Product: Roland U-20
Price Paid: Euros ??? 80 USED
Submitted
09/14/2006
at
04:26pm
by
MadDonna
Email: marco at purplehorses<dot>nl
Ease of Use
:
10
The presets are good and I did not had the urge to change them
Features
:
8
30 voices polyphony, keyboard action is ok, although not as good as my trusty Yamaha DX-7
It has chorus and reverb build in and sound good, it can use SN-U110 cards.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
8
Good! It makes me to make music. And it works for every type of music. The onboard effects are very useable. I like this machine.
Reliability
:
10
The keyboard was very sensitive for failure, you see a lot of U-20 on eBay or in Holland on 'Marktplaats' (translation Marketplace) with a faulty keyboard, fixing it is not difficult but it is 4 to 5 hours work, you will have to open the case, everything sits on the wrong side (top side) of the case, so you have to turn it around, put something very soft beneath it, the knobs can't handle the pressure for long. If non of the keys work than:
1: turn it on it's head, 2: remove all screws, 3: disconnect the pcb's from the case but DON'T remove the cables that connects the pcb's with each other, 4: remove the keyboard, 5: the keyboard cable is clipped on the mainboard so carefully remove it. 6: remove the keys. 7: remove one of the rubber contacts on top of the flexible pcb, clean the pcb and put the rubbers back, place the mainboard/pcbs back on the case without installing the keyboard, connect the flex pbc to the mainboard, put your U-20 on and try pressing the rubbers, when no sound!! order the patched (modificated) cable at your local Roland dealer, and ask for the manual!
Customer Support
:
10
My U-20 had a problem with the flex pcb. It was 'broken' with the help of Luke and Kris from Roland Europe/Benelux I could fix it.
Overall Rating
:
10
I would certain buy it, when it was stolen. I paid 80 euros for this instrument and it sound great. Better than the older U-110 and almost simular to the Korg 05r/w.
The reason why I bought this instrument had nothing to do with music. The name is a legend, it is the name of the German u-boat that sank the Lusitania in the First World War, http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/u20.htm for more details.
