Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Life cycle of Roland DPs

I'm still looking for a DP No doubt I'll be bored/have more time to practise when I eventually get one.

Anyway, was looking at the Roland FP30, with wooden stand and pedal unit, when I saw the thread on here saying the F-140R is the same keyboard, sounds similar, and has more sounds and is easier to operate due to its LED display.

I have played the F-140R, which I also like because it has a lid, and wouldn't cost a lot more than the FP30 with stand, but it is quite an old model and I'd hate to buy one, then find out there's a replacement due out shortly.

Does anybody follow DP lifecycles closely enough to predict how much longer the F-140R will be around, please?

F-120 existed at least already in 2012.
F-130R in late 2014 or sooner.
F-140R might be a late 2015 model.

So, maybe it's getting a bit old already. But what could Roland possible add to an F-150R? Higher polyphony as in e.g. FP-60? And would they keep the onboard controls for the accompaniment feature? The trend has been to replace those with a mobile app. They might switch to the round speakers of the RP-501R if they actually fit into the cabinet?

Probably it would still have the PHA4 Standard action and the sample based SuperNatural sound engine.

(But what do I know?)

Thanks cloth eared, I hadn't thought about what they could remove!
I like what it has, just didn't want to miss out on anything

Grass is always blooming greener, isn't it?

Hi Lillith,

I noticed you live in England.
On ebay right now are two instruments (of similar cost to the F140R) that are a lot better: the Roland RD700NX, and the Yamaha CP4.
Those might be worth a gander to see if you can bag yourself a bargin?

Used RD700NX

Used Yamaha CP4

Ah, thank you Doug.
I'll check them out

I bought an F-140 recently as my very first piano. Being a complete beginner I cannot tell you how it compares to other gear but I can tell you that I have become rather fond of it.

It has aux input which is quite rare in this type of piano at this price range - this feature was key for me since it means that I can practice with various iPad apps without loads of wires / mixers etc. the only wire needed is a mini jack from the iPad to the aux in - I do the Midi connection via the built in Bluetooth and this works like a charm.

Yeah would be a pity if the life cycle still has training wheels mounted when it dies :-).

Okay, this has gone on long enough. Here's the REAL story about the life cycle of a Roland piano ...

The piano is mostly plastic, derived from crude oil. The latter is the product of millions of years of subterranean heat and pressure acting upon the carbon detritus left behind by long-dead organisms.
Were those organisms just dinosaurs? Or perhaps plankton deep beneath the ocean's surface 300 million years ago?

Regardless, that Roland (or other piano) has had a life cycle that began VERY long ago.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

(And now I sit back and wait for a snappy retort from peterws.)