Roland KC-500

Heavyweight 150W Keyboard Amp, 4 channels inc. one with Mic Gain, All Jack in (no xlr sadly for the mic) Stereo Link option for using two in a stereo pair from one input, 3 band EQ overall, would have like to have seen this on each channel, Headphone + Jack and Line stereo outs, excellent for connecting to a pro PA rig. Essential castors (it weighs a ton), nicely recessed controls. Used for gigging week in week out for 6 years in Rock/Soul/Pop covers bands now without fail, easily heard above a drum kit. Used as a PA for vocals occasionally too and regularly as my vocal stage monitor in addition to carrying my backline keyboard sound for a stage piano and Korg Triton. Really handy not to have to carry a separate monitor. Have also line out into larger mixer controlled PA rigs without problems, they loved its choice of outputs.

When I went to get this it was a brand new model and my local store kindly arranged an audition against keyboard amps from Laney, Carlsbro, Peavey (all average) and Marshall (!) which was just awful. When they plugged in the Roland and started up, everyone in the shop just turned and watched, the presence was so good. Fantastic clean sound and surprisingly loud. Took it to my first gig and the Marshall stack using guitarist was jokingly saying "where the rest of your stack" as it's quite short, but after he struggled to be heard over my first John Lord overdriven hammond solo, had to eat humble pie! Only fault is that my stage piano sounds muddy down the bottom so I just cut the bass EQ a bit, all brass/strings/synth sound fantastic and really cut through. So clean one Bass player used it as a benchmark for his clean bass sound, before trying umpteen Bass amps. Nothing was cleaner it was so sweet.

6 years hard work - no major problems. One little brass knob top came off, fixed with superglue. Castors now getting worn due to literally miles of travel with other gear plonked on top (including keyboards!). Invested in a custom cover and so it's still mint otherwise. Roland have quoted to supply new castors which just plug in, dead easy. Built like a tank.

Despite others complaints I've never had a problem. They've supplied me with loads of spares for keyboards which I service myself. No manuals online for older gear tho, they should check out the Peavey site. Only part I've asked for on this amp is the castors. Sent them an email, got one right back. This is Roland UK, don't know if US is as good.

Been gigging since 1986, used to use PA for Keyboards to get a clean sound, then had a buzzy Peavey KBA150 that I loathed and then got the Roland. No looking back for me the Roland is it. I would buy another in a heartbeat. Expensive yes, worth it. definitely. Just great knowing it's there doing its job week in week out. Love the vocal channel. Has saved a couple of gigs when PA failed.

All that you need, nothing extra. 3 band eq on master out. Could have been a lot better with XLR inputs.

It has a transparent sound, which is perfect for a keyboard amp. Very little tone shaping.

The wheels fell off of mine after about 2 years of use. There is a yet unidentified problem that developed after about 3 years: The speakers sound as if they have a short in them, even at the highest volume settings,and I have to plug a mic into it and stick it right on the horn until it feeds back at normal ear piercing level, and then it's at normal volume until some unknown length of time and or weather change.

Roland offers no toll-free number to call, and they have no online documentation of this problem (it seems like they're trying to ignore it).

It worked like a dream for 2 years, then it went crazy. It still sounds good when it comes on, but I don't consider it reliable when you have to make it feed back at first to get it to work at all.

When I joined the band in '96, I was introduced to the KC-500. This amp does it all: I've used it on jazz gigs, cruise ships, casuals, and serious top-40 dance clubs. Having 4 stereo ins is great; sometimes I may have more than one axe at the gig. My bitch about the amp is the direct outs, which I hear they have perfected on the new KC-550. The XLR outs are hit/miss depending on what rooms we play in or who the house engineer is. So I use the 1/4" outs instead into a pair of direct boxes. I liked the amp so much, I bought my own later in 2000 and occasionally use the stereo link feature.

I use a variety of keyboards with this amp:
Roland XP-80
Roland XP-50
Kurzweil K2VX
Ensoniq SD-1
Ensoniq TS-12
Yamaha DX-7IIFD
Yamaha Motif

And I have found this amp to be sonically adequate in reproducing synth sounds and the all-important piano patch. I noticed that some folks have an issue with the horn; the first KC-500 I had [when I joined the band] never had a problem and is still in service. My second one [circa 2000], suffered a stage fall and blew the horn which I replaced with a more heartier bullet horn from Pyramid [TW47]; initially, to my ear it sounded duller than the older one, but I have finetuned the crossover to match the new horn. Crystalline. Now that it is dialed in, I'll probably replace the horn in the older one as well since it is getting old.

Yeah, it's dependable, though I have a quibble about Roland's quality control over the crossover settings. They differ from amp to amp. Also, I recommend to everybody who owns one to replace the cheap ass horn that's in there. Also, those friggin' gold caps on the knob come off, so I paint the tops in glow-in-the-dark colors that look cool in black or colored lights. And the grill screws come off easily; break out some Elmer's Glue when you put them back in.

Never really needed to have warranty service since my second KC-500 was bought used for $300. The first one was $537 new.

Been playing for nearly 30 years and have gigged with larger rigs. This amp freed me from hauling a rack, power amp and speakers. I'm seriously looking at the Carvin KB-1010 which has 7 stereo inputs and 1000W of power into a 2 X 10" wedge configuration and costs about the same as the new KC-550.

I bought the amp in the late 90's. I play all styles of music on a synthesizer and full size electric piano. I use the Stereo Link
In/Out for my effects loop and hook up the other Rolands with the
Line Out. I use this amp for several live shows per day- about 200 days a year. Power? It has a gutsy presence that NONE of the other keyboard amps can deliver....period.

I use a Boss Super Chorus and Boss Digital Reverb/Delay guitar pedals
(except I use them for the keyboards). I do a lot of outdoor shows and have blown out the horn- so I sent to Roland (in CA) for new horns, I told them my problem and they sent me two beefier horns.
I installed the first one out of the two and haven't had a problem since. This amp delivers a very clean sound (my paycheck depends on it). It never has a static buzz (from improperly grounded electrical
lines) that you usually get from many of the other amps I have used in the past, and I've performed in many, many places- indoors and out.

The gold caps come off the knobs. At first, I would glue them back on, but then, it's much more permanent to just paint the vacated space with gold paint. Sometimes the metal corners come loose, but,
being a carpenter I can repair that by replacing the screws with longer and thicker ones. Backup? I use 4 Rolands on every gig.

It's easy to get parts from Roland- and they're friendly.

I've been playing since I was 11....I'm 53 now. I've played larger Peaveys and Crates, but they don't have the clarity and GUTS the Roland does. It doesn't have a place to store the lead cord- so I
screwed a metal broom handle holder clip in the recessed area in the back of the amp, so the cord stays rolled up and out of the way for moving. I like the sturdy metal grill as opposed to the very vulnerable grill cloth most other brands use. For getting paid thousands of dollars every week, I'm expected to have a professional
sound.....I know I wouldn't be able to accomplish this without using
my four Roland amps and Bose PA system. As soon as I get the chance, I'm going to get the new Roland KC 550's. All in all, this amp has cosmetic flaws that can be easily remedied- and these flaws hold very little weight compared to the professional and vibrant sound of this amplifier. Because I can use the Stereo Link In/Out for my effects boxes (and the Line Out to connect the amps) I have a complete quality sound. Also, the drum kits have way more depth on the Roland, than any other brand I've used.

I've had my KC500 for about 3 or 4 years now, and I've had a few problems with it. First of all, the wheels would fall off all of the time. I had to replace them with better wheels. Next, the nobs came off and screws would come off of the amp left and right. Finally, the whole part with the inputs caved into the speaker! I just took it to get fixed and the repairman said that I would be surprised at how often that happens to those speakers. VERY POOR.

haven't dealt with them.

I've been using it on gigs about 3 times/ week for about 3 years straight. I suppose you expect things to go wrong after all of that time, but it was on things that should have not been an issue (like bad screws and bad volume knobs).

GREAT FEATURES IN THIS AMP AS DESCRIBED BELOW. VERY VERSITAL FOR MULTI TASKING. I USE IT FOR LIVE SHOWS FOR BASS, KEYBOARD AND WAS USED THE OTHER NIGHT AS A SMALL P.A. FOR A POLITICAL RALLY/FORUM WITH ALL 32 OF THE LOCAL CANDIDATES OF THE COUNTY I LIVE IN SPEAKING THROUGH MY SHURE WIRELESS SM58. IT WORKS GREAT FOR THE PURPOSES STATED ABOVE ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT VERY LOUD FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED! I ALSO HAVE A 1200 WATT P.A. SYSTEM SO THE BALANCED DIRECT OUTS CAN RUN THROUGH THAT FOR MORE VOLUME. I DID NOT USE THE PA.A FOR THE CANDIDATES FORUM AND IT WAS JUST FINE, (VERY CLEAN AMP). OF COURSE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I WISH IT HAD AT LEAST ONE EFFECTS LOOP OR MORE AND SEPARATE EQ FOR EACH CHANNEL, BUT HEY, IT GETS THE JOB DONE.

LIKE I SAID ABOVE, I USE THIS LIVE FOR BASS, KEYBOARDS AND SMALL P.A. APPLICATIONS, (SPEAKING VENUES ONLY FOR 350 OR LESS PEOPLE). I HAVE ALSO TRIED IT WITH ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC GUITARS, DJ BOX, AN AIR SYNTH AND A THERIMIN SO I WILL BREAK THE SOUNDS CATIGORIE DOWN FOR EACH.

KEYBOARDS: GOOD BUT NOT GREAT. VERY CLEAN FOR SYNTH. NOT LOUD ENOUGH FOR STAND ALONE KEYBOARD FOR PIANO AND MORE DYNAMIC PATCHES. OKAY FOR THERIMIN, DJ BOX AND AIR SYNTH.

BASS: PRETTY GOOD FOR BASS. AGAIN, NOT QUITE LOUD ENOUGH FOR STAND ALONE UNLESS IT IS A SOFT GIG.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR: VERY NICE BALANCE OF HIGHS AND LOWS. ONE SECRET BRIGHT SPOT ABOUT THIS AMP.

ELECTRIC GUITARS: VERY STERILE, IF YOU CUT THE HIGHS AND MAX THE LOW EQ, YOU CAN GET A PRETTY COOL JAZZ SOUND. I WOULD NEVER USE THIS AMP LIVE FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR UNLESS IT WAS MATED WITH A MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE TUBE AMP.

MICROPHONE: AGAIN, THIS LITTLE ROLAND WILL DO FOR SPEAKING VENUES FOR UNDER 350 PEOPLE AND PERFORM GREAT. THANKS TO ROLAND FOR PUTTING SO MANY JACKS ON THE AMP BECAUSE YOU CAN PLUGG ALOT OF STUFF IN AND RUN A BALANCED STEREO FEED OUT TO THE P.A. AND HAVE A REAL NICE LITTLE SUB-MIXER AS A BONUS TO THIS JUST BEING A KEYBOARD AMP.

HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD ALOT AND NEVER ONCE LET ME DOWN

HAVE NOT HAD TO GO THERE

GREAT VERSITAL AMP. IF YOU OR I NEEDED JUST A STAND ALONE KEYBOARD AMP, I MIGHT LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR MORE POWER AND PUNCH, BECAUSE THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN A ONE TRICK PONY AND YOU CAN SEND THE DIRECT OUT TO THE P.A., YA GOTTA LOVE THIS AMP!!

good

Great, it has like velcro or something on the outside so it doesnt really get scratches.

Never had to use it.

All i can say is this thing rocks my world. This thing is powerful. I play bass on it not synth but it rocks. I have plugged my bass and two mics into for a ghetto band practice and this thing handles it without even messing any of the channels up. Produces everything perfectly (near perfect). I have even played a live (not quite show/gig) and plugged in my bass with a guitar and it sounded great.
THis is worth it.

Four channels including a mic input are handy, as is the built in line out. The channels can't be eq'd separately though, that makes it less flexible. The speaker design (slanted slightly upward) is good for monitoring.

Used by the piano player of our big band (plays an FP3). If I judged it on that alone, I'd only give it a 5: the thing distorts too much - breaks up when the piano player accents certain ranges. We've played around with the various input and output levels and just can't get rid of it (except by turning down, and then he gets drowned out by the brass) Piano sounds great when you run it through another amp... But I've also used it with my acoustic guitar, and it gives a really nice clean sound. The bass is full and round and the tweeter gives the necessary highs. The guitar doesn't cause any of the distortion we get from the piano.

No breakdowns, though the tops fall of the knobs making it hard to read the settings... We've used it a lot, it is trustworthy.

I might buy one for my acoustic guitar, though it is kind of bulky. Never again for a piano, and that's what its made for... Be warned.

I bought this amp new from Guitar Center about 6 months ago. It has four stereo inputs which is great now for the two keyboards I have. I use a couple of effects for a Theremin, but I wish I could use them for my keyboards, but there is no effects loop which would be nice. It packs quite a punch for its size - it is beefy..

I play keyboards with it, of course, and everything comes out crisp and clear.. and the bass sounds are quite impressive as well.. they almost overpower our bassist at times.. Unfortunately I think because of the heavy playing there is a rattling sound in the back everytime I hit a low note.. I'm hoping this doesn't become a big problem. I've also had problems with the amp buzzing when its directly connected to a PA, but that may be a keyboard..

I really don't think this thing could break down - I carry it around from practice and any gigs.. The little plastic piece that holds the cord together in a loop broke as soon as I bought it.. but thats a minor problem.. and of course the rattling which I'm a bit concerned about..

Again Roland dishes out a crappy owners manual and its hard to figure anything out.. I've heard they have good customer service, when you pay them to fix things.. but I've not had to deal with them yet..

I own two keyboards and a theremin, and without this I would not be making any sounds and I'd be overpowered by the guitarists and drums.. If this were ever stolen I would definately go out and get another one.. its great.. However I don't like the cloth covering around the keyboard - stuff sticks to it.. and I'm afraid of staining it with something..

XLR out channel is good for sound engineers.

I am using it for my Roland Electric Drums. Mostly interested in how it amplifies the kick drum - not really satisfactory.

Something is wrong with the amp (although I could just be ignorant - I am a drummer afterall!) It seems like there is a loose wire or maybe it just needs to warm up? (I thought only tube amps had to warm-up?) It plays at low volume with no bass....then after about 15 minutes of use it starts working correctly. I am angry cuz I brought it in to be repaired three times when it was under warranty.

Three separate repairs were performed under warranty. I don't think they ever fixed the problem. ANGRY!

find something else!