Questions about the Roland JX10

Alex E · Post by **Alex E** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:02 am

Does 2 JX8p's in one machine mean I can layer 2 JX8p sounds?

Is it made of metal?

Is it good for nasty, in your face detuned sounds? Because all the praise the JX's get seem to be for just their pads, but I want some nastiness too.

Is it reliable?

__

I can't stop GASing over it. It's one of those things that's going to be worth something special someday.

Imagine the hype if it had VCO's and integrated controls!

Should I go for a JX-8p and save some $?

I can't afford the MKS70. They're generally more expensive than either the JX10 for the 8p.

clusterchord · Post by **clusterchord** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:26 am

yes.

yes.

not nasty, tho oscillator sync is really great. it sure can do more than pads. voxpads, resonant sweeps, softbrass, bells, pure square leads.. etc..

even tho it hanst a dedicated cotnrol for this, it is possible to create PWM on JX, tho u need two osc for one to do PWM properly with all mod sources JX offers (velocity, lfo, env etc).

it has many options for unison and detuning. form 6 voices on 1, to 2 on 1 etc.. (unis1/unis2) etc.. plus detune ammount, per layer (upper/lower).

very reliable, except the kyebed needs cleaning form time to time, when dust or hair gets under the rubbery contacts. i had my share of cleaning over the yrs. i finally settled for rack version, the MKS70.

chrs

Mr. Black · Post by **Mr. Black** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:48 am

Prices for JX10's seem to go for $350,to $500 on ebay these days,MKS-70 a little over $300, JX8p's are a dime a dozen, and sell cheap,Jx8p sounds a little less animated,than it's bigger brother,but all three instrument's have quality waveforms that sound really good without having to be drenched in external effects,forget nasty though,fat yes.

V301H · Post by **V301H** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:13 am

If you are a two-handed player the JX-10's 76-note keyboard could be a major advantage, not to mention 12 voices vs. 6 on the 8P. If you are into programming be sure you can get the PG-800 Programmer for the JX model you decide to buy.

MrFrodo · Post by **MrFrodo** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:18 am

I always enjoy telling people how I only dropped $300 dollars for my JX-10, including shipping. That's dirt cheap for an instrument like that. I wouldn't be surprised if the MKS70 did cost more on the used market. It somehow seems a more desirable instrument, if you've already got a MIDI controller you're happy with.

Try and keep your eyes open for one of either with the programmer. It is easy enough just to edit on the front panel, once you've read the manual, but the programmer will eliminate that need. It instantly turns the JX-8p/10 and MKS-70 into a true, realtime synth.

After that, why don't I have a programmer of my own?

gs · Post by gs » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:27 pm

I paid less than $250 including shipping for a fine, 12-voice analog polysynth. How's that?!

I did foot the extra $250 for the PG-800, but it was well worth it.

It has its own sound character which IMO lends itself better to soft analog pads and such. Its envelopes are somewhat slower than what you'll find on a Juno, Jupiter, Prophet, Oberheim. It's quite fine at leads, synth-bass, hard or soft synth-brass, and some truly bizarre FX thanks to the osc cross-mod options.

I'd say the similarly-priced Alpha Juno DCO analog synths are a better bet for utterly detuned nastiness (it's "the" Hoover synth). The Alpha Juno drops a lot of the features of JX8P (including a whole oscillator) but adds PWM, saw wave modulation, and a few other things that allow for more raw nasty sounds.

But the JX synths can do raw nasty stuff too, for sure.

MrFrodo · Post by **MrFrodo** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:40 pm

Actually, it cost me $250, plus $50 for shipping. The reason it was so cheap were a few cosmetic scratches and a (supposedly) broken B key (just below middle C). Actually, that key hasn't given me any trouble in the four years I've used it. So, it was one major bargain. (I just need to get the programmer; am working on that, now.)

logicalhippo · Post by **logicalhippo** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:51 pm

Don't forget you can edit patches from midi on the JX-8P but not the JX-10. This means if you go for the 8P you can buy a BCR2000 and just use that instead of the PG.

I've never played with the JX-10, but the 8P is great for dark pads and complexish analog swirls. I don't like the lead sounds you can get out of it. I don't use brassy sounds other than to play the final countdown. Honestly the price I paid for the 8P is ridiculously low for even for a midi controller with aftertouch! (I paid $100 for one with a broken screen - but I program it from midi anyways!)

steveman · Post by **steveman** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:19 am

Mr. Black wrote:Prices for JX10's seem to go for $350,to $500 on ebay these days,MKS-70 a little over $300, JX8p's are a dime a dozen, and sell cheap,Jx8p sounds a little less animated,than it's bigger brother,but all three instrument's have quality waveforms that sound really good without having to be drenched in external effects,forget nasty though,fat yes.

Not having a go at you, but I often see posts like this saying 'you can pick up X synth for XXX, just go for one of those'... I often check prices and don't see prices anywhere near those quoted.

Your mention of the MKS-70 at around $300 caught my eye. Had a quick look at completed listings and found the cheapest recent sale for a fully working model was £225 ($450). Highest price was £940 ($1900)! - this without the PG300. Doesn't look like the average price is a 'little over $300'.

Before you say 'Ebay isn't the be all and end all', here in the UK there aren't many other outlets. We don't have the small town 'mom & pop' shops who're so out of touch they don't check prices; our only pawn shops are Cash Convertors, their prices are pretty comparable to the bay. 'Swap meets' are unknown (unless they're what we call car boot sales). Craigslist is very limited compared to the US, of course there are local newspapers but it seems most people who sell do check Ebay for price guidance.

It's not entirely impossible to pick up bargains, but much harder than is often implied.

Mr. Black · Post by **Mr. Black** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:52 pm

Last MKS-70 i saw on ebay sold for a little over $300,probably a month ago ,one was selling localy in the NYC area on craigslist for $350, i just call it like i see it,the member who posted this subject apperars to reside from NY,or at least that what he shows .

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:22 pm

steveman wrote:It's not entirely impossible to pick up bargains, but much harder than is often implied.

Try Sound on Sound classified ads, Gumtree and AdTrader. You do find a few deals from time to time.

And a JX-10P can indeed be had for $300(£150).

drawtippy · Post by **drawtippy** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 am

Agreed, I just bought an 8P for my girlfriend (yeah she's the coolest GF evar!) on craigslist NYC for $200. Though I had no need for it, I actually dig it and would like to get my hands on on a 10P. I'm starting to think the JX line is like the most underated line out there and delivers a really wide range of sounds for the money.

Mr. Black · Post by **Mr. Black** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:10 am

What's up Drawtippy i'm the guy who sold it to ya!! glad to hear your digging it.

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:01 am

drawtippy wrote:I actually dig it and would like to get my hands on on a 10P. I'm starting to think the JX line is like the most underated line out there and delivers a really wide range of sounds for the money.

To me the JX10p has to be the best value for money synth out there. I see them go for really low prices all the time and they sound awesome.
Plus i really dig 61+ keyboards.

Meso · Post by **Meso** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:11 pm

I really like my JX-10, got mine for ~$200 and the guy I bought it from got it for 1/2 that
from a church where it was used as the church organ