I’ve wanted to replace my old Roland FP4 88 with either an 88 controller or maybe a Casio px-5s for my K61, but my local Guitar center hardly has anything to try these days.
Last time I was there they had maybe one controller and some lower end Casio's and Yamaha’s
Is it just my area (San Diego) or are others experiencing the same thing?
I can find lots of stuff to buy on the net, but I want to play and hear the thing!
Key touch is pretty important to me on an 88 weighted keyboard, I'd hate to order something and regret it.
Do people drive for hours on end to find the gear they want to buy?
Any input?
Anyone notice Guitar Center carrying less and less keyboards
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
GC in trouble
GC is apparently on the verge of bankruptcy. They haven't been paying suppliers, notably Fender, for a while and so they aren't getting new stock until they pay down their accounts.
http://www.ericgarland.co/2015/02/03/end-guitar-center/
http://www.ericgarland.co/2015/02/03/end-guitar-center/
Here's the 88 key I just picked up. I'm pretty happy with it and does what I need for live use:
nektartech.com/Products/Impact-LX88
I'm getting REALLY tired of MIDI controllers not having MIDI ports. The LX88 has MIDI out which is all I needed (in and thru are not). The company has decent support too and this comes in pretty cheap ($299).
-Mc
nektartech.com/Products/Impact-LX88
I'm getting REALLY tired of MIDI controllers not having MIDI ports. The LX88 has MIDI out which is all I needed (in and thru are not). The company has decent support too and this comes in pretty cheap ($299).
-Mc
Current Korg Gear: KRONOS 88 (4GB), M50-73 (PS mod), RADIAS-73, Electribe MX, Triton Pro (MOSS, SCSI, CF, 64MB RAM), SQ-64, DVP-1, MEX-8000, MR-1, KAOSSilator, nanoKey, nanoKontrol, 3x nanoPad 2, 3x DS1H, 7x PS1, FC7 (yes Korg, NOT Yamaha).
Guitar Center has been going downhill for sometime now. They used to make deals but no longer. They are hard and fast with their prices and even though they say they will match prices, they don't.
They really are terrible now. I won't go there unless I absolutely have too. I used to get everything there but not anymore.
I'd hate to see them go bankrupt. I'd rather see them change their business model so musicians that walk in are treated like they used to be.
Just my 2 cents.
They really are terrible now. I won't go there unless I absolutely have too. I used to get everything there but not anymore.
I'd hate to see them go bankrupt. I'd rather see them change their business model so musicians that walk in are treated like they used to be.
Just my 2 cents.
Well, it's no darn wonder they are having financial problems I used to subscribe to "specials" they offered, but when ever they offered reasonable discounts, they always excluded anything of interest. The other day I noticed an ad where they were offering a 15 percent discount to sign up for something they call their "Gear Card". Well, they had a list of all the manufacturers that were excluded from that offer, and I swear it was half a page long and excluded nearly every manufacturer I could think of looking for.
I contacted them via their own site and pointed out to them that their offer is completely ridiculous Guess I'm not the only one who pointed that out to them, as I don't see the offer advertised any longer. I wanted to actually copy the exclusion list here just for the chuckles.
Anyway, I just stopped getting those email notices from them, as they were just a complete waste of time. They actually did have a used Midi Solutions M8 that I tried to buy from them, but they threw so many hoops in front of me to jump through just to buy the thing that I just gave up. Their corporate management must be interesting to have to deal with.
I actually went to the local GC here in Tallahassee just the other day, looking for some odds and ends sheet music since I was in the neighborhood, but they didn't even have that. Just some old dusty generic books that look like they've been there for years. I did walk through the keyboard section, and that was a complete joke. Just some low end Yamaha stuff and a few Casio boards.
Heck, I had to buy my Kronos 88 and the Kurzweil PC3 sight unseen and keys unfelt as there was NO place anywhere nearby for me to try them out first. Fortunately that ended well for me, even though it was a shot in the dark.
I contacted them via their own site and pointed out to them that their offer is completely ridiculous Guess I'm not the only one who pointed that out to them, as I don't see the offer advertised any longer. I wanted to actually copy the exclusion list here just for the chuckles.
Anyway, I just stopped getting those email notices from them, as they were just a complete waste of time. They actually did have a used Midi Solutions M8 that I tried to buy from them, but they threw so many hoops in front of me to jump through just to buy the thing that I just gave up. Their corporate management must be interesting to have to deal with.
I actually went to the local GC here in Tallahassee just the other day, looking for some odds and ends sheet music since I was in the neighborhood, but they didn't even have that. Just some old dusty generic books that look like they've been there for years. I did walk through the keyboard section, and that was a complete joke. Just some low end Yamaha stuff and a few Casio boards.
Heck, I had to buy my Kronos 88 and the Kurzweil PC3 sight unseen and keys unfelt as there was NO place anywhere nearby for me to try them out first. Fortunately that ended well for me, even though it was a shot in the dark.
branman,
I just read the article, I had no idea about the sad state Guitar Center is in.
I thought this was caused by the whole internet shopping scene,
but no, its just the usual, corporate greed and mismanagement.
Sheesh, is nothing sacred? I mean music may only be a hobby for me,
(a very important hobby, I might add) And some folks make there living
playing music, but I guess its all about money for them, its the American way!.
I know, its not the end of my music, I have lots of gear and can "ORDER" more, but it used to be fun to go in there for hours at a time, and if it does close, that's it, the last of the big music stores, that sucks.
Ok, rants over.
I just read the article, I had no idea about the sad state Guitar Center is in.
I thought this was caused by the whole internet shopping scene,
but no, its just the usual, corporate greed and mismanagement.
Sheesh, is nothing sacred? I mean music may only be a hobby for me,
(a very important hobby, I might add) And some folks make there living
playing music, but I guess its all about money for them, its the American way!.
I know, its not the end of my music, I have lots of gear and can "ORDER" more, but it used to be fun to go in there for hours at a time, and if it does close, that's it, the last of the big music stores, that sucks.
Ok, rants over.
The action is decent. It doesn't have a cheap synthy feel and feels a little "more" weighted than the Triton or M3 semi-weighted. It's still semi-weighted though, which for me is perfect. I can play keyboard parts on it but do palm smears easily. The BIGGEST feature I'd like to see added is the ability for the controller to be able to send SYSEX instead of CC data for the sliders and buttons below the sliders. If it could do that, I wouldn't have to use the Kronos (or M3 or Triton or M50...) touch screen to turn on and off channels in combi mode and I could adjust the volumes of 1-8 quickly on the fly. I've spoken to support and they are going to see if it's possible.groK-Guy wrote:McHale,
That is one heck of a nice looking controller. And for 300.00, looks tempting.
Can you tell me what the action feels like.
I know it's all subjective but can you describe it? Lighter side, heaver side?
These forums my be all that's left if music store's start closing up.
Thanks.
But I'd say it's worth the $299. I'd have preferred to pick to the LX61 instead but that didn't have MIDI ports on it.
-Mc
Current Korg Gear: KRONOS 88 (4GB), M50-73 (PS mod), RADIAS-73, Electribe MX, Triton Pro (MOSS, SCSI, CF, 64MB RAM), SQ-64, DVP-1, MEX-8000, MR-1, KAOSSilator, nanoKey, nanoKontrol, 3x nanoPad 2, 3x DS1H, 7x PS1, FC7 (yes Korg, NOT Yamaha).
Somehow i think we will see a Nektar Panorama P8 one of these days... Which has the features you are looking for., and more.. However at a very different price.....McHale wrote:The action is decent. It doesn't have a cheap synthy feel and feels a little "more" weighted than the Triton or M3 semi-weighted. It's still semi-weighted though, which for me is perfect. I can play keyboard parts on it but do palm smears easily. The BIGGEST feature I'd like to see added is the ability for the controller to be able to send SYSEX instead of CC data for the sliders and buttons below the sliders. If it could do that, I wouldn't have to use the Kronos (or M3 or Triton or M50...) touch screen to turn on and off channels in combi mode and I could adjust the volumes of 1-8 quickly on the fly. I've spoken to support and they are going to see if it's possible.groK-Guy wrote:McHale,
That is one heck of a nice looking controller. And for 300.00, looks tempting.
Can you tell me what the action feels like.
I know it's all subjective but can you describe it? Lighter side, heaver side?
These forums my be all that's left if music store's start closing up.
Thanks.
But I'd say it's worth the $299. I'd have preferred to pick to the LX61 instead but that didn't have MIDI ports on it.
-Mc
l
mikeyd is right GC has been going down hill and I tried to buy my Kronos 2 there and they said they would price match SA and they even told me to come in and bring the quote and I did and they would not price match after I drove about an hour but no big deal cause SA was giving me a good deal but just the fact they lied and said they would price match if I brought the quote in made me decide to never deal with them again. GC has managers that do not even know anything about their products they sell.
It is indeed a sad state of affairs with GC. I have a GC card and when I think I might use it, I find deals that are much better other places. It was not too surprising for me to find out that they are in financial trouble. Years ago in So Cal, I would get a decent price on a quality trade in and then be able purchase the latest gems. They only want to give you about 50% of value on a trade and then want the whole pop on a new one...naughty naughty.
For about 10 years, they have been telling me that the reason(in Tucson), for not carrying the high end quality boards is that there is "no call" for them. I grew up in So Cal, and I used to try out all the great boards there and that is quite honestly the fuel for the desire to want to get them. I like to touch them, hear the sounds, and feel the action to get excited about a board.
The only other keyboard shop in town is Rainbow Guitars which stopped carrying the high end stuff about the time the Roland Jupiter 80 showed up.
This unfortunately is the trend. It really bothers me to "take a chance" and shell out the big bucks. The only way I got to try an Oasys and then a Kronos was to visit my daughter in So Cal and check out the places where they carry the "good stuff'.
For about 10 years, they have been telling me that the reason(in Tucson), for not carrying the high end quality boards is that there is "no call" for them. I grew up in So Cal, and I used to try out all the great boards there and that is quite honestly the fuel for the desire to want to get them. I like to touch them, hear the sounds, and feel the action to get excited about a board.
The only other keyboard shop in town is Rainbow Guitars which stopped carrying the high end stuff about the time the Roland Jupiter 80 showed up.
This unfortunately is the trend. It really bothers me to "take a chance" and shell out the big bucks. The only way I got to try an Oasys and then a Kronos was to visit my daughter in So Cal and check out the places where they carry the "good stuff'.
Kronos 2 61, Wavestation A/D, Yamaha Genos and others.
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JPROBERTLA
- Senior Member
- Posts: 483
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:38 pm
- Location: New Orleans
Guess its what store you go to!
I, out of curiosity motor than anything, called the New Orleans Guitar Center week before last because someone told me they had a 15% discount for upgrade/trade-ins going on for that upcoming weekend. I was just about to order a K2 88 to replace my K61 (did not buy the original 88 because of keybed problems). Sure enough they gave me top dollar (checked ebay) for my Triton Studio and 15% off the K2 88, of which they had 2 in stock sealed in the box. Bottom line: I got it for about $1,000 less than the best price I could get anywhere else, even with paying sales tax, and I did not have the hassle of selling a 13 year old keyboard! Both the sales guy and manager were knowledgable, reasonable and professional. They held one over the weekend, because I had some gigs and did not want to use it without a case. The whole thing took about 45 minutes.
JP
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Kronos2-88, Behringer XR18, Turbosound IP2000 (x2), dbx DriveRack 260, KRK Rokit 8s, Mackie CFX16, Mackie SRM450(x2), Mackie SRS1500 (x2), BBE processors (x4), Roland VSR 880 (x2), Alto TS210, Alto TX10 (x3) and SoundForge
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Kronos2-88, Behringer XR18, Turbosound IP2000 (x2), dbx DriveRack 260, KRK Rokit 8s, Mackie CFX16, Mackie SRM450(x2), Mackie SRS1500 (x2), BBE processors (x4), Roland VSR 880 (x2), Alto TS210, Alto TX10 (x3) and SoundForge
There's only one guitar center within 75 miles that has a Kronos 2 and they only have 1. That Guitar Center is in downtown Chicago. ALL of the rest in the burbs have zero. I was also told they will not be getting any in. My only option was to pay for one, order it, and return it if I didn't want it.
LOL, no.
-Mc
LOL, no.
-Mc
Current Korg Gear: KRONOS 88 (4GB), M50-73 (PS mod), RADIAS-73, Electribe MX, Triton Pro (MOSS, SCSI, CF, 64MB RAM), SQ-64, DVP-1, MEX-8000, MR-1, KAOSSilator, nanoKey, nanoKontrol, 3x nanoPad 2, 3x DS1H, 7x PS1, FC7 (yes Korg, NOT Yamaha).