Reply by Amen Ptah Ra

  • Avatar
  • Amen Ptah Ra
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Los Angeles, California
  • Registered: 12-05-2017
  • Posts: 1,817

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

MartinGr wrote:
Amen Ptah Ra wrote:

I’m glad now you got a board to your liking!  Admittedly, I had been concerned if a purchasing plan of yours was indeed ethical...

MartinGr wrote:

I'll buy the SL88 Grand tomorrow evening to try it.

I think as ethical as possible in these days. Shops are closed in Germany, but I could buy it outside at the back door. Still better than shipping, I think. No one needs to save Thomann, but I hope that JustMusic will still have a real shop in the future.
I try to avoid buying online wherever possible at the moment.

Martin

Since you can always return the SL88 Grand immediately, perhaps you should only if it’s defective.

Pianoteq 8 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1), Akai EWI USB, Yamaha DIGITAL PIANO P-95, M-Audio STUDIOPHILE BX5, Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP.

Reply by MartinGr

  • Avatar
  • MartinGr
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 04-02-2020
  • Posts: 53

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

Amen Ptah Ra wrote:
MartinGr wrote:
Amen Ptah Ra wrote:

I’m glad now you got a board to your liking!  Admittedly, I had been concerned if a purchasing plan of yours was indeed ethical...

I think as ethical as possible in these days. Shops are closed in Germany, but I could buy it outside at the back door. Still better than shipping, I think. No one needs to save Thomann, but I hope that JustMusic will still have a real shop in the future.
I try to avoid buying online wherever possible at the moment.

Martin

Since you can always return the SL88 Grand immediately, perhaps you should only if it’s defective.

It is defective, unfortunately. But I will exchange it on Tuesday for the same model.

Last edited by MartinGr (11-02-2021 23:17)

Reply by Michael F

  • Avatar
  • Michael F
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 28-01-2021
  • Posts: 14

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

MartinGr wrote:
Amen Ptah Ra wrote:
MartinGr wrote:

I think as ethical as possible in these days. Shops are closed in Germany, but I could buy it outside at the back door. Still better than shipping, I think. No one needs to save Thomann, but I hope that JustMusic will still have a real shop in the future.
I try to avoid buying online wherever possible at the moment.

Martin

Since you can always return the SL88 Grand immediately, perhaps you should only if it’s defective.

It is defective, unfortunately. But I will exchange it on Tuesday for the same model.

Could you please elaborate about what the problem was? I did indeed read about SL88 reliability issues.

Last edited by Michael F (11-02-2021 23:23)

Reply by sigasa

  • Avatar
  • sigasa
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: UK
  • Registered: 09-01-2008
  • Posts: 2,031

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

Hi guys,

I owned a Numa Nero and an Acuna 88 by Studiologic /Fatar. Both controllers developed problems with irregular and unbalanced velocity response. Unfortunately Fatars' quality control leaves a lot to be desired and this is evidenced by the number of negative reviews on the net. I now have a Yamaha which is built brilliantly - P515WH.

It's such a shame that the TP40WOOD suffers from poor quality control (it could be easily rectified) as the actual design of the action is the closest to a grand piano as I have ever experienced, especially on the FLK Lachnit that I had for about a week but sent back because of an extremely sticky key!!

Anyhow, you pays your money, you takes your choice - just be warned (friendly advice).

Warmest regards

Chris

Reply by MartinGr

  • Avatar
  • MartinGr
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 04-02-2020
  • Posts: 53

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:
Amen Ptah Ra wrote:

Since you can always return the SL88 Grand immediately, perhaps you should only if it’s defective.

It is defective, unfortunately. But I will exchange it on Tuesday for the same model.

Could you please elaborate about what the problem was? I did indeed read about SL88 reliability issues.

The b avove the middle is clicking. When I grab the key and move it on the right side, it gets really loud and you can feel it.

Reply by Michael F

  • Avatar
  • Michael F
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 28-01-2021
  • Posts: 14

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

MartinGr wrote:
Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:

It is defective, unfortunately. But I will exchange it on Tuesday for the same model.

Could you please elaborate about what the problem was? I did indeed read about SL88 reliability issues.

The b avove the middle is clicking. When I grab the key and move it on the right side, it gets really loud and you can feel it.

Thank you. By the way, I am getting Roland A-88 mkII today.

Reply by MartinGr

  • Avatar
  • MartinGr
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 04-02-2020
  • Posts: 53

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:
Michael F wrote:

Could you please elaborate about what the problem was? I did indeed read about SL88 reliability issues.

The b avove the middle is clicking. When I grab the key and move it on the right side, it gets really loud and you can feel it.

Thank you. By the way, I am getting Roland A-88 mkII today.

Oh, please share your impressions!

Reply by Michael F

  • Avatar
  • Michael F
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 28-01-2021
  • Posts: 14

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

MartinGr wrote:
Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:

The b avove the middle is clicking. When I grab the key and move it on the right side, it gets really loud and you can feel it.

Thank you. By the way, I am getting Roland A-88 mkII today.

Oh, please share your impressions!

I will!

Reply by sigasa

  • Avatar
  • sigasa
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: UK
  • Registered: 09-01-2008
  • Posts: 2,031

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:
Michael F wrote:

Thank you. By the way, I am getting Roland A-88 mkII today.

Oh, please share your impressions!

I will!

Have you received your A-88 MK2 yet and if so what are your opinions??

Reply by Michael F

  • Avatar
  • Michael F
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 28-01-2021
  • Posts: 14

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

sigasa wrote:
Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:

Oh, please share your impressions!

I will!

Have you received your A-88 MK2 yet and if so what are your opinions??

I have indeed. After playing it for some time, I just like it. Its action is 64g and its properly weighted. I compared it recently with Roland PHA50 and Hybrid Grand (both are ~60g) and although I consider Hybrid Grand action to be superior, I prefer PHA-4 action of A-88 mkII.

Reply by NickieFønshauge

  • Avatar
  • NickieFønshauge
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 07-02-2017
  • Posts: 7

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

MartinGr wrote:
Michael F wrote:
MartinGr wrote:

It is defective, unfortunately. But I will exchange it on Tuesday for the same model.

Could you please elaborate about what the problem was? I did indeed read about SL88 reliability issues.

The b avove the middle is clicking. When I grab the key and move it on the right side, it gets really loud and you can feel it.

Since you are German, you might be interested in this video https://youtu.be/mm2cDefYuuM in case you run into more problems with your SL88 Grand.

Reply by Fleer

  • Avatar
  • Fleer
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Boston/Cambridge
  • Registered: 10-11-2014
  • Posts: 619

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

Michael F wrote:
sigasa wrote:
Michael F wrote:

I will!

Have you received your A-88 MK2 yet and if so what are your opinions??

I have indeed. After playing it for some time, I just like it. Its action is 64g and its properly weighted. I compared it recently with Roland PHA50 and Hybrid Grand (both are ~60g) and although I consider Hybrid Grand action to be superior, I prefer PHA-4 action of A-88 mkII.

I have the same action in my Roland RD-88 and it's omnipresent in their FP range (except for the FP90 and FP90X that share the PHA-50).

Pianoteq Pro Studio with Bösendorfer, Shigeru Kawai and Organteq

Reply by lewisalexander2020

  • Avatar
  • lewisalexander2020
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: North Wales. United Kingdom
  • Registered: 18-03-2021
  • Posts: 226

Re: Best controller recommendations (under $1000)

my own take, I use a Fatar Studiologic SL88 Studio, nice to work with as a studio controller, but I also recommend the SL88 Grand which is a more weighted and accurate feel for a grand piano feel.

Blind Music Producer, Composer, pianist and Church Organist. Accessibility development specialist for MacOS. Developing a solution for blind organists to have an accessible digital organ solution.