Generalmusic GEM PRP7

No need to read the manual to get started on this one, very easy to operate it.

MIDI capabilities very limited (only one 1/out), limited amount of effects, and the quality of the effects is below average when compared to workstations. It DOES have a built-in GM tone generator offering much more sounds than you can access from the panel, but you can only access it through the sequencer of another keyboard/computer (which is ridiculous in my opinion; they might as well have omitted this bonus). I have not tried the tone generator, so I cannot comment on the quality of the sounds. It does have a sequencer, but it is only useful to record an idea in case you do not have pen and paper lying around.

I have very mixed feelings about the keyboard action. It is a bit sluggish, the keys don't come up quickly enough to play fast repetitions of one note; this makes it a bit unreliable when performing live. On the positive side I can mention that the keyboard action is not very light, so that you keep the muscles of your fingers/hand in good shape by playing the instrument. So for the expressiveness I would give it a 5.
Sounds: the grand piano is not spectacular, but just OK, the stereo image sounding very artificial. The acoustic pianos do not sound good to my ears, very short samples and long loops. I never use them, with the exception of the honky tonk piano, it sounds surprisingly good.
The Hammond simulations: quality is the same as the acoustic piano department: I cannot use them on stage for anything.
Strings: GOOD! To my surprise I have come to love the strings, just like the Rhodes emulation. Clavinet, harpsichord, harp: just so-so, with a possible exception for the harpsichord if you use it to play broken chords. Guitar: they should have left this one out: a waste of space, simply awful. Vibes: cannot use them. I have a Korg T1 from the late eighties, and the vibes patch on that workstation (at least 10 years older than the Prp7) sounds better than this one.
I would give the strings an 8, the rhodes, choir and grand piano a 7, the rest a 5 average

So far no complaints, although the cord of the power supply can be pulled out of the instrument VERY easily.

Don't know.

If it were stolen I would look for another piano. I like the fact that it is very portable, it does not weigh much. I use it on stage only, that is also the reason I bought it, it is simple to use, and the piano sounds is OK for on stage purposes, as long as you do not play fast repeating notes.
For a home studio I suggest that you look for another piano.

I am a begginer so I have limited experience with most keyboards. The only keyboard I have to compare this to is my teachers Kurwiel Mark 10. The only reason I am submiting a review is because I bought a PRP7 because of the price. So far I am very happy with the keyboard action and the Ease of using the various presets. It's Midi capabilities allow one to upgrade later without buying a new keyboard as well.

As I said before I bought this product because of it's low cost and I assume other beginners might have done the same. I've read the complaints and agree somewhat with them about the main piano sound. This unit though does blow away my upright in sound quality however. It seems to me that the initial tone on most of the keys is fine, but, after a 1/4 to 1/2 second there are major holes in the tone of them. I fixed this, (kind of) by going to strings #3, which is layered over Grand Piano and put the balance to -30 - -35. This filled alot of the wholes and gave me a really pleasing sound. One I like even better than the mark 10 (In most cases). If you don't care if a slight string sound is heard over your playing, this seems to be a good fix.

I would probably buy a Yamaha P-80 (after reading the reviews) if I had to do it again, but since I already have this one, I will make the most of it. Plus when I become more skilled and branch out into other types of music, I hope to be able to take adavantage of the Rhodes sounds the other reviewers are raving about.

i have this piano from yesterday and i use it with my fusion band.
The piano is relly easy to use, presets are easy to find and select.
Buttons are nice and well disposed.

The action on keyboard is optimal. Keyboard is beautiful. The effects give to the sounds a good general quality. Midi capabilities are usefull when you want use synthetic sounds from another keyboard or module.

Rodhes, i think, is the best rodhes i have played in 15 years.
It is a very big sound, in any form and with any effect solution.
For jazz and funk musicians the onboard rodhes sound is simply fantastic.
Piano presets are not a great think, and working hard on effects i have not found a sufficient sound of classic piano to play.
Good sounds of vibraphone and a good clavi (in the guitar presets!!)
that i have found by setting effects on guitar preset.
The dynamic touch is good, dimension and weight fantastic.
I think it is important to have a second workstation (or module)to use with this piano, cause in this way there are more sounds to use.

One word : fantastic.

Gem support is not very good. Every musician knows it.

Oh, i'm happy cause this is a very good product for this price.
Yamaha P80 ( i was trying it before purchase prp7!) have only good pianos , but keyboard, rodhes sounds and the price of prp7 give good reasons to prefer it!

Some of the preset sounds (especially the rhodes) are amongst the best you will find for the price you pay for this stagepiano. The manual is fairly clear and easy to use.

The keyboard action is very impressive. The addition of pitch bend and modulation joysick is also an aspect not found on a significant number of models down the lower end of the price range. The library of 96 songs is a bit of a waste of time, and I only use the stagepiano for practising and gigging, so the 444 sounds available via midi are not too useful to me either. The fact that I bought the instrument in spite of this must say something!

The quality of some of the preset sounds is staggering. Just compare the rhodes preset to the two preset electric piano sounds on the slightly more expensive Technics P50, and you will see what I mean. There are also a couple of excellent organ sounds too. Of course there are also a number of mediocre sounds. As one review on this site emphasised, the piano sounds are disappointing. Personally, I can live with the main grand piano sound, but I can understand why others might not be able to! You have to look at these flaws however in the context of its unbeatable price. If you want to get a stagepiano which can offer you equivalent sound quality and a good piano sound, you will probably have to pay an couple of hundred pounds or more.

I have not had any problems, but I have only had it for a fairly short period of time.

Customer was pretty bad. It took them more than a week to reply to my e-mail, and there are relatively few shops which sell GEM products. Keep persisting however and you may find it is well worth it! Turnkey in London (Tottenham Court Rd) can order them.

This stagepiano offers most of what I needed for a very affordable price. Buying a stagepiano is big decision, especially when you add the cost of accessories (gig bag, stand, amp etc...) and being a student I could not afford anything in the higher end of the market. If you do have money to spend, then maybe this is not for you (in which case the Roland RD700 - about #1700 - is beautiful!).

Presets sound good, the rhodes preset is probably the best i have found in 20 years of professional playing.

Grand Piano is very realistic in some zones, not everywhere, but the reason why i bought it is the fantastic rhodes sound, so good and expressive that i can play it in jazz gigs and it's very much like the real thing. Far better than any piano sound i have tried. The grand piano isn't that bad, though, it's still better than many modules on the market (proformance, micropiano, etc.), not better than the Roland P55, my favourite piano module, exept for the way the sound gets soft and dark playing pp, where the prp7 is more realistic.
The keyboard is very good, it's pleasant and not springy, and i can play it for hours without getting tired.

So far, it behaved perfectly, and i use it regularly on gigs around my country (Italy)

The Generalmusic Gem PRP7 is an 88 note fully weighted stage-piano or portable piano. It is based on the Gem Pro1 and Pro2 Real Piano series, and is very reasonably priced.

It is mechanically well built, having a solid steel case with nice wood end pieces. It looks good, except for the brick on a rope!! IMHO The nicest part of the PRP7 is the Keyboard action which is a TP23 Fatar action, the same one used by Fatar in their Studiologic 880, 990 and 1100 master keyboards. The Fatar action has a nice feel, not too light and not too soggy. The keys are nicely finished, and its even got that bit of felt strip across the edge of the keys!

The sounds ah well!! The PRP7 GM preset sounds are only average. The main sound, which is the Grand Piano (remember this keyboard purports to be a piano) is, if anything, below average and but a pale shadow of the Pro Real Piano series. The Grand Piano itself sounds boxed-in and lacks resonance. It sounds to me like the people at Gem started out with the Real Piano Pro sound and then used a pliers and a hacksaw to chop chunks off, leaving the piano equivalent of mock cream. You have to use the on-board effects and work hard to get any decent sound out of the Grand Piano. If you are looking to buy a portable piano as a main instrument this is NOT the keyboard to consider. Instead go for a Technics or Yamaha Stage Piano or indeed Gem's Pro1 or Pro2 Stage Piano.

The DSP on-board effects are basic but adequate. MIDI facilities are very basic but OK. The keyboard can access standard MIDI palette of sounds when driven from an external source BUT cannot use these sounds from its own interface - WEIRD!! There is also a bog basic sequencer on board.

If you have a Master-keyboard and want really a good piano get a Gem RP Expander. I love this little box, it is the reason I bought the PRP7. I foolishly thought that the piano sound would be a reasonably close clone of the sire - IT IS NOT!!

I have been playing keyboards for more than 10 years and own a GEM Real Piano Expander, an Ensonic TS12 and a PRP7, I borrow a few other bits from time to time. If the PRP series had a half decent piano which came even close to the Real Piano series, it would be very good value for money, BUT it does NOT, so it is NOT.

Maybe the good people at Generalmusic will re-issue the sound eprom for the PRP7, like they did for the Real Piano Expander. If they put a decent piano sound in this board it would be a nice one. Guys if you are putting out a better eprom, and I really suggest you consider it, I am first in the line to claim one.

Tony McGinley. Ireland.
michaelginnelly@esatclear.ie