Roland VK-77

The VK-77 is very easy to use once you understand the draw bars. The user manual is very helpful.

I like the overdrive! It makes this baby scream. reverb could be better.

The organs are INSANE!! Works great for Rock, Blues, R&B, Reggae, Gospel...i use it for everything. As for the orchestral sounds...pretty weak in my opinion, I only use it for the organ, but the organ is so good I had to give it a 10.

Never had any issues, very sturdy piece of equipment.

If I lost this I would try to get another but probably wouldn't be able to because of the price. I scored from my friend for $1500 so Its DEFINATELY worth what I paid. I love everything about this keyboard which is why I had to write a review. From the vintage look to the vintage sound, this keyboard is awesome. I use it with my Roland RD-300sx which I recently fell in love with. Thank you Roland.

The VK-77 is easy to use and set-up in you read the manual which is somewhat confusing at times. It took about three days to get fully accoustomed to the manuals, pedalboard, and preset locations.

This keyboards MIDI capabilities and full polyphony are awsome, easy to use and configure. I use multiple modules including a Korg SG Rack piano module and 2 01RWs and they were easily implemented in to my performances eliminating the need for additional keyboards.

If one sets aside VKs additional sounds, the VK-77 does exactly what it's supposed to do, clone the hammond sound. I play gospel, jazz, and MOR styles of music and can't say that I've ever been disapointed or not been able to achieve the sound I wanted.

I've owned my VK-77 for 6 months now and both use and move it two to three times weekly. Never a problem! Last month I dropped in a stairwell while moving, in the road case of course, and all was fine. I believe that Roland built this unit with the road musician in mind thus it should withstand normal road abuse without a problem. If it holds up as good as my old RD300 or current RD500 I will be more than satisfied for they've never let me down.

Yes, I have delt with the Roland's standard customer support in the past and it was a nightmare. The standard customer support rates a 3 at best. However, I made one contact at Roland Canada, Tony Harder - tharder@rolandca.com, who went the extra mile for me on a couple of occasions when I needed parts or information. Tony rates a 10 in my books. It's two thumbs up for Tony, he really cares and delivered on all his commitments on time and as promissed.

Overall, the VK-77 is a dream to play. If stolen I would replace it without hesitation. Prior to investing in the VK-77, I auditioned two other units and VK-77 won my vote hands down. I own two Hammonds, both a B3 and RT and have played various models, e.g., B2, C3, and A100 series for over 30 years.

The light-up buttons could have been more resistant to accidental pressing. I had to modify the way I play to avoid selecting sounds when I forgot to push the "Registration Hold" button. The keys are more familiar than standard Hammond keys to me because I play synths most of the time. The percussion switches are too far away; and they engage with a loud click in my Leslie speaker. Overall, it's a cinch to play, slightly cumbersome to program on-the-fly. The registration menus should have been a little easier to read under stage lights. The manual is not essential to playing the organ out of the box. It's very well laid out, though.

The full keyboard polyphony is awesome! I can do glissandos without any truncation. MIDI is strange because I have to zone the manuals for each sounds. No sequencer, but it would have been nice.

The piano sound has an annoying trigger delay, a lot more than the other sounds. I avoid that sound whenever possible. On the flip side, the Rhodes piano is magnificent! That is my most used orchestral sound. The chorus is decent, and the vocal patches are sweet. I use the VK-77 for gospel music live performance.

It's so good I took all my other synts and amps home. Only the Leslie gives me problems.

The customer support was awful! I waited three months to finally get the PK-25 pedals and the bench. They claimed three to four weeks. Roland had shipping errors, and it is probably the last time I order from their factory. While I waited, my Leslie sat dormant because I had already move the Hammond.

If it got stolen I'd cry for a month. It is my dream to own a VK-series organ. I'm only 17, and I played the VK-7 in 1997 a nd I swore I'd get one. When the old Hammond gave up the ghost, I immediately recommended the VK-77. It sounds a lot better than the XK-2 in live situations. I've been playing since 1992, and I own a Yamaha DX27S and a Korg O1/WFD. I like the portable look of the VK-77 because an untrained eye will think it's less than the best keyboard/organ on Earth!! The only thing I wish it had is a sequencer. The $7300 price tag was STEEP, but it's worth it. I might even sell the Leslie.

Since my last reveiw ( which was a first impression of the Orch sounds) I would like to make this addition.
In my Opinion The Organ sounds have Balls and the Leakage sounds great and Original like a B-3. The direct E.Q. of the Rotary speaker is a plus. When using a 147 Leslie ( bright and with edge) I leave
the E.Q. as is. When using the 760 ( solid state ) leslie I have to brighten it up a tad. Wish that Reverb was warmer!
The Orch sounds may have hope after all. The FM "Rhodes" is cool if you like this 80's sound. I find the two SA Rhodes usable ( "SA Rhodes 2" sounds better). The Acoustic Piano is Passible for the Majority. Both Stage and Suitcase Rhodes sound Dead like it's coming through a Shot up Bass amp. I even tried outside EQ but man these Rhodes sounds are hopless. The other sounds are for the most Part o.k. and pretty much Usable on the Club scene. The orch sounds on the VK-77 are ++ better than those on the VK-7

First I would like to thank Harmony Central and VK owner Bob Kirstead.
I have found this Organ Very easy to use. It's just a Mordern day Double keyboard Combo Compact Organ will great Midi Capabilities....Like having 2 vk 7's.
The Presets are great but with an Organ-you'll do realtime funtions anyway - maybe using about 4 or 5 presets live.
I feel the owners Manual is cool.
The Registar Buttons between the Double Manuals are cool but make sure to access the "Registar lock" button so that you don't accidently Trigger another preset when jammin' on the Vk's Piano preset!

I have to admit. I wanted a Keyboard that would do everything. It kicks Butt in the Organ department for which these feautures are cool. The Reverb is o.k. but to me ( and I love Reverb on an organ),it does not sound bad but I wish it sounded more warm. The Vibrato and Chours has been Improved from the VK7 series but "C3" SOUNDS BEST! The pitch bend Paddle is great for those external Midi modules, aftertouch and velocity on top, velocity only on the bottom manual. I dont mind those overhanging keys for I use to own a Hammond B!

Hey, like I said the Organ kicks butt! I wish it was a way to have a "Effect Send" for some Good Warm tube Reverb and maybe even a Tube Pre amp. I have a Tech who is pretty sure he may can alter and Modify my Leslie 1197 box ( the one that comes from the back of the VK77 to a Leslie 760)so that I can use a Tube pre amp with it. BUT HEY this VK77 sounds darn good with out any tubes anyway!!
I don't like the Orch sounds except the "60's Piano". Some of the string sounds are cool, The suitcase Rhodes sounds like that one on the VK7...DEAD. This to me this is a big disapointment because I wanted a keyboard that would do everything. Well. I will just go out and buy A JV1010 to replace those orch sounds! No problem because the midi Controller funtions are good.

I would not take it out to a gig unless I had a Anvil Flight case...but of course who would'nt? Seems reliable!

Seems cool. Just don't put me on hold too long!!

I love this Organ and would buy It again with the insurance money!
I could have gotten a VK7 but I want to have the power of a B3 and wish to play it like one!

The VK-77 is very easy to use if you are comming from a traditional organ ... such as a Hammond.. Allen.. etc.. because it is setup like a traditional organ. It has two sets of drawbars one for each "manual". The VK-77 is a digital dual manual combo organ. It looks and acks like a "vinatage keyboard". It also has "touch sensative" buttons for Percussion, Vibrato and Chorus... and Rotating Speaker effect Fast, slow and stop. In addition, the more subtle aspects of the organ sound include "key click", equalizer, tonewheel texture.. and many other paramaters can be controlled and saved as presets. This again is an organ terminology... like performance settings in a more tradtional synth. There are 128 user definable presets.. that are activated by lighted buttons under the upper manual. This is a traditional approach used in large console organs.. The manual.. describes each feature... but..is more of a reference.. rather than an instructional guide.. It takes some use to get comfortable..

61 Note polyphony; keyboard action is like a synth.. effects include the rotating speaker.. with the ability to change speed.. and modifty the spped of the upper and lower rotor... It has full MIDI.. but know expansion or sequencer built in.. does have additional midi connection for a set of midi.. foot pedals..

The organ sound is very good... There is a small set of other sounds.. piano; synth; horns; etc.. some are very good... I like the sax.. others are weak...
The keyboard is vilosity sensitive.. and has aftertouch.. which can be used to control the spped of the rotating speaker (leslie) effect ... a nice feature..

Never giged with it.. seems reliable...

Never delt with Roland.. however... the Roland site does not seem to have a place to ask questions.. they refer you to a dealer... most dealers have never seen this instrument...it's hard to find..

I really enjoy playing the VK-77... and with it plugged into a Leslie... it's a much lighter and more portable replacment for a vintage organ..