Gem Pro-Mega 3

If you can't figure this instrument out, you may want to play a pitch pipe. This is the easiest instrument in the world to use. It just makes sence.

It is all you want in a Stage Piano.. I love the input volume control, so when I use it as a controller to access my older synths, I can mix the audio volume, where I don't have control of that because of the age of the synth. I wish you could split the ele. bass sound and the jazz organ patch.

The most realistic piano I have ever heard. I love that 10' grand sound, makes my real grand piano sound weak. I truly get a kick out of the upright piano they sampled, as well as the Honky Tonk piano.
I have to agree with everyone the Rhodes sounds are awesome, a little unrealist as you never need to tune it. To give it a little more realist sound, I changed the temperment a little, to take it out of tune. The only reason I don't give it a 10, is the Organs have no lesley control... but hey, It's an 88 note hammer action... For crying out loud, it's the best Stage Piano in the world, it's not trying to be the jack of all keyboards.

It's been my main board, I carry no other with me, and I have had it for 6 months, with no problems what so ever. For all those that are complaining about the weight, it looks a lot heavier than it really is. Try carrying around the real CP70, or a real rhodes, etc. So far so good.... And Samsonite give me things to test out. ;)

When I was on the phone trying to locate a place to check it out, they put me in touch with the Distric Sales Manager in my area, He was extremely helpful. After I got to play the instrument, it was love at first sight.

I love this instrument, I would never trade this one away. I have (ask my wife) more keyboards then I care to count. This is the first instrument that truly won me over. I would highly recommend it to anyone that wants the best darn piano sound (acoustic or digital) for stage and recording use. It truly puts my B Stienway & Sons to shame on a recording... Did I mention the 10' grand Bass notes????

WARNING: Get a really good pair of headphones or Refrence Monitors with sub when listening to it in a recording studio, I garenty that you will be amazed. My keyboard amplifer did not do this instrument justice (Roland kc 500)

Just Wish to add this from my Last Reveiw.... It's been a Month Now...
JUST PLAIN SIMPLE....I LOVE THIS BIG BEAST..and we Pay our Roadie well!!
I'am also using a Roland vk77, Leslie 147rv,Korg ms2000& Korg Trinty TR-Rack all in Stereo with 2 Bag End Speakers.(WWW.TABOOFUNK.COM)

I've been using the Pro Mega 3... 5 nights a week Playing live and I feel quite Happy with this Selection. I Was not sure of the Clav at First and I now feel (and now I realalize I was wrong)...But this Clav KICKS ASS !! AND REALLY ON STEVIE'S "SUPERSTITION"!!! The only Difference is that you are now playing The Hohner D-6 Clone with Weighted action instead of Plastic non-weighted keys. I'am very Curious about whatever Updates in the Future will hold.When Playing the Rhodes I like the Idea you can Just hit a Button to access the Stereo Vibrato and can Real-time the Speed just like Ramsey Lewis did in the 70's, and Because I like Real Time Access on the Fly ( Maybe because I'am just OLD-SKOOL). You may ask, " Why did'nt this guy just buy a Real Rhones instead?". Well just remember.. you are also Getting a Clav, Beautiful Grand Pianos, Strings and a Wurly ( and those Other interesting Sounds for some apps )and of Course.. A MIDI Controller ( this Feature I have not Dug into because I don't need it as A Controler). I also don't need the Other Playing Curves..the Normal is just Fine.

I have to say I really Love this Instrument and I have to give it a 10 in my Opinion just Simply Because I've checked out the S80, PC2X, Roland Weighted keyboards and I just Like the Pro Mega 3 Best. In my Opinion as long as I have A Roadie (Because of the ATA Flight Case and Me myself.. I only weigh 125 lbs !!! )with Great Transpo... The Pro- Mega 3 is the Axe for me.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING YOU HAVE TO WANT A RHODES AND A REAL PIANO TO TAKE THIS REVEIW TO HEART!!! IT'S BIG AND HAS A FACE ONLY A MOTHER WOULD LOVE.....and I do...

Not sure of the Software Version. Just Bought the Beast...
The Presets are Great in my Opinion. The Rhodes,Wurly and Those Grand Pianos....ooh...GREAT. The Rhodes takes me back to the 70'S ( Herbie, Ramsey Lewis, Ohio Players...Ole School). The Sympony sounds are also very Sweet, Alone or Blended with Pianos. I have used the Pro Mega 3 on the Gig and the Patches Cut through just as I want them to. The Grand Piano fills the Room coming through the P.A. In Stereo. The "Other" sounds are interesting but I would doubt using them Live. The Brass Patches are Pircing, Brite and Thin. Vibes, Marimba are very cool also. The Control Panel is Ugly and Sloped you may think( I Think it's cool )if you have seen it, but Man.... it makes "Real Time" Moves on the Fly on A live Gig A Breeze, for everything is up Front In front of You.
The Clav is one where the Hammers are "Biting" into the Strings...This would be A Clav with some Miles on it. Cool for some Apps but mabey not Stevie's " Superstition"
As far as an Edit on the Sounds,You can Edit the PAN & Low-pass Filters. The Manual is Simple

320 Notes of Poly !! COOL !! You can play the Pianos with plenty of Sustain, Rolls and "Mello Swipes" ( Remember the Rhodes on the Floater's '77 song "Float On").The Effects are Cool also...All of it is Up-Front in your Face for real Time.
I Don't know what's up with Expansion. The Keyboard action is Great Overall but when Playing Live it's all a Bit Different, and I'am working with the Curve and after about a Week of Playing it and 10 years of Playing unweighted Synths, I feel I can Deal. I Played Rhodes and Clavs back in the 70'S ...BUT DON'T ASK MY AGE!!
Midi Capabilities are There but I don't really Think I will ever need Them because I use this Strictly for Piano.
It does have a Cool Input on the Back for an Additional instrument in which I'am using a Korg MS2000 And coming through that Input.
No Seq. But the Instrument is Very Easy to use...again...all Up Front!

The Sounds are very Realistic. The Grand, Strings ( Synmpony )and Rhodes are very Real. The Wurly is very Good in my Opinion. I have not Played a Wurly in a while but I like the Yamaha ex-5's Wurly Better but it only had 16 notes of Poly @#$%^&*!
The Pro-Mega 3 has Various Playing Curves...Hard,Soft, Normal and User.
The User Curve is 1 to 100. Just use the Slider to fit your Curve. Easier said than done? Well I don't know about this Feature. It does not seem to be Exact. When using this, I can't seem to Match the Numbers with the Normal Factory Curve. I feel it is There Somewhere but I'am Happy with the Soft Curve Best and At Times The Normal Curve.
I Have Small Hands but you can Adjust to any Curve after A Little Time.

OK, HERE IT COMES.
Reliability Depends on how you will use the Beast...
I Wanted the Closest Thing to a Rhodes and A Real Piano Sound and Feel. The Beast is Big and Clunky and If you are Buying this to Play Live you better have A Roadie with a Back-Brace and at Least A Station Wagon. It's not Really Heavy as it Looks, but Man this Thing ( In a Flight Case)is Bigger than a Cased Rhodes. Don't try to put this thing in your Car( Without the Case) with the Seat down, you May knock off one or two of the Knobs. I got a Good Deal on A Custom Flight Case ( Keal Case,Round Rock Tx 512 244 9100 ). The Pro Mega...well Remember...
It's Italian and Distribution is by Peavy. I 'am not sure about Customer Service but Peavy is pretty Cool. I Think it's Basicly to Damn Big to Break...well maybe if you Dropped it down a Flight of Stairs.
If you don't Mind going back to the Past and Have a Good Back and Transportation this may be the Thing for you.
I Feel at this Point, if you have a God Blessed Flight Case and A Little Extra time before the GIG it should Hold up Fine for Gigging. It would Work Beautiful in a Church or Home also.

Dunno.
Peavy is Pretty Easy to Reach Though

I Love it,would hate to lose it and it would be Hard to replace, but I would in a Heart beat.I'am looking into Insurance.
You Basicly have to want an Instrument like this to Love it and I have found it. Yeah,it's Big and Clunky but it's lite'r than A Rhodes and takes me back with it's Sweet Sound... : )