How many use their arrangers live?

rickshapiro · Post by **rickshapiro** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 5:59 pm

I am considering purchasing an arranger to support a duo I've started. I am a keyboard and guitar player. I have a 6 piece cover band that plays a few times a month, the money is not great because we are talking 6 people plus a sound crew.

I've now a few a few gigs with vocalist/guitar player. So basically it is just the two of us on guitars. The money is much better. I am now considering whether adding an arranger keyboard to the mix would open new venues or at least make us that much more appealing.

Being new to the arranger scene, I have a stereotype in my head of arrangers being used by home hobbyist playing love songs of the 50,60 and 70s or solo acts doing schmaltz and shtick at private parties in retirement communities. As I mentioned it is a stereotype, I am really just reaching out to see how many are using arrangers professionally in bar, restaurant, private parties gig. The music we do is mostly rock and pop of the last 4 decades.

I would love to hear experiences with arrangers in gigs. Do people come up and say wow sounds great. do they not notice, do they come and complain about "cheating" with prerecorded parts?

Deane · Post by **Deane** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:17 am

Rick,
I have used arranger keyboards live for gigs for 8 years now. Others I know have been doing it for decades. I have gigged live with Korgs PA1X, PA2X Pro, the KMA, Rolands E50, E80, BK7M, Yamaha PSR3000, Tyros 3, and Tyros 4.

Deane

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:25 pm

I've been an arranger player for years. I got away from the "group" bands for several reason, mostly ego trips, poor moral values, ect. I presently use the PA3X and the Bose professional sound system for musicians. For a 2 hour gig my fee is $200.00. Owners and managers like the idea they can get a 4-5 peice sound for lower than the price of a group. Hope this helps and....keep playing music.

virtuoso · Post by **virtuoso** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:39 am

Me same as Chuck,but I live in Croatia,also being guitar and keyboard player,used almost ten years korg i5s,last two years I'm using pa-588 for reason that sometimes I'm doing gigs like a piano bar.Here my youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCAsurLaXak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqdBYMSE ... ure=relmfu

virtuoso · Post by **virtuoso** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:40 am

Me same as Chuck,but I live in Croatia,also being guitar and keyboard player,used almost ten years korg i5s,last two years I'm using pa-588 for reason that sometimes I'm doing gigs like a piano bar.Here my youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCAsurLaXak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqdBYMSE ... ure=relmfu

rhinomark · Post by **rhinomark** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:14 pm

Mostly use with my band of 9 people: have a bass player and second keyboard player. Use a combination of approaches: just drums; drums and several backing tracks; and full backing tracks. And for some, just use voices of Yamaha with no styles. It's versatile.

We're doing a show tomorrow with a live drummer, so no styles, but will use some of the articulated voices-- sax, steel guitar. I'll play guitar on all but three songs.

I am very interested in the new Korg 600. I have a Kronos that I mostly play now, but would love to have a more contemporary sounding arranger.

Nothing is better live than having all the instruments played by real people. But I'm now putting together a duo as well, and I will go back to driving an arranger.

Synthesizerplayer · Post by **Synthesizerplayer** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:32 pm

I have gigged with Casio, Yamaha and Roland arrangers. For covers and duo or trio bands it is a good setup to use arrangers. It sounds more polished. When i was younger the other bands in our college that did not use arrangers ended up sounding not as good as our duo. You don't need much programming in an arranger. But if you have the time to program a workstation like the Kronos or Motif then you will appear to be more professional. To common audience, it does not matter. It is up to you to choose your instruments and your time.

DESERT GUY · Post by **DESERT GUY** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:50 am

I have, too, been doing gigs with an arranger for a number of years....my first was the Roland G-800 and have had several others since. My favorite to date is the Korg PA3X. I have played mostly in trios, playing a variety of styles, mostly for the older set.

rhinomark · Post by **rhinomark** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:24 pm

I'm out in the Mojave Desert. Since you play mostly for older people, you may not know (my band does a lot of the older songs too), but does your PaX3 have more contemporary sounding styles than the Yamahas?

I love the Yamahas, but sometimes feel they're too old or too Euro. Have never played a Korg arranger and have a 600 on order. It's not easy to find them in music stores to try them out.

Thanks!

DESERT GUY · Post by **DESERT GUY** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:27 am

Hi, I don't have any experience with Yamaha's. I've just had Rolands and Korgs. I've played on some of the older versions of Yamahas in stores, but in my opinion Korg's sounds are much more realistic then those I heard on Yamahas. Korg has about every conceivable style going so I don't think you will be disapointed with the PA600. I"m looking at this arranger as a back up for my PA3X just in case it decides to quit on me. I'm concerned about the fact Korg seems to very lax getting replacement parts for the PA3X from what I'm reading in some threads. I can't be without a keyboard very long due to the amount of gigs I play.

Korg Forums

How many use their arrangers live?

How many use their arrangers live?

Have used a Yamaha PSR 900 for about four years.....

Hey Desert Guy