Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?

[Guest]

I have seen this Kawai Dx900 for sale in melbourne (about 9) hours drive away for sale for $200 dollars,</p>

I know it works because i has able to listen to the seller playing it over the phone, however my phone being rather old, </p>

did not compliment the sound of the organ. I want to know first of all, what sort of sound does this kawai have, Is it a good sound, </p>

and ultimately is it worth borrowing someone's ute and driving to melbourne to pick it up.  Is kawai a reliable brand, etc</p>

I have downloaded the manual from the kawai website, and it has tonnes of features, but I want personal advice on wether this organ is worth the effort,</p>

Thanks</p>

liam </p>

[geoelectro]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



The DX series CAN be hard to repair if they break. Digital boards in a cage that usually have to be sent to the factory for service. Kawai had trouble explaining how these boards worked to field techs and resigned to having them sent in. Make sure it works!</p>

George
</p>

[andyg]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



Hi Liam</p>

I designed the DX900 so I'm biased! [Y]
</p>

OK, you get some good quality sounds, but bear in mind that this is an all analogue organ, so don't expect the pin-sharp realism of 2008 voices!</p>

Drawbars aren't as pure as a Hammond, but are rich enough, and there's a Leslie built in. Providing it's been set up right inside (all but the first batches were, and it's a couple of screwdriver tweaks if not) the strings are lush. You also have some theatre organ flutes that also go through the ensemble effect. There's brass and sax there as well and you can mix it all up as each section is produced separately.</p>

The lower manual features two choir sounds, Uh and Ah. These were the first choir sounds on a home organ and they work best when blended with the lower strings.</p>

The percussion section works on all three manuals simultaneously and has some good sounds, but the piano is a bit weak as a solo voice. Blends well with drawbars and strings, though.</p>

Top manual is a preset synth. Great violin and trumpet, as well as trombone, guitar and flute and lots more. These stand up well, even against today's sounds. The pedals have their own bass synth and there's a third synth for sound effects like Thunder.</p>

Rhythms are pre-PCM, so don't expect totally real drums. But, as these units go, it's one of the best. You can even mix two or more rhythms together and there's a great disco wah guitar on some patterns.</p>

Overall, it's a big, rich sound. Analogue organs have a warmth that many digitals don't, and the DX900 is warm.</p>

Reliability? It's a Kawai. It's Japanese. It's reliable. We actually unpacked the first one into the UK live on stage in front of a big audience. We were confident, and it worked, of course! However, it is nearly 30 years old and all organs of that era are getting a little tired. Spares for all 70's / 80's organs can be hard to find. Weigh that up against the fact that these old girls usually go on and on.</p>


$200 is good, pity about the long drive, but that's what you get for living in Godzone![;)] </p>

Here's yours truly back in 1981 recording the organ for an LP.</p>

</p>

Let me know what you do!</p>

Andy
</p>

</p>

Edit: Although it wears a DX badge, the DX900 is definitely
not a digital organ, in fact my first design sketches were for an organ called
the E580, belonging to the last of the E series, so geoelectro's
comments about the digital boards don't apply here.</p>I don't know what it
was like in the states,George, but we issued all UK dealers with a stock
set of digital boards that they could swap on site. We then immediatley
replaced the dealers' stocks and fixed the broken ones or sent them
back to Japan. For many years our engineer was part-time, we didn't
have the need for him full-time. Even the change to full digital didn't
result in more work. It was only when we took on all the synths,
modules, amps and all the rest that we gave him a real job.

[geoelectro]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?

[quote user="andyg"]

</p>

Edit: Although it wears a DX badge, the DX900 is definitely
not a digital organ, in fact my first design sketches were for an organ called
the E580, belonging to the last of the E series, so geoelectro's
comments about the digital boards don't apply here.</p>

I don't know what it
was like in the states,George, but we issued all UK dealers with a stock
set of digital boards that they could swap on site. We then immediatley
replaced the dealers' stocks and fixed the broken ones or sent them
back to Japan. For many years our engineer was part-time, we didn't
have the need for him full-time. Even the change to full digital didn't
result in more work. It was only when we took on all the synths,
modules, amps and all the rest that we gave him a real job.[/quote]</p>

Andy, thanks for the clarity.Looking at the DX900 service manual, I see that it is NOT like the other DX-series organs we have serviced. I thought all models with the DX badge were of the same build.</p>

As for replacement boards, they were not that available. Usually, we had to send the old boards into Kawai America for either exchange or repair. Causing a minimum of two service calls for each job. Just sent a cage in last year for a DX-600. Took about two weeks but they fixed it.</p>

George
</p>

[crossyinoz]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?

[quote user="Kimball Paradise L200"]


I have seen this Kawai Dx900 for sale in melbourne (about 9) hours drive away for sale for $200 dollars,</P>


[/quote]</P>


G'day Liam,</P>


The DX900 is a nice sounding reliable analog instrument, and being Japanese shouldn't give you any trouble. There is atech in Melbourne who has been servicing Kawai's amongst others for over 30 years and keeps stocks of the more common replacement bits excepting anything cosmetic.</P>


If this DX900 is the one I'm thinking of, it's not in Melbourne but 90 mins drive south east, and I'm guessing you are in South Australia. However the price is right, far betteron the hip pocketthan the one a Melbourne dealer recently advertised for $3K.</P>


Kam-pai,</P>


Ian</P>

[Guest]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



Hey Andy.......I am going to be BIASED TOOOO [;)]
</p>

When the DX900 was launched in South Africa, I was the National Promotor for Kawai and had the opportunity to unpack the complete new range</p>

for the Rand Easter Show held in Johannesburg S.A. every year.. It used to be a 3 week long show. And I loved every minute of it. Having being brought up with YAMAHA all my life...and my music career started at the tender age of 3 and starting to play professional at the age of 12....I found then, the new KAWAI range magnificent w.r.g. to the new sound that was born in organs....Midway through the show I had an interview with the SABC - and was offered to perform on a program called Video 2 and after I did that I got offered a record contract to do a LP which I named ''Kaway Adventures Into Sound'' by Erina van der Westhuizen...now that was more or less the same time you did yours although I think It was a bit earlier...1982 ish...I might be wrong. I have a copy of my LP at home and strangely asked the boys to put a photo of the cover on Facebook for me a few minutes before I got onto this blog....hahaha...odd..</p>

Well I believe that if you play an organ or keyboard and use a spicific instrument, you should use the same tecnique that you would use if hyou should play the real thing...No use at all playing strings like you would play piano...and that is where the trick comes in aand many people fail</p>

the test...I am sure you knwo what I mean...</p>

.I used Danny Boy to demo the uh's and ah's and it worked great with strings etc...</p>

I also did a song by Carlos Santana called Europa..to demo the lead dist. Guitar...worked like a bomb.</p>

I did Chariots of fire...used arp's etc to get to the real deal as close as possible....</p>

I did the selling track of Silver Dream Machine....and experimented with some Synt. sounds....</p>

If I could get the Lp I could do a Cd on it and send it off to you, but it is in South Africa and I do not want to risk losing it or have it damaged...You know how stupid one sometimes get...you sell out all the copies and then you remember that you did not keep one for yourself...duh!!!! </p>

Hahaha with regards to it ever dying on me...of course...just before a show with about 600 students and people ....I have a nick of either talking to it very nicely or picking one end up and dropping it....Always worked for me..esp if it came out of the box and would not make a sound...sometimes just a dry socket or something not making good contact.....That is the Law of every demonstrator career....a dying instrument minutes before a show.....[8-)]</p>

I loved the Dx 800 and was disappointed that they never put the Pan Flute in the 900 but every instrument has it's own selling points and tecniques.</p>

I have just invested in a Roland E80 and cannot wait to get my hands on it.....We have just moved to Peterborough UK 2 months ago and I need to start playing...I am going to do a long overdue CD.... do you have any suggestions w.r.g. to a home recording Program.....I have looked at Cubase 5 but that's toooo professional....It will only be for me...no other singers or artists....</p>

Anybody out there....let me know what you think.....</p>

</p>

It was great finding you on this site....keep in touch...</p>

Regards</p>

Erina
</p>

</p>

</p>

</p>

[andyg]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



Hi Erina</p>

Nice to hear from a fellow Kawai demonstrator! I recall back in 79 or 80 being asked to do some work in SA, but somehow the schedules never seemed to work out, I was always too busy racing around the UK and Europe. Shame, we might have met there.
</p>

I only ever had a Kawai fail on me once, an X430 back in 1984, I think. For the first ever dealer show with the DX900, we actually unpacked it live on stage - it arrived that late. Turned on, played concert. Apart from the unadjusted strings, it was fine.</p>

I would definitely go with Cubase 5. I've been a Cubase user for many years and it's not as complex as it might seem. There are some great new set-up and tuition DVD's just coming on the market that will get you started and more. Check out www.timespace.com for details. There are also lesser versions of Cubase (SE, I think) but the full version is something that you can grow into rather than grow out of.</p>

Regards</p>

Andy</p>

</p>

</p>

[Guest]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



Hi Andy. </p>

Thanks for the tip...There is only one problem here in P'boro, nobody is selling Cubase 5 as they cannot give you backup support.haha which I think I am going to need....I am very much a real time recorder than posting bar's together etc....I have a Cubase Home studio I think one of the first few one's that came out 4-5 years ago....still got it from Cape town....but never used it ....</p>

I am looking forward to my E80 and counting the days down almost!!! I tickled a few notes in the shop on it and could not believe the sampling they've put in it.....</p>

</p>

What are you doing for a living now....still designing and playing or just playing like the rich and famous lol...just kidding...What is it with some</p>

musers that they always follow another/2nd choice career and are misreable because they cannot play......I am one of them ....Just not enough money in it....or stupidity or what..???</p>

</p>

Anyway...keep well and hope you're still playing......</p>

</p>

Regards</p>

</p>

Erina
</p>

[andyg]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?

[quote user="erina"]

Hi Andy. </p>

There is only one problem here in P'boro, nobody is selling Cubase 5 as they cannot give you backup support....</p>

[/quote]</p>

Haha, I know just what you mean. I am the software backup support for a couple of local dealers! [:)]
</p>

[quote user="erina"]</p>

What are you doing for a living now....still designing and playing or just playing like the rich and famous lol...just kidding</p>

[/quote]</p>

Teaching, mainly, and writing for Keyboard Player Magazine. RSI problems mean that I can't do the level of practice I need to do, in order to perform to a level that I would consider acceptable, so no more concerts. [:(] It comes and goes, and I'm in a nasty period right now. When it goes, I can play as well as I ever could. At the moment it's too painful to do too much. I do play for a few weddings, christenings etc and few private engagements, though.</p>

More info on my website, www.andrew-gilbert.com</p>

Regards</p>

Andy
</p>

</p>

[kkeys]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?

<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">I heard Brian Sharp demo the DX-1900 through what I was told was a backstage 720 Leslie. The only registration setting he used was a drawbar with a solo singing voice on the synth section. The resulting sound was pretty convincing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Yes I sure remember the choir like UHs and AHs, Singing Voices as they were called. I’ve always wondered how that effect was done. I think Andy once mentioned that drawbars through a Leslie could duplicate that effect. Would be interesting to know what the equivalent drawbar registration is for these effects.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Another feature that I’d never seen before that time was a rhythm break, Drum Fill In as it was called. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">I recall being told by the manager of the local dealer that DX-1800 was digital.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>

[andyg]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



The Ahs and Uhs on the DX900 were the first singing voices to appear on a home organ, and they were very effective. Brian and I used to have fun with the solo singing voice on the 3rd manual. Either referred to as 'Gladys' or 'Dame Cynthia Sizer'! Add her to the lower manual choirs and you had some great sounds.
</p>

I can't recall saying that you could get vocals using drawbars and leslie, KK. If it's possible, I'd like to know too!</p>

The DX900/1900 were both analogue and really belonged to the E series organs. The DX1800 was one of the ADEPT series, All Digital Electronic Polyphonic Tone. The name says it all - the only analogue part was the drum unit.
</p>

[kkeys]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?

Thanks Andy I must have got the info on drawbars and Leslie mixed up some how.

[Guest]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



mmmI have Brian's Demo Album too....quite ok....I think everybody's got a different way of interpreting the DX900's sounds and styles...that's what made it such an unique organ...You can find something of everything in there. I still say it had the start of a new sound era... I remember mine being deliverd to sort out and get ready for the Easter show....I had to take off the front door of my house to get it into the sitting room ...lol but in it went and stayed for a very long time...a chruch bought it from me years later and I was blessed to see it go to them....They had somebody who knew what to do with it...and did it extremely well. It's always hard to let go when you grow fond of an instrument, but I was happy, and I could go play anytime I wanted so ....the fact remains ....it is a lovely organ and would love to play on it again, although have not seen any here in Peterborough....maybe all of us must get together with one and play a bit.....would be fun....</p>

Regards</p>

keep on making music.. </p>

erina
</p>

[andyg]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



There were quite a few sold in the Peterborough area, but it was a long time ago.</p>

It was at a show in Peterborough that Brian managed to destroy our two custom leslies. I'd set them up to work OK on the smaller models and set the master volume slider on the DX900 so it would be quite loud enough. Not for our Mr Sharp it wasn't, who really let rip on his last number and you could almost hear the bass speakers ripping apart! Oh what fun times. I never saw the leslies again after that - I wonder why?</p>

Taking the doors or doorframes off was almost inevitable with that organ, I had to do the same with mine, so we made sure the next 3 manual, the SR6, was just that little bit more door-friendly.</p>

Andy
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Is Getting A Kawai DX900 Worth A long Road trip?



Liam, If this is the DX900 currently on Ebay for $200, it's almost worth driving to Woodcroft in S/A from Brisbane. Shame it's so far away. I'm a bit wary of it's age though. Best of luck</P>


Barry</P>