[sdiy][OT] Roland JD-800...? Opinions...?

[jhaible at t-online.de]

Benjamin M. Woenig schrieb:
> As far as I am aware the JD800 is quite a sort after and 
> expensive digital 
> synth with a fantastic user interface for a machine of 
> its time.  I've seen 
> prices
> as high as $1200US..  I would say $500US is a bit of a 
> bargin if its in good 
> order...

I used to own one for a few months (many years ago, when there
was that big blowout sale), and I was very disappointed.
It's cheaply built - it could hardly support it's own weight
on a "X"-shaped keyboard stand, and the sound wasn't that 
impressive either (just a matter of personal taste, of course).
For me, the JD-800 has been the last attempt to buy a "virtual
analog" synth (VA in the broadest sense - at least it was the
first appearance of built-in sliders after a long time!).
After that (selling the 800 at a loss), I started to buy real
analogue synths: JP-6, OB-8, Prophet-5, and soon forgot about
that JD-800 incident.
Of course there is another aspect to such a synth than just
replacing an analogue: The early Roland digitals have a certain
charm of their own. But persinally I'd rather get a D-50
with PG-1000 than a JD-800. I think the D-50 has more character,
and much better built quality, too.

JH.