JR Custom Series!

[Lukeofkeys]

Hi!

Some time ago I thought about "Custom instruments" for famous keyboarders!
I mean why does every guitar-guru has his own guitar-series? (just think of JP (MusicMan BFR) although JP really deserves it ;))
What about us keyboardists? Just thought about a "OASYS JR edition" or a
"FANTOM JR".
The "custom" elements just as design, special controller features and various "custom sounds (sets)" would be defined by the artist. (In JR's case, just think of the famous and legendary Liquid T Lead as one of many JR custom presets :cool:)

I mean a manufacturer wouldn't have to design a totaly new workstation, but there are many things you could customize by for eg. on the OASYS or the FANTOM G!
It's even easier as with guitars! You just have to redesign the look, load some Artist-presets, maybe add some OS features and enhance the price and finally sell it as the new "JR edition"....

what do you think about it? Would you buy a FANTOM JR?

greets
Luke...



@JR: Think about it and talk with your endorsement-fellows... :biggrin:
So you would have introduced your custom "JR rotary stand" and the "custom series" also available for keyboardists!

[Athox]

I want a JR edition zen riffer

[Lukeofkeys]

Yeah, I mean the Zen Riffer is really custom, but not available to the pubic!
The main thing I thought of, are Workstations like Jordan uses them but just "customized"...

greets

[Breno Ronchini]

Once in a while I think about that. It would be great but I think we should customize our own synths to mirror our identity on it!

And Luke, what you mean by "Zen Riffers are not available to the public?" O.o

[Athox]

I think he meant Jordan's version. Which at least has a custom paint job, and probably some other stuff.

[RAN7ARAVE]

just so they could jack up the price!!:confused:

is this thread a joke:mad:

[Lukeofkeys]

No it isn't a joke, (besides the "to enhance the price ;)")...

Sure, we can customize our gear ourselfs, but why then every guitarist has his own guitar series? The guitar-gurus could also customize their gear but they also buy very often the custom-series of their idol!

Just wanted to know what you think of "custom keys"? What are your ideas of "customizing gear"?

And I meant, that you can't buy the Zen Riffer it self in a store...
Sure there are some keys to strap on, but nothing like the zen riffer and no custom series...

greets

[Sparky93]

Zen Riffer $3,999.00 !!!

or just use a controller and plug in midi wireless... + use a strap... :tongue:

[Grey Loki]

Buy a modular synth ;)

[Lukeofkeys]

Man, that's not what I was talking/thinkin' about...
youre kiddin me?!...

Whats so special about this thread? Just asked a question I find interesting and wanted to discuss about it...

I'm not talking about gear you built yourself...you customized fittin your taste...
So, last time I try to start an interseting conversation...

What would you like on JR custom keys (made by nameable manufacturers like Roland, Korg etc. built in "mass production" and not made by yourslelf in "one piece series").
Would you buy it? What do you think about "customized gear" at all?

so, greets
Luke

[gylfih]

I don't think it'd be worth the extra price. The only real difference would be appearance, and some custom sounds. I'd prefer the manufacturers/JR himself to release a custom sound bank (for OASYS or Fantom) or a VST set (eg for Korg Legacy or Z3TA+).

Guitarists, I think, generally just have huge egos lol and feel a necessity for custom gear. But they may need the custom gear, because the hardware is actually changing to fit their need with their custom series (like a modular system for us). Apart from big modular synths, though, custom gear doesn't apply to keyboardists, because each big synth (OASYS/Fantom/Motif...) has the sound capacity to do whatever you want with it.

I fully support the idea of getting one of JRs Zen Riffers though. They should be made available to the public in that state! I prefer the plain wood finish though (like the original one).

[Mathieu Fiset]

I have already thinked about that idea, I would like to see what JR or any other keyboardist would demand for their signature keyboards, but I don't think I would buy one.

I would prefer making MY own synth haha ^^ But I'm so pleased with my Triton Extreme that I don't really need to change anything...exept maybe the weight of it !!

[Lukeofkeys]

I like the idea of the "Idol Soundbank"! Would be really cool to get a JR soundbank, for Fantom, OASYS etc...

But because Synths can do everything you're demanding them, the potential of customizable things is huge, and it's way easier to customize as with guitars!
I mean the OS of Fantom and OASYS are so powerful and so expandable, that it would be easy to add/change special features the artist suggests!
So, you could use the same features as the artist (like guitarists do with their customs) but, you can use them for your sound and your playin'...

greets

[StandBuilder]

So you would have introduced your custom "JR rotary stand" and the "custom series" also available for keyboardists!

One note from the StandBuilder.....
Jordan's aluminum truss (stand) IS available....
Not really custom, except for the powdercoat job, but the ones I build for him are well discussed between him, his technicians and me...
The stand I build for him is really custom, so ONE OF A KIND.... That is a sort of "promise" I made him after I built him the stainless steel truss....

But whenever you have an idea for a stand or you want to build it yourself, you can always contact me for information....

aluminumly,

P@

[aibohphobia]

I've never been a fan of signature instruments, but I do wish there were some cosmetic options with keyboards. Something as simple as choosing the color would be excellent! I honestly wonder how many instruments Nord sells just because they look so cool. We're the only ones in the band who can't choose the color of our instrument!

[Lukeofkeys]

One note from the StandBuilder.....
Jordan's aluminum truss (stand) IS available....
Not really custom, except for the powdercoat job, but the ones I build for him are well discussed between him, his technicians and me...
The stand I build for him is really custom, so ONE OF A KIND.... That is a sort of "promise" I made him after I built him the stainless steel truss....

But whenever you have an idea for a stand or you want to build it yourself, you can always contact me for information....

aluminumly,

P@

Don't ment that he made the stand available for us customers but he introduced it to the public...so he was the first one (I think) that placed his Key on such a rotary monster on stage.... (excuse my english, Austrian :cool:)

One question, where are you from (I'm new in the forum, so don't blame me:wink:)....according to your signature you have to speak german?!
And another, what costs such a stand?

greets

[Grey Loki]

I like the idea of the "Idol Soundbank"! Would be really cool to get a JR soundbank, for Fantom, OASYS etc...

But because Synths can do everything you're demanding them, the potential of customizable things is huge, and it's way easier to customize as with guitars!
I mean the OS of Fantom and OASYS are so powerful and so expandable, that it would be easy to add/change special features the artist suggests!
So, you could use the same features as the artist (like guitarists do with their customs) but, you can use them for your sound and your playin'...

greets

An Idol soundbank is a nice idea, but it's not likely to happen - the sounds that JR programs are his and his alone - if he suddenly released a pack of them for use by anybody and everybody, suddenly his unique sounds aren't so unique any more.

Unless you meant just a palette of sounds made by JR, not necessarially similar to his current set - they might be cool, but tbh I wouldn't go for them; much more satisfying to make my own strange noises, IMO.

[Subpar]

The fantom g has sounds made by JR. They are single sounds not full live sets.

[Lukeofkeys]

An Idol soundbank is a nice idea, but it's not likely to happen - the sounds that JR programs are his and his alone -

That's right, but didn't the K-Series form Kurzweil include the Liquid T Lead as a preset? (all I heard they really did, just played a Kurz once)
I think that's a cool idea, and a nice advertising effect...I mean it didn't obviously harm Jordans use of the custom legendary Lead synth sound he created...

I think it would be nice to have just a bunch (1-10) of sounds Jordan created or uses as presets, furthermore the already mentioned custom OS features and the custom look would make a fully custom instrument, and if the price will be enhanced is the question because I understand the price of the MusicMan BFR, it's a totally new guitar, it's totally new designed and just a "few" pieces are built (I don't think that the edition is too big)...
but if you customize an already existing key the amount of work isn't that high...so the price shouldn't be much higher than the price of the normal version.

For sure I also have my own custom sound but very often I would like to play the same cool, weird gorgeous sounds jordan uses...

greets

[Breno Ronchini]

About Idol Soundbanks
I think it's a nice idea! But don't you think it would be nicer if the companies released a library on an expansion board, disc, flash drive or something, with samples or even patches on it? Because, if you already have, for instance, a Fantom G, you could get Jem Godfrey's patches without having to buy another Fantom. Or a Triton Extreme and get Rudess' Rhythm of Time patches and etc.

About customizing gear
Luke, some of the main reasons why guitar players get custom guitars are: get a more comfortable instrument, sometimes setting the size of the fretboard, sometimes the size of the body itself, or even the weight and size of the instrument in general; they're favorite type of wood on the body, arm, fretboard, top and, sometimes, tone block. It's really important since the sound of the guitar is totally related with what type of material that it's made of and how is the instrument set up. Besides, of course, the whole electric part, like setting the knobs and switches to control the pickups, effects and many other functions the guitar player might need and want to enhance his performance.

But I believe in this case, the least important stuff is the visual part. Of course everybody wants a gorgeous instrument but, c'mon? Which PRS, Earnie Ball Music Man, ESP, Caparison, Gibson or whatever, pro level guitar isn't outstandingly beautiful?

On keyboards, on the other hand, we could indeed want the companies to customize a LOT of MIDI functions so the instrument can fit on your needs and preferences: "I want this knob to do this, this slider, that, the modulation lever to do this stuff..." However, with top level workstations we are already able to do these settings ourselves.

But things I really wish that could be customized would be the structural stuff.
For instance, if I was going to buy a Virus TI by Access, but I rather get a joystick instead of pitch wheel. Or maybe if I'll get a Kurzweil PC3X and want that huge K2600-like ribbon. Another pedal input 'cos I like to use 3 or 4 pedals. I don't know, there are many possibilities I could talk about here.

So, since companies don't do that yet, I believe the customizing stuff on keyboards can apply on our sounds - which we all do it already - and visual of the synth.
There are some companies and people who do this kind of job. For instance, Forat [company] and Jeff Toman. Forat, if you guys don't know, did the customizing stuff for Marcus Brown, and, Toman worked on Jem Godfrey's rig.
Check it out, here:
Jem Godfrey's V-Synth GT by Toman (http://thenewcube.blogspot.com/2008/11/beforeafter.html)
Marcus Brown's V-Synth by Forat (http://www.forat.com/allpictures/Madonna/Madonna%20V-synth%201.jpg)

I want to customize my synths but, the bigger issue I'm dealing with is:
"How the hell am I going to paint those words?!" You know? The panel words, like Enter, Exit, System, Parameters, Cutoff, Resonance, blablabla.
If you guys have a tip for me, I would appreciate it!

[Lukeofkeys]

About Idol Soundbanks
So, since companies don't do that yet, I believe the customizing stuff on keyboards can apply on our sounds - which we all do it already - and visual of the synth.
There are some companies and people who do this kind of job. For instance, Forat [company] and Jeff Toman. Forat, if you guys don't know, did the customizing stuff for Marcus Brown, and, Toman worked on Jem Godfrey's rig.
Check it out, here:
Jem Godfrey's V-Synth GT by Toman (http://thenewcube.blogspot.com/2008/11/beforeafter.html)
Marcus Brown's V-Synth by Forat (http://www.forat.com/allpictures/Madonna/Madonna%20V-synth%201.jpg)

I want to customize my synths but, the bigger issue I'm dealing with is:
"How the hell am I going to paint those words?!" You know? The panel words, like Enter, Exit, System, Parameters, Cutoff, Resonance, blablabla.
If you guys have a tip for me, I would appreciate it!


Do ya know what it costs to "recolour" my synth?...The site is just a blog right, didn't find any price-information...

Yeah, I also agree with the idea of releasing a "XY custom SoundExpansion"...would be a nice idea
And I know that guitarists build their guitars after their preferences (like knobs on the right places, wood, shape etc), but as I mentioned, this would be also able with synths (OS modification)...so the sense would be given

I also already thought of recolouring my synth, but I droped the idea also because I didn't kow how to keep the captions...

greets

[osiris]

I've wondered about this before. and if I ever got offered by roland or korg or whoever else, to make me a custom keyboard, I really don't know what I would ask for.

Aesthetically, I'd be totally lost, I'd probably want a nice big touchscreen like the OASYS, but the actual design, god knows :frown:

But I think the main thing I'd want is lots of controls. And have it so they're all factory preset to do certain things, but you could change them via a computer editor software or something.

But some things I'd deffinately get are:
a d-beam;
large ribbon;
pitch lever similar to the OASYS (so it can go left right forward and back);
time trip pad;
lots of rotary encoders, sliders and buttons;
lots of pedal outputs for sustain, patch change, wah etc...


And I'd also want it to be like a proper synthesizer and vocoder in one if thats not too complex :biggrin: complete with vocal designer :tongue:



Can you tell I think about it a fair bit....

[StandBuilder]

Don't ment that he made the stand available for us customers but he introduced it to the public...so he was the first one (I think) that placed his Key on such a rotary monster on stage.... (excuse my english, Austrian :cool:)

One question, where are you from (I'm new in the forum, so don't blame me:wink:)....according to your signature you have to speak german?!
And another, what costs such a stand?

greets

He was not the first one to use a rotating stand on stage....

Saga, Billy Joel and Styx use(d) such a stand for many years....

I started building these stands in the mid 90's after seeing coverbands like Monte Video on stage.
I only improved a couple of things on these stands and the third stand was made for a friend and forum member Nolan/Coen, who introduced me to Jordan in 2001...
First I built these stands out of a stainless steel cilinder and since 2002, I build other versions, like trusses, rings and aluminum trusses....
An Jordan's stands are one of a kind.......

I'm from Holland and I do speak German, although not this good...
My signature is a quote from Rammstein, that's why....:biggrin:

For information on stands and prices, send me an e mail at patrickslaats@gmail.com

aluminumly,

P@

[FRETPICK]

JR Sound bank/ ARX would be great.

[Lukeofkeys]

Zen Riffer $3,999.00 !!!

or just use a controller and plug in midi wireless... + use a strap... :tongue:

Man, it is availiable for us....:eek:
I always thought the ZR was a "one piece work"?! Just made for Jordan...

http://web.mac.com/charlestentindo/ZENRIFFER_/HOME.html

OK, didn't know that...but although it has a very custom JR design :D

greets

[Mantarkus]

I've never been a fan of signature instruments, but I do wish there were some cosmetic options with keyboards. Something as simple as choosing the color would be excellent! I honestly wonder how many instruments Nord sells just because they look so cool. We're the only ones in the band who can't choose the color of our instrument!

This is something that I've thought about recently. Drummers and bass guitar players can opt to buy either a signature instrument or just a different color or finish, damn even violinists can choose an electric or a viper series from Mark Wood.
Right now I'm looking for a way to change my QS7's black color to a blue camouflage without ruining the prints and be able to maybe change it to some other color later on, and possibly reversing the keyboard colors.




But things I really wish that could be customized would be the structural stuff.
For instance, if I was going to buy a Virus TI by Access, but I rather get a joystick instead of pitch wheel. Or maybe if I'll get a Kurzweil PC3X and want that huge K2600-like ribbon. Another pedal input 'cos I like to use 3 or 4 pedals. I don't know, there are many possibilities I could talk about here.

So, since companies don't do that yet, I believe the customizing stuff on keyboards can apply on our sounds - which we all do it already - and visual of the synth.


This kind of work was available back in the 70's when ARP would change their pitch control pot in the Odyssey for a moog style wheel and even some people had their Hammonds and Leslies fitted with some exotic (Jon Lord) effects.
I've read somewhere that even Roland made a special sequencer for Suzzane Ciani.
Come to think of it, many things we have today in our boards are the result of many artists requests like Emerson wanting a "click" effect in Korg's original CX-3, a feature now standart in tone wheel clones.

...

David C.