Know anyting about vintage roland keyboards?!

brandon. · Post by **brandon.** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:37 pm

So I came across a Roland MP-700 and can't find much info about it. All I can tell is that it wasn't very
successful in it's attempt to compete with the fender rhodes...

So does anyone know anything about this thing? It works sorta well, I still plan on taking it in to get looked at.
I've seen a few forums where people urge other people not to buy them.

Here's a picture of it from the internet, but mine doesn't have the bottom cab or the pedals or the stand, just the keyboard
itself:

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:55 pm

Stewert?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:10 pm

don't really know much about it apart from it's an early electronic piano. weighted keys but not mechanically generated tone.

i think i'd be careful, it's a cool looking thing but in all honesty, the sounds it produces are probably available in lighter and more reliable synths these days. i think if anything goes wrong with it you're in danger of being charged an absolute fortune for repairs... nice piece of furniture if you've got space, but the sort of thing i'd avoid, generally.

i did find a PDF manual for it here though- link

brandon. · Post by **brandon.** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:09 pm

I actually bought it at an auction for $10...
I think the fact that the keys actually hit contact points to make the tones is really neat.
this keyboard through a bass stack + big muff sounds incredible to me, but like stewart said, you need a big piece of real-estate to keep this thing.

Any idea on how much I could get if I sold it on ebay? or the local craigslist? (or shortscale?ha)

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:30 pm

you can't really go wrong for $10 i suppose...

i don't see you getting an awful lot for it to be honest, given the size and weight, plus the missing parts. and you're obviously looking at a pickup, as any postage would be more than it's worth. someone might give you $50 at a guess.

vintage keyboards aren't nearly as collectable as guitars, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for some, as you can still pick really cool stuff up for next to nothing!) until you get into the realms of minimoogs, roland jupiter 8s, stuff in that league, or something with a specific sought-after sound like a rhodes. even then they're not that pricy.

brandon. · Post by **brandon.** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:40 pm

thanks for all the info, you've been more help than the rest of the internet...
I'm definitely going to sell it locally, if I decide to sell it at all.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:47 pm

no problem, reading my previous post it looks like i'm on a bit of a downer about it, i'm not- it does look like a cool instrument, and it'll be really well made if it's a roland.

but if you're selling it don't expect it to go for hundreds of dollars.