Golden rule of selling a keyboard.

[Random Guitarist]

Don't play the blessed thing before you advertise it.

I was 100% divorced from an old Alesis fusion, ready to let it go. It's big and heavy, and I have more modern keyboards. Time to sell.

So I turned it on to check it was sellable. Then, like a fool, I browsed through some of the presets on it.

I now have; three new riffs to build out from, a strong sense that I can't get rid of it, a serious shortage of space, and a disapproving partner.

Am I just indecisive and easily swayed from common sense? How do you get a keyboard out the door without sobbing and regret?

[Watchmaker]

How do you get a keyboard out the door without sobbing and regret?

Scotch

[Arpangel]

If you’re in any doubt, or slightly unsure about selling something, don’t, but in my experience, even if you do end up selling, you’re sure to be in a situation where you need that thing again, at some point, so unless you really need the money, hold onto stuff, it makes sense in the end.

[Eddy Deegan]

I agree. I've only sold 2 keyboards in my life, and none in the last 25 years. I've given away the same number but only for space reasons. Finding a good home for them with someone I know is preferable to selling them.

I've also traded a couple... that works too.

[ConcertinaChap]

I've got a JV1010 module. Got a JV1080 loaded with cards as well so I don't need both and only yesterday I'd decided to put it up on ebay. Then I had an experience which I guess is not typical here. I mentioned it to my wife and she immediately forbade me from selling. Her reasoning is that her band might be able to use it sometime in the future. So it's gone back in the cupboard.

CC

[Arpangel]

I've got a JV1010 module. Got a JV1080 loaded with cards as well so I don't need both and only yesterday I'd decided to put it up on ebay. Then I had an experience which I guess is not typical here. I mentioned it to my wife and she immediately forbade me from selling. Her reasoning is that her band might be able to use it sometime in the future. So it's gone back in the cupboard.

CC

My partner is like that too, it’s opposite of normal, I have to sneak stuff out, not in!

[The Elf]

I really know what you mean - happens to me every time!

I hated the Kronos in so many ways, but it was the best feeling non-weighted keyboard in my studio; the aftertouch was THE best I've ever had. I had a tough time letting go because of that.

Synths I regret selling? It's a blessedly short list, TBH. I really liked the simple immediacy of my Kurzweil K2000, and there are some here that know I always regretted selling my Kawai K1r - some of my very favourite layered sounds only appear when fairy dusted with K1r!

But yes, every time I line up to sell something, I give it a try and find that one reason to keep it. Sigh...

[IAA]

My Jupiter 6 years ago. It was heavy and hard to gig with. I can’t believe now i let it go. I’ve sold other keyboards but generally always if I have a target purchase in mind and it’s not adding anything. I sold my voyager because I knew I was getting a model d. Don’t regret that at all!

[Logarhythm]

Finding a good home for them with someone I know is preferable to selling them.

+1 for this - good to see one go to a home where you know it'll be appreciated
Failing that, selling collection only or delivering in person can help - the genuine childlike excitement on the face of the buyer as their new toy is handed over definitely helps

[CS70]

Am I just indecisive and easily swayed from common sense?

Not at all! Not having used an instrument for a long time is exactly why you get creative with it when you finally play it again!

[ManFromGlass]

Definitely!
But then I eventually put it away after I remember why I didn’t use it much.

[Random Guitarist]

Thank you gents, it is reassuring to know it's not just me.

I also have a triton le to sell, I think I'm more determined about that one, but I haven't switched it on yet.

[zenguitar]

Something I’ve discovered about guitars over the years is that people bring them in for a setup ready to sell and instead decide to keep them. And they always seem surprised by that.

The setup doesn’t just get them an instrument back to playing and sounding it’s best, but it also gets a thorough cleaning, including the case. And that is enough to remind them that there was a reason why they bought it in the first place.

There are fewer options to setup a synth/keyboard, but there’s definitely an opportunity for a good clean and service. I recently inherited a Roland RD300S that benefitted from opening up, carefully vacuuming inside and out with the help of a soft 1” paint brush, then patiently cleaning the keys, case, knobs, buttons, and fader caps. A careful application of cleaner/lube to the pots, switches and cleaning sockets finished the job.

It’s like getting a new instrument. Keys great to the touch, printed legends brighter and easier to read, smooth pots & faders, and no ingrained grime on the caps and buttons. And very therapeutic work too.

Andy

[The Elf]

The setup doesn’t just get them an instrument back to playing and sounding it’s best, but it also gets a thorough cleaning, including the case. And that is enough to remind them that there was a reason why they bought it in the first place.

Absolutely true. I recently had my ARP Pro Soloist repaired and fettled ready to sell... and now I can't part with it!

[Folderol]

I give my own kit a bit of a clean up from time to time. For some reason it always surprises me how much better it feels

[ManFromGlass]

A damp sponge on the computer keyboard keys does wonders too. Definitely a new kinda feel thing.
Although there may be no hope for you if you’re like my mom - you can tell what she had for breakfast by looking at the keys, and to touch her mouse - cripes!

[Arpangel]

I really know what you mean - happens to me every time!

I hated the Kronos in so many ways, but it was the best feeling non-weighted keyboard in my studio; the aftertouch was THE best I've ever had. I had a tough time letting go because of that.

Synths I regret selling? It's a blessedly short list, TBH. I really liked the simple immediacy of my Kurzweil K2000, and there are some here that know I always regretted selling my Kawai K1r - some of my very favourite layered sounds only appear when fairy dusted with K1r!

But yes, every time I line up to sell something, I give it a try and find that one reason to keep it. Sigh...

Gear I regret selling?

EMS VCS3 with DK2 Keyboard.
Sequential Pro 1
Juno 6
Yamaha DX7 MK1
BEL BD80S Delay once owned by Tony Arnold and used by Robert Fripp
Eventide H3000 X2
MM 16-2 mixer
Delta Labs Effectron
Lexicon 224

[R_A]

Eventide H3000 X2
Lexicon 224

Ouch!

My regret is more modest - an Oberheim Matrix 1000. Whenever I have to dig back into old stems I always think... Ooops.

[The Elf]

Gear I regret selling?
Sequential Pro 1

Ouch! That's one synth I have never, in my wildest dreams, considered selling. I now have two - both with superb replacement keyboards, LFO LEDs and one with sublime purple LEDs! Mmm...

Juno 6

When it was the only polysynth I could afford I grew to hate it. TBH I still don't have much affection for them, though I've softened a bit. Once I heard a JX-8P I never looked back. if you still mourn your 6, then try a System-8 in Juno-106 guise - it's close enough for my ears.

[Arpangel]

Gear I regret selling?
Sequential Pro 1

Ouch! That's one synth I have never, in my wildest dreams, considered selling. I now have two - both with superb replacement keyboards, LFO LEDs and one with sublime purple LEDs! Mmm...

Juno 6

When it was the only polysynth I could afford I grew to hate it. TBH I still don't have much affection for them, though I've softened a bit. Once I heard a JX-8P I never looked back. if you still mourn your 6, then try a System-8 in Juno-106 guise - it's close enough for my ears.

I loved the chorus on my J6, is the System 8 really any good? I heard it was very cold and digital sounding, in fact, it seems impossible to stop it sounding really fizzy and bright.

[R_A]

I loved the chorus on my J6, is the System 8 really any good? I heard it was very cold and digital sounding, in fact, it seems impossible to stop it sounding really fizzy and bright.

I've had a play with the Roland vsts (and I'm presuming that the same technology is at work in the System 8). The most useful feature I found on the plug was being able to tweak the chorus. I sometimes find the chorus on my old 106 to be too wibbly wobbly.

I thought the sound of the 106 plug was almost identical to the real thing.

[The Elf]

is the System 8 really any good? I heard it was very cold and digital sounding, in fact, it seems impossible to stop it sounding really fizzy and bright.

You always will hear this kind of nonsense. Maybe these 'experts' couldn't find the filter cut-off knob? No recreation of anything will ever be good enough for the Internet, and some will shout loudly about it. The trick is to make up your own mind.

I bought an S8 and went back to the studio to make music. It's a poor piece of hardware by Roland's heyday standards, IMO, but it sounds fine to me - I haven't had any letters from listeners to tell me they miss my JP-8...

[Arpangel]

is the System 8 really any good? I heard it was very cold and digital sounding, in fact, it seems impossible to stop it sounding really fizzy and bright.

You always will hear this kind of nonsense. No recreation of anything will ever be good enough for the Internet, and some will shout loudly about it. The trick is to make up your own mind.

I bought an S8 and went back to the studio to make music. It's a poor piece of hardware, IMO, but it sounds fine to me - I haven't had any letters from listeners to tell me they miss my JP-8...

All I know is that I’d be very wary of buying a S8 based on what I’ve heard, certainly not without giving it a good trial first. And that four octave keyboard, no.

[The Elf]

And that four octave keyboard, no.

Yes, that's poor, I agree, but use your ears...

[Arpangel]

is the System 8 really any good? I heard it was very cold and digital sounding, in fact, it seems impossible to stop it sounding really fizzy and bright.

You always will hear this kind of nonsense. No recreation of anything will ever be good enough for the Internet, and some will shout loudly about it. The trick is to make up your own mind.

I bought an S8 and went back to the studio to make music. It's a poor piece of hardware, IMO, but it sounds fine to me - I haven't had any letters from listeners to tell me they miss my JP-8...

All I know is that I’d be very wary of buying a S8 based on what I’ve heard, certainly not without giving it a good trial first. And that four octave keyboard, no.

Yes, that's poor, I agree, but use your ears...

I’ve got keyboards that have great sounds, like my Micron, and my Reface, I bought them for the sounds, and hate the actual synth, simply because of the keyboards, I’d never do that again, they just don’t get used because of that. I can’t be bothered to Midi everything up to another keyboard.
Regarding the S8, I have used my ears, and I’m not hearing anything I like, simple as that.