RH3 difference between SV-1/PA-588. Which one in Kronos-88?

[PinkFloydDudi]

its actually the design of ANY instrument which uses hammer-action keybeds. From a haprsicord to a grand piano.

Hammers in a harpsichord ?

Knew I should have stuck with the Rhodes example...I will without question admit my ignorance on keyboard mechanics pre 1900s. My mistake with the harpsichord example.

So...to correct myself: From a Rhodes to a grand piano!

(That work better?)

Although even without the hammer-action - would grading occur on a harpsichord as well? I'd imagine it might take more force to pluck a thicker string than it would a thinner one...so while the "hammer-action" comment is off, the example of the haprsichord may not be?

[EXer]

would grading occur on a harpsichord as well? I'd imagine it might take more force to pluck a thicker string than it would a thinner one...

Yes, when you're playing you can feel you're plucking thicker and heavier strings in the bass notes, and thinner and lighter strings in the treble notes, so one could say the keyboard is "naturally graded"...

And the feeling also depends on which stops (registers) are speaking (e.g. one 8' string, two 8' strings, one 8' string and one 4' string). The regulation matters too: on a well regulated hapsichord, when 2 different stops are coupled the plectra don't pluck the strings exactly at the same time but one after the other, giving a richer sound and a lighter keyboard feel.

[runningman67]

Erm, not as qualified to talk about keybeds, hammer actions etc as you guys but, when I get my K73, will the action hinder my ability to create drum patterns, manually, or hinder a jazz organ, synth solo? if not, then that's a relief. In my experience with weighted keyboards it is easier to adapt to playing weighted keys with 'non acoustic' sounds, than adapt semi weighted keys to playing a warm, with expression, piano sounds.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks

[EXer]

I may be qualified to talk about keyboards, but I'm not so qualified when it actually comes to play them , so I use 2 different keyboards: an 88 keys piano action type (RD-700) to play piano parts and a 76 keys semi weighted synth action type (EX5) to play fast runs with synth sounds...

[runningman67]

Probably wishful thinking on my part. I'll end up buying a semi weighted midi keyboard. I'll tell the wife it was a free gift from our friends at Korg !

[jimknopf]

runningman, one of the things I really like about the RH3 keybed is that it offers well working overall purpose keys.

Yes, I play organ and synth stuff on it and get by well:
- organ stuff including basic smears, but of course not extreme things like on a waterfall keybed
- synth stuff up to pretty fast level, but of course not to extremes again. For synth playing, I even regard my RH3 keybed as superior with velocity sensitive patches with pitching etc.: you just get better expressive control than with lighter keybeds for my feeling.

No reason to think you will be reduced to piano and epiano with a Kronos 73 or 88 from my view! Did you ever notice that all the masters like Herbie Hanock, George Duke, Chick Corea etc. use weighted action for synth sounds as well?

[SanderXpander]

I usually just kinda pretend the extra weight is not there and power through. It's not as comfortable as a real synth bed but it's not much of an issue, especially after getting used to it.

[madbeatzyo111]

Erm, not as qualified to talk about keybeds, hammer actions etc as you guys but, when I get my K73, will the action hinder my ability to create drum patterns, manually, or hinder a jazz organ, synth solo? if not, then that's a relief. In my experience with weighted keyboards it is easier to adapt to playing weighted keys with 'non acoustic' sounds, than adapt semi weighted keys to playing a warm, with expression, piano sounds.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks

If you're looking for a keyboard with enough of a hammer action to be good enough for piano playing, but not so much as to hinder EP, organ, synth solo, then according to many in this thread, the RH3 should do nicely for you.

[mrpanoff]

I'd guess inverted colours SV-1 also has this "not the best" variant of RH3?

[mrpanoff]

Are they made by different third-party manufacturers, perhaps?

Dan Philips from Korg R&D posted some time ago in another topic that the RH3 keybed in the Kronos has been altered from the RH3 in the SV-1.

If you search you might be able to find it.

Even if the actions are identical, if a keyboard has been on the sales floor a long time it might feel different from another keyboard.

Found it:

I'm told that the KRONOS keybed is slightly different from the SV-1, with different rubber parts for a smoother feel. I don't have any more details, however (keybeds are done in Japan, not by my group here in the states).

- Dan

It's a shame they don't let the general public know these differences.