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- Apr 26, 2019
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I have been buying and returning many keyboards over the past months but I feel my quest for perfection has not come to an end yet.
I currently have a Korg Kross 2 88, a Korg Krome EX 88, a Korg PA700 and a Korg PA1000.
And the past few weeks I've been playing only the Krome EX. Sure, I've tried out the PA700 and PA1000, but even though they're very capable instruments, they (still) just don't give me what I want. And I've hardly touched them.
Luckily, I bought everything from an online retailer who offers 60-day return policy. Very nice to have, but they're not without fault.
So far, everything I returned has been paid back in full. However, some time ago, I returned a Roland FA-08 and unfortunately, they refunded the value of the Korg Kross 2 88 (maybe because I returned it in the box of the Kross 2 since I didn't have the original Roland box anymore) . A mistake can happen, but they've been looking into it for over a month but haven't found the cause of the mistake yet.
In any case, they owe me money and I lost my patience last week on the phone with them. Said that I would return everything I ever bought from them if they didn't find a solution within the next 48 hours.
They still haven't found what the problem is, so I'm going to keep my promise to them and return the lot (except from the Kross 2 88, that's no longer within the 60 days period).
Whatever happens, even if they do refund me (they owe me around 600 euros), they'll never sell me anything anymore.
Cutting a long story short: I'm no longer happy, obviously, with mid-range keyboards. Allow me to explain...
I went to a store again, and thought of indulging myself and have a go with the big boys.
Still enamoured with the Korg Grandstage, I played the Kronos. Wonderful keybed, but the rest felt more like the Krome EX on (huge) steroids. Still, the Kronos deserves its reputation, but it still is a complicated instrument, like the PA series and the Krome. Too many menus, not enough hands-on...
Next up was the Kawai MP11SE : keybed action was simply perfect, the sounds, although only 40, were as perfect as the keybed. Super easy to use. Love it. Of course, it's a lot less money than the Kronos, but still, felt like a professional piece of kit.
RD-2000, very good keybed, lots of sounds but somehow, not my thing.
Lastly, and this had been capturing my attention for a while, was the Nord Stage 3 88. It really is what I expected it to be, it just oozes quality and perfection, but I'd never considered it because of the price. The combined value of the Krome EX, PA700 and PA1000, however, more than covers the cost of the Stage 3, so I thought, why not...
I came very close to purchasing the Kawai MP11SE ; it's the perfect digital piano, but a bit limited when you want more than that. The one I really wanted all along, though, is the Nord Stage 3. I understand there's a learning curve as well, but nothing like the Kronos. And it's a smashing stage piano to boot (piano and EP are my main interest).
No need for second tiers (the Grandstage/Vox Continental combo is out, really), as I've come to the conclusion that I thought I needed them, but in the end, I don't use them.
I think I have come as close to perfection as I can, because if the Nord Stage 3 is not to my liking, then I don't know what else will be, lest I go back to the roots and buy an acoustic piano again...
The Kross 2 88 will still be around, though, still love it and will be playing it separately in the appartment, and I can always use it as a second tier for the Nord or something when I move. I'll find a use for it.
Only thing I have to decide now, is which Spider Pro to sell when I've sold the house, the black or the silver one
Crazy Kaneda signing off for now
I currently have a Korg Kross 2 88, a Korg Krome EX 88, a Korg PA700 and a Korg PA1000.
And the past few weeks I've been playing only the Krome EX. Sure, I've tried out the PA700 and PA1000, but even though they're very capable instruments, they (still) just don't give me what I want. And I've hardly touched them.
Luckily, I bought everything from an online retailer who offers 60-day return policy. Very nice to have, but they're not without fault.
So far, everything I returned has been paid back in full. However, some time ago, I returned a Roland FA-08 and unfortunately, they refunded the value of the Korg Kross 2 88 (maybe because I returned it in the box of the Kross 2 since I didn't have the original Roland box anymore) . A mistake can happen, but they've been looking into it for over a month but haven't found the cause of the mistake yet.
In any case, they owe me money and I lost my patience last week on the phone with them. Said that I would return everything I ever bought from them if they didn't find a solution within the next 48 hours.
They still haven't found what the problem is, so I'm going to keep my promise to them and return the lot (except from the Kross 2 88, that's no longer within the 60 days period).
Whatever happens, even if they do refund me (they owe me around 600 euros), they'll never sell me anything anymore.
Cutting a long story short: I'm no longer happy, obviously, with mid-range keyboards. Allow me to explain...
I went to a store again, and thought of indulging myself and have a go with the big boys.
Still enamoured with the Korg Grandstage, I played the Kronos. Wonderful keybed, but the rest felt more like the Krome EX on (huge) steroids. Still, the Kronos deserves its reputation, but it still is a complicated instrument, like the PA series and the Krome. Too many menus, not enough hands-on...
Next up was the Kawai MP11SE : keybed action was simply perfect, the sounds, although only 40, were as perfect as the keybed. Super easy to use. Love it. Of course, it's a lot less money than the Kronos, but still, felt like a professional piece of kit.
RD-2000, very good keybed, lots of sounds but somehow, not my thing.
Lastly, and this had been capturing my attention for a while, was the Nord Stage 3 88. It really is what I expected it to be, it just oozes quality and perfection, but I'd never considered it because of the price. The combined value of the Krome EX, PA700 and PA1000, however, more than covers the cost of the Stage 3, so I thought, why not...
I came very close to purchasing the Kawai MP11SE ; it's the perfect digital piano, but a bit limited when you want more than that. The one I really wanted all along, though, is the Nord Stage 3. I understand there's a learning curve as well, but nothing like the Kronos. And it's a smashing stage piano to boot (piano and EP are my main interest).
No need for second tiers (the Grandstage/Vox Continental combo is out, really), as I've come to the conclusion that I thought I needed them, but in the end, I don't use them.
I think I have come as close to perfection as I can, because if the Nord Stage 3 is not to my liking, then I don't know what else will be, lest I go back to the roots and buy an acoustic piano again...
The Kross 2 88 will still be around, though, still love it and will be playing it separately in the appartment, and I can always use it as a second tier for the Nord or something when I move. I'll find a use for it.
Only thing I have to decide now, is which Spider Pro to sell when I've sold the house, the black or the silver one
Crazy Kaneda signing off for now
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