Modartt user forum - Roland A-88 reliability?

Re: Roland A-88 reliability?

2018-02-12T01:24:30Z

My trusty Roland RD-700 (sold) and RD-150 have been with me coast to coast in USA. Other than a dirty slider sending streams of MIDI messages, easily fixed with some DeOxit, never a hiccup from either one. IMHO Roland makes some very solid units. From what I understand the RD-150 uses a FATAR action which surprises me because in my past life, 1990's, I toured with two Ensoniqs as well as a StudioLogic 990 and all literally fell apart on tour. All had Fatar keybeds. I'm hoping Fatar has improved since then but let's just say I'm gun shy. Bottom line, Roland has been good for me. I'm not associated with any of these companies.

Re: Roland A-88 reliability?

2018-02-11T21:56:49Z

I cannot speak for an A-88, but I have been using my trusty Roland A-80 mother controller keyboard almost every day since 1990 (over 27 years) with complete playability and reliability. Over the years, I have used this very same keyboard to make numerous demos for Modartt/Pianoteq. The only aspect that has lessened over time is that the green backlit LED display has gone dim after about 10 or 15 years of use. (Ironically, I mainly played around with the LED display and its multifaceted programmability during the first few years of use. During most of that time, I was using the A-80's programing to control hardware midi modules, such as an E-Mu Proteus and Roland JV1080, products that have long disappeared from my rack since the advent of virtual musical instruments.) Other than that, the 'board has been totally trouble free. I have seen other keyboards come and go, and gladly use my trusty A-80 with no sense of keyboard envy on the horizon.

Cheers,

Joe

P.S. I am not employed by Roland or Modartt or any other marketer of musical instruments.

Re: Roland A-88 reliability?

2018-02-11T05:35:02Z

i've had an a-88 for a little over two years. between me and my students it gets fairly heavy use—c6-8hrs/day, 6 days/week—of "instrument-demanding" repertoire (Chopin, Liszt, Rach, etc), and so far has been holding up like a champ. a little bit of key rattle set in on a few notes (both bass & upper-soprano registers) after about the first year, but it's nothing terrifically untoward so far (especially as the historic instuments we use all have a fair amount of their own "noise" going on anyway). after we move back to europe i'm looking to add a second manual, but will likely go with a vpc-1 (keeping the a-88 then as the upper manual for harpsichord/organ use).
cheers,
dj

Re: Roland A-88 reliability?

2018-02-10T12:56:36Z

I do not own a Roland A-88 but speaking as a music industry veteran, Roland makes some of the highest quality products available. If you are comfortable with the price fine. If you get it and are not completely satisfied then post it for sale and it will sell quickly. If you do not believe it just wait a few hours and it will have been sold before you can buy it.

IMHO,

Lanny

Roland A-88 reliability?

2018-02-09T22:10:34Z

If you own a Roland A-88, I'm interested in hearing about any problems you've had with the keyboard. I found an open box model on Ebay for a good price but it's not covered by the factory warranty.