Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Discussions about anything analog, digital, MIDI, synth technology, techniques, theories and more.
Post Reply
User avatar
polar69
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 172
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:09 am
Gear: An1x CS1x Rm1x MPD24 Stylophone Zoom gfx100 Reason Reaper
Location: United Kingdom

Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by polar69 » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:59 am

Not sure if this is the right part of the forum but........I was watching the telly last night and YES were playing a concert in Rome, it was filmed recently. I was wondering if anyone could id the keyboard in this piccy

Image

Its the long one next to the moog, ( top left ) logo on the back was 3 letters long if thats any help.

User avatar
Clavier
Active Member
Active Member
Posts: 547
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:22 am
Gear: A distraction.
Band: Rhode Out West
Location: California

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by Clavier » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:35 am

It's the Gem Promega 3. Rick has toured with one since shortly after it was released.
Hammond RT-2, Hammond M3, Hammond L-102, Rhodes mk1 suitcase 88, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Yamaha TX-802, Fender Twin Reverb, Leslie 45

User avatar
iProg
Expert Member
Expert Member
Posts: 1019
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:28 pm
Real name: Carl
Gear: Prophet-5, Korg PolySix, Roland D-50, JV-1080
Band: ArtWithHeart
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Contact:

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by iProg » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:46 am

Yup, that's the one!

Saw them on their 35th anniversary tour in Stockholm. Fantastic! Rick was amazing!

User avatar
Clavier
Active Member
Active Member
Posts: 547
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:22 am
Gear: A distraction.
Band: Rhode Out West
Location: California

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by Clavier » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Rick sure is. The thing that kills me though, is that even with how important it is to their sound, he no longer tours with a real Hammond! :(

I mean, even Reba McEntire tours with a B-3 and most of her fans wouldn't know the difference! I figure that a good few of Rick Wakeman's fans would care about what keys he plays. Where's the authenticity?
Hammond RT-2, Hammond M3, Hammond L-102, Rhodes mk1 suitcase 88, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Yamaha TX-802, Fender Twin Reverb, Leslie 45

User avatar
cornutt
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2119
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:03 am
Gear: 6th
Location: Rocket City USA
Contact:

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by cornutt » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:55 pm

Clavier wrote:Rick sure is. The thing that kills me though, is that even with how important it is to their sound, he no longer tours with a real Hammond! :(
From his viewpoint, it kind of makes sense given his opinion of the Mellotron. :lol:
Switches, knobs, buttons, LEDs, LCD screens, monitors, keys, mice, jacks, sockets. Now two joysticks!

User avatar
Bitexion
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 4230
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:43 pm
Gear: Alesis Andromeda A6
Roland D-50
Creamware Minimax
Yamaha DX7s
Analogue Systems modular
Ensoniq SQ-80
Waldorf Blofeld
Location: Drammen, Norway

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by Bitexion » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:10 pm

Why tour with a 200lbs hammond organ when he can get that and a hundred other useful sounds in a keyboard?
If you've toured with one and dragged it with you for a decade, you sure don't want to continue when you get other options. In a full band, one single instrument doesn't matter so much for the overall sound.
Last edited by Bitexion on Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Clavier
Active Member
Active Member
Posts: 547
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:22 am
Gear: A distraction.
Band: Rhode Out West
Location: California

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by Clavier » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:16 pm

cornutt wrote:
Clavier wrote:Rick sure is. The thing that kills me though, is that even with how important it is to their sound, he no longer tours with a real Hammond! :(
From his viewpoint, it kind of makes sense given his opinion of the Mellotron. :lol:
What was that?
Hammond RT-2, Hammond M3, Hammond L-102, Rhodes mk1 suitcase 88, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Yamaha TX-802, Fender Twin Reverb, Leslie 45

User avatar
Clavier
Active Member
Active Member
Posts: 547
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:22 am
Gear: A distraction.
Band: Rhode Out West
Location: California

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by Clavier » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:25 pm

Bitexion wrote:Why tour with a 200lbs hammond organ when he can get that and a hundred other useful sounds in a keyboard?
If you've toured with one and dragged it with you for a decade, you sure don't want to continue when you get other options.
Not 200lbs, they're 350lbs. He doesn't move his own equipment.
Hammond RT-2, Hammond M3, Hammond L-102, Rhodes mk1 suitcase 88, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Yamaha TX-802, Fender Twin Reverb, Leslie 45

User avatar
cornutt
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2119
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:03 am
Gear: 6th
Location: Rocket City USA
Contact:

Re: Rick Wakemen Rome tour keyboards

Post by cornutt » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:56 am

Clavier wrote:
cornutt wrote:
Clavier wrote:Rick sure is. The thing that kills me though, is that even with how important it is to their sound, he no longer tours with a real Hammond! :(
From his viewpoint, it kind of makes sense given his opinion of the Mellotron. :lol:
What was that?
Quote: “There is not enough memory in any known computer to handle the answers to questions about what drove me up the wall with that instrument.” After one Yes tour, he took two out back of his house and set them on fire.
Switches, knobs, buttons, LEDs, LCD screens, monitors, keys, mice, jacks, sockets. Now two joysticks!

Post Reply