versatility on one side and the CL 36 action on other side ?

Thanks

Edit : I compared ES6 to MP6, and considering price and feature difference, I think MP6 is more interesting for me, I thought ES6 was cheaper.

KJ,

I would really like you to petition the manufacturers for a truly portable, graded-hammer digital piano, one that, when fitted in an ATA flight case, would measure less than 62 inches (L + W + H) and weigh less than 50 lbs. They can include as many keys as possible that will meet the requirements for luggage without added fees. That said, having one with five octaves from F to F, instead to C to C, would be a real bonus for anyone (like me) interested in playing early repertoire (anything up to middle Beethoven, including most if not all of Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, Mozart, & Haydn) and who needs to take his instrument on frequent trips.

Much obliged for the solicitation. Enjoy your trip.

Craig

The acoustic and piano divisions are separate, however their expertise and knowledge is shared, undoubtedly.



The CL36 action is better.



I try to avoid making comparisons with other manufacturer's instruments.



I believe you should try as many models as possible before making your decision.



The MP6 is a very capable instrument for the price, however its broad range of features may be a little confusing/distracting for a beginner.

Kind regards,
James
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ctnski, that's an interesting idea, and something that would certainly be appreciated by frequent flying classical pianists.

However, I believe such a product appeals to a relatively small niche, and is therefore perhaps best catered for by specialist developers, such as Infinite Response.

Kind regards,
James
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Yamaha has failed to make such a one. Suzuki failed. I've tried keyboards from both of these, and had to give them up.

Maybe I can get Honda interested. They've always been about compact and ergonomic.

Thanks anyway.

Craig

Robin. Robin Reliant. I'm sure they would come up with an ergonomic solution.



British design and engineering quality,too.

Interesting, what does it use instead of wheels at the front? Bit 60's in its design though.

It had three wheels - there is one right there at the front in the middle. Original design from 1953. I think they tried to revive the brand in the late 1980's but it didn't quite come off - despite all that free publicity from Only Fools & Horses.

Why doesn't any company manufacture a decent MIDI controller with fully-weighted keys, mod wheel and few MIDI control sliders?

There are a lot of virtual instruments on the market but not a single decent weighted, full-size MIDI controller.The only options today are to buy a handicapped one (maybe no mod wheel or lacking MIDI control sliders), packed with sounds disguised as a synth or a DP.

Kawai MP?

[very off topic]
Top Gear (UK)'s take on the Robin Reliant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bIn_ZgHJaE

How about a highly portable (reasonably compact & lightweight) and affordable stage piano with top of the line sounds and decent keys (i.e. non-toy)?

Outside of Nord, and perhaps Korg, the gigging roadie-less keyboardist seems to be getting short shrift.

How about a speaker / amp setup aimed specifically at DP users in order to get realistic (fidelity & loudness) acoustic piano levels?

dewster, what about the FP-7F?

I agree with you about the amp/speaker for piano players though... EPs and organs sounds nice and crunchy through most guitar amps, however acoustic pianos sound absolutely terrible.

Cheers,
James
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Too heavy (24 kg / 53 lbs). And too expensive.

The FP-4F is better at 16.6 kg / 36 lbs 10 oz, but everyone seems to hate the keys, and Roland inexplicably dumbed it down from the old FP-4.

When is Yamaha going to release a AvantGrand MIDI controller (no internal sounds, no stand, no speakers. Just a pedal and keyboard)?

Yes, the Kawai DPs look interesting but maybe a bit expensive for most who are in the market for just a MIDI controller keyboard? CME is possibly the closest to fitting the needs, although the keyboard seems a bit stiff to me and their reputation for quality varies.

I don't hear of many people who use the Kawai MPs only for this purpose (as a MIDI controller) on such sites as vi-control.net

Looks like a lovely DP though and I've heard it has a great keyboard. I'd love to try one someday (but I've never seen one in any store). Although now, I'm quite happy with my Yamaha S90ES.

btw, they shouldn't put the mod wheels so far back. And a second mod wheel controller would be really really sweet (like the Yamaha S77 had - 2 mods + pitch). Plus, some long-throw MIDI sliders and some pots would be nice.

Looks like it's already been done! I see mention of the CFX here in the Yamaha CLP-465P blurb: http://usa.yamaha.com/en/products/musica...=product_lineup I haven't looked at any of the others yet.

Greg.

A good quality, realistic action is heavy.



A good quality, realistic action is expensive.

Cheers,
James
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Thanks for that Greg!

Any idea what the "Keyboard Stabilizers" are? I read the text and looked at the enlarged graphics and now feel dumber. Something about a big red arrow inside the key.

A good quality, realistic action is heavy.



A good quality, realistic action is expensive.

Cheers,
James
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I wonder how much consumers would be willing to spend on just a controller though? Why not pay the extra to have the convenience of internal sounds etc.?



I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that site, however I know the folks at Synthogy use Kawai MPs (previously MP8/MP8II, currently MP10) to demo Ivory.

Cheers,
James
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Dewster - no idea re: the keyboard stabilizers - sorry!

Because convenience is about the only thing those crudely compressed and overpriced internal sounds have going for them?

did Rhodes give up on their $1800 midi controller w/ rhodes action? i don't see it anywhere on their website and i thought they were moving in that direction.

there must be some way to build a good piano action using lightweight composites and get the overall weight down for a controller. i think people would pay a grand for that? but you start getting up around $1200 plus and folks want some content too. the MP6 sounds like a good choice for a studio controller/ road/gigging board? not as light as the Nord but under 50 lbs? i tried a rd300nx at a GC but i thought the action was terrible relative to the much heavier rd700nx

So it is. I'm surprised Yamaha didn't make a big thing out of it, considering how much publicity they sought out of the unveiling of the CFX in the Chopin competition last year (it's in all their advertisements on Yamaha acoustic pianos).

Or maybe they didn't want existing DP owners to feel short-changed because their DPs (including all the AvantGrands) are only sampled from the CFX's predecessor, so they prefer to keep things quiet and sneak it in through the back door?

Up !
So Kawai James, any feedback yet, did you manage to visit the fair ?
BR
Zack

Yes. I'll try to write a mini report with some pictures next week.

Cheers,
James
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Good !

But I can't wait about the casio PX335, any quick leak or I have to wait for the full report ?

For me they have changed the action, but I can't find anyone in music store , or anyone else in the whole internet to confirm this (apart you of course).

I am really impressed by the sens of secrecy of this industry, and finally how small is the active community, not used to...

Bye

zack!, the Casio representatives I spoke to told me that an updated PX-335 model is not planned.
Instead, the minor keyboard action improvement of the PX-130-->PX-135 will be introduced silently as a 'running change'.

Kind regards,
James
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Thanks !

Do you know when the PX330 will receive this new keyboard improvement (the PX135 one), do you think christmas model could benefit from it ? How can I be sure if I buy the good one ?

For me the PX135 action is a bit better (worth the upgrade), a little bit heavier and less loose both at bottoming and in lateral move (like with slightly more friction giving slower velocity). But still not perfect, not as good as GH and RH. I don't know if anyone has tested the new models and can confirm my feeling, I am not really sure in fact.

This is for the feeling, but do casio representatives confirm that the keys will be more consatnt / sustainable / durable / reliable with age ?

Edit : which is another concern I have heard in this forum, and from a music store vendor...

Kind regards
Zack

I'm sorry, I don't know.

Kind regards,
James
x

Ok, don't mind. Very happy you manage to get some info. And for this part :

I guess they won't tell... or perhaps it is a bit embarrassing for you ?
Anyway, have a good day.
Zack