21 levels (+10,...0,..-10) for many of the parameters seems a bit too coarse.

I'd like to see more control over the unison tuning rather than some kind of global detune. If each string could be individually controlled then you would get a much more realistic and quirky Honky-tonk piano.

I'm all for touch based controls but I wonder how well these are implemented. To do it right IMO there should be tactile bumps, dips, grooves, or ridges associated with the buttons and sliders. Everyone gets off on the smooth look, and it's easier to clean I suppose, but it's fundamentally impractical.

You are correct... the V-Piano uses a colored "core" that looks like wood, but it is not wood... sorry for any confusion.

Regards,

- Gary

For me, I'd rather have the engineers do the work, get the piano sounding right, give me marginal adjustments to tweak a tiny bit, and then learn to enjoy the piano's particular sound and characteristics. Too much variability and I become overwhelmed, and spend too much time tinkering. I really don't want a piano that sounds like something a seven-toed alien interloper would create.

I agree. Too many controls on a piano makes for a nuisance. It might be a sign of too much involvement by engineers, at the expense of involvement by musicians.

And, this is exactly what the V-Piano is already capable of doing, which gives far better results on a "Honky-tonk" piano sound, just as you mentioned.

The editable parameter changes in the V are nearly endless.

Oh, I like to deal mainly with presets too, but I get a little frustrated when the preset variations aren't realizable via the front panel controls.


Wow, those Roland guys are real engineers.

From what I have heard and seen thus far in the demos there probably will be no revelations with the soon to be released Physis Piano, when comparing it to the Roland V-Piano. I am sure the Physis will have plenty of modeling features, although the best playing digital is one that has great connectivity and action.

It may be quite a while before something else shows up that can match what the V already does.

http://www.thomann.de/fi/physis_piano_h1.htm
http://www.thomann.de/fi/physis_piano_h2.htm

Physis - 1700-2200 euros and 10kg less than the V-Piano. Not good news for Roland.

It shows 3499 and 3999 euro now?
edit: Ahh, thanks below.

I think voodooblues meant that the Physis models cost 1700-2200 euros less than the V-Piano.

Exactly, sorry, bad english

Here is an online store where you can get the V-Piano for $5,499:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roland-V-Piano-V...=item5aed5a1420

pv88, you won'y buy in europe V-piano for 6000$...
but for around 5300 and more EUR...
so compared to the 4k EUR H1 its around 30% more

The EU price is including tax, the US price isn't.

So the H1 would be €3360 or $4439 excluding tax. So the physis is actually $1600 cheaper than the V-Piano

Add Physis Piano Stand S1 for € 2111 and you have a nice package for € 6110 (S1 + H1). Why would anyone want to buy something like that over for instance a Kawai VPC + the best SoftWare Piano(s) + a nice stand and speakers and save thousands of euro's in the process ?

And most probably end up with a better keybed as well (Kawai RM3-II vs FATAR). Although the verdict is still out on the particular FATAR in the H1 to be fair. It seems to have a 3 sensor keybed, which is new to FATAR , so it must be a new , or upgraded model that they utilize.

I can imagine the compact design, user friendliness and weight (27 kg is less than VPC / MP10) is an advantage, but not for € 4000. Somewhere between 2k and 3k would make the board much more interesting IMHO.

Please note there is no tax on a "GigaSonic Outlet" order, as long as it ships out of state to the customer (as it did with my order) and, since there is free shipping the price you pay is exactly what you see online:

The V-Piano will ship for $5,499.

pv88, maybe in US V-piano is relly so cheap, but in Europe 5500 USD is 500 USD less than NU1 costs!
And as we know, price for the NU1 is normally around 1,5k$ less than for the V-piano...

The V-Piano is definitely not cheap for US buyers, although I do see your point with the pricing differentials in Europe, as it may cost you more. You have to decide as to what you believe your best deals are, there.

It's really a matter of if you will like the Italian "Fatar" action in the Physis, as I would be more concerned with getting local serviceability if it needed repair.

There will be no definitive pricing answers here until the Physis Piano reaches the US, if (or, when) it does.

It's also a matter of whether you will ever be able to find a Physis in a store to try it out. There are thousands of Roland dealers in the world, not sure the Physis is going to appear in many showrooms. In fact, I'll bet it will never appear in any Australian shop, ever.

pv88 EU prices always include the local sales tax. You are comparing the EU price of the Physis which includes the local sales tax of %20 to the US price of a V-Piano which doesn't include tax.

The Physis isn't $5,270. It's $5,270 including a 20% sales tax. You'd have to discount the 20% from the Physis or mark up the V-Piano by 20% to make a fair comparison.

Without tax the Physis isn't $5,270, it's $4430 or $1,100 cheaper than the V-Piano price you quoted last. The V-Piano would be Eur 5,500 in the EU which would make it $1,900 more expensive than the Physis and also $1,300 more expensive than the Yamaha NU1.

With the best will in the world, I don't believe Viscount and Fatar are equivalent to Roland in terms of quality of product and quality control. I think the pricing is unrealistic - but I'll probably be proven wrong.

Unintentional double negative?

Whoops! Thanks for pointing that out, James. Post edited.

To be Compared at Thomann.de (Pedal UNIT I have just estimated with 200 EUR):

EURO/Thomann.de
___________Slab___Stand__SUM
VPIANO5____5.669____639__6.308 *Stand KS-V8, Boxes in VPIANO, pedal included
[/i]
Physis H1__3.999__2.048__6.047 *Stand ST1(S1?) with 6 Boxes and pedals
Physis H2__3.499__2.048__5.547 *Stand ST1(S1?) with 6 Boxes and pedals

These seem to be comparable packages (all with stand, sound boxes and pedals).

Not comparable at all.

You need to compare with Physis S2 stand (288 euros). The S1 stand incorporates amps and speakers etc. The V-Piano never comes with amps/speakers built in to it or its stand. Both pianos come with pedals anyway.

So, total price of V-Piano with stand is 6308 Euros
Total price of wooden action Physis (H1) with S2 stand is 4287 Euros

If there are any Swedes here, JAM. a store in Stockholm will host a demo of the Physis piano for the Swedish premiere this Wednesday. It looks like it will be held by Viscount experts. I don't think that I will be able to go myself though and I'm actually not that interested in it, mostly because of the use of a Fatar keyboard. But for those who are interested, you can read more about the event at jam.se (Swedish site).

The new demo recordings aren't impressing me as much as the earlier ones, and often the attacks sound lacking, just like Pianoteq. (worse than Pianoteq I think) It sounds good, but not fantastic. Still no Wurly demos either.....

Greg.

I'd reckon you might find one in a certain shop in South Yarra if it ever ships in quantity

[trivia]
Does anyone know the name of the song played in the Electric Piano "02 Hard Tines 81" demo? Go here: http://www.physispiano.com/audio.php , click the E.Piano link, and then click on the + sign to move to the second recording.

Greg.

Sounds familiar, but I cannot put my finger (or thumb...) on it.

Surely that demo is impossible to play with two hands though, right? I mean, there are three parts (bass line, chords, solo).

James
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