Yamaha vs Roland

[kingjoeyjr]

I was all ready to start pricing a 309GP here in the Boston area until my dealer told me that before I jump right into the Yamaha that I should check out the Roland kr-15, as he felt that Roland is on the rise and that Yamaha has been subsisting on the Clavinova name for a while now. He also pointed out that the Rolands are all made in one factory as opposed to Yamaha that is being pieced together.

He is a Roland dealer as well, and this could very well be an attempt to score a sales bonus or something, but I've been buying here for YEARS (literally since the 80s) and trust his opinion.

I have bounced back and forth (in arranger keyboards) from Yam, Korg, Yam, Korg, Yam, Roland, and I think I really am just a Yamaha guy at heart. I've had the psr 8000, 9000, Tyros, Roland g-70, Korg Triton, Yamaha P250, Yamaha P150 to name a few (wow I've had a lot of keyboards). I always enjoyed the high-end Yamaha arrangers (psr 8x, 9x, Tyros) the most but always missed having 88 weighted keys. I was happy with the P250 for a while, and even did the 2-keyboard thing for a while, using both the Tyros and P250. I'm thinking the 309GP will give me almost everything I loved about both of them in one package.

That said, I went and tried the Roland today. I liked the key action, loved the piano sample, but something was just missing. I guess I thought that Roland was aiming their product to the new money "lets buy this for Tiffany and she will learn to love playing the piano!" type. I don't need a piano with video games built in.

I also thought that the styles were catered to a more big-bandy type piano player, where I still intend to crank out Smashmouth/Dido/Ben Folds, etc. on mine.

Also, there don't seem to be many resources out there for Roland styles and updates, but COUNTLESS Yamaha ones.

I know all of you are diehard Clavinova fans, and while I haven't tried the 309GP yet, I'm sure I'll be smitten.

Is there anything else I should be looking for? I'm trying to make the most objective decision I can.

[wally]

Yes, by all means! You should look around at the support groups that are available for the other manufacturers' instruments. Can you find a Roland KR users group?

I believe there's a lot of value for the user if there's a support group.

[odiug]

I've tried to find users group of Roland home digital piano series without any success.

Especially, I was looking for info to compare KR-107 to cvp 305/307. Reading their manuals they seem very close.

However ... I did not find anything in terms of forum support and discussions for the KR-107. So that I even asked in another post to this (unique!) forum if anyone knew the KR-107!

It really looks like Yamaha support overcome Roland.

Guido

[pianohelper]

Hey Kingjoey,

It is unusual for a Yamaha dealer to suggest swaying a customer over to another brand. I am from eastern MA and was wondering who this Yamaha/Roland dealer might be? Possibly somewhere in Danvers?

Just curious.

[odiug]

Hi,

so, no one knows about roland kr-107? Just for my 0,0001 % doubt in buying a cvp 305!

guido

[kingjoeyjr]

Possibly :)

Truthfully though I played both a Roland and a Yamaha side-by-side in NH, and I really enjoyed the Roland action. I'm quite confused and it's not easy to get pricing on such a high-end model.

[odiug]

Originally posted by wally
I believe there's a lot of value for the user if there's a support group.

Hi Wally, I agree with this,

however, it can really be that support groups are the result of a long time stretch, with thousands of experienced players who prefer one brand over another, and, perhaps more important, the support groups can be the results of the efforts of a brand (Yamaha in this case) that gives better support to its clients. This doesn't necessarily means that each product of Yamaha is better then the Roland competitor.

It can always be that another brand (Roland in this case) could make just one good instrument that could be better (for the same price range) of the one made by Yamaha.

Is this the case of KR-107?

[Wim.music]

Hi

Seems that i'm not the only one with this problem.
I have an electone for almost 17 years, time to get something new. A couple of months ago, i had seen the kr17, witch is a good piano in a good looking cabinet. Then i started to look around if there where others to compare to the kr17. I found the kr15 (is the same as the kr17 but smaller in size and with a less powerfull speakersystem), the Ketron DG100 and the yamaha CVP309GP. The Ketron was the first one i left behind (just look at the user manual, is says enough). So i had to choose between the kr15 (kr17) and the CVP309GP. I a shop where both piano's stand side by side, i played about 2 hours on each. After that my choice is the CVP309GP. (Even my wife who favorites the kr15, could'nt do anything to change my mind)
For me (originated as an organ player) the CVP309GP is the best choice on the market.

I do not say that the CVP have the best voice because this is very subjectif and personaly.
But the CVP has a much better style and accomp. than the KR15, is a little bit easier to use, has more powerfull DSP functions and has the organ flutters.

I have a CVP309GP now, and don't regret for a second.

o i now it's hard to make a good choice. But in my opinion:
If you like the sound, wat a beatifull cabinet and some show stealing 'moving keys', go for the KR (or wait for a yamaha CGP1000).
If you want a full orchestra you'll be better with the CVP309.

Best advice i can give, search for a shop where you can play on both for a coulpe of hours.

Sincerly, Wim.