Roland U.S.

Product Spotlight: RD-300SX Stage Piano

by Fin Johnston

I’m a keyboardist/bassist and producer currently residing in West Hills, CA. I’ve been playing music for 35 years, and in those years have purchased and played many Roland products.

As many who are reading this article, I’ve been on a life-long search since my first Rhodes for an 88-note keyboard that I can easily carry to a gig without throwing out my back.

The Roland RD-300SX really fits the bill. With a semi-weighted action and a great selection of really usable sounds, including an amazing multi-sampled grand piano, this thing rocks. And on top of it, it weighs just under 35 lbs. I used to grab a synth or something light to take to a rehearsal, but now I can use this for any rehearsal or performance.

The RD-300SX is very versatile. It has upper- and lower-zone level controls, which is great when I’m layering sounds. For instance, if I’m playing a piano patch during the verse, I can easily “swell-in” some strings or pad on the chorus with the fader. Also, for many of us “piano player”-types the Piano button is just what we need. Press it, and you instantly get a great grand piano sound — it couldn’t be easier.

The simplicity of this board is really the key. You can get right to it and focus on playing. As stated earlier, I’ve owned many Roland products over the years, but for portability with authentic sounds, the RD-300SX is flat out a great keyboard for the church musician. I use it in my studio as well. It has an array of sounds that are extremely diverse, covering many musical applications.

As a musician, choosing the right instrument starts with choosing the right company. So, I also want to say that not only are Roland products on the leading edge, they also genuinely care about the musicians who play their products. They actually want to know what we need. It’s not something you generally see in an organization of this size and repute. Perhaps it’s why you see their products on so many stages and venues throughout the world.

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Fin Johnston is keyboardist for Tommy Walker; he produced Tommy’s latest record, Live From Zambia, which was recorded in Africa. Fin is also former keyboardist/vocalist for Bryan Duncan and musical director for Maranatha! Music and Promise Keepers. He is currently working on his own CD, as well as producing other artists. You can visit him online at www.finjohnston.com.

For more information on the RD-300SX, click here.