Join Rose Morris and Roland on Saturday 2nd June 2018, 10am - 4pm for "The Roland Piano Event"

Housed in our newly refurbished Piano Department, on Denmark Street London, our Roland Piano Department is the premium Roland department in Central London.

What's happening on the 2nd June?

• Meet the Roland's piano product specialist.  Remie Pascua from Roland will be here from 10am - 4pm to demonstrate the Roland Piano range and answer your technical questions.
• Learn how and why you might use your smart phone or iPad to stream audio and midi data over bluetooth, to and from the piano.  
• Learn about using Piano apps and Piano tuition apps such as Simply Piano with the Roland Digital Pianos.
• Meet and experience the new Roland GP-607 Mini Grand Piano.
• Experience for yourself Roland's SuperNatural sound generation.

Promotions and Offers

Naturally we'll be offering our customers extra special promotions, offer and add-ons throughout the day.  For customers looking to invest in a new piano we will also have special finance offers to spread payments. 

Combining flagship-level sound with newly developed pads, the TD-17 kits deliver an experience that’s authentically close to playing acoustic drums, accurately mirroring the physical movement, techniques, stick coordination, and hand/foot control that every drummer needs. They also include integrated access to an array of motivational coaching functions, plus built-in Bluetooth for playing along with songs and video lesson content streamed wirelessly from a smartphone. For home-based players who are serious about taking their drumming to the next level, there’s no better choice than a TD-17 series kit.

At the heart of each kit is the new TD-17 sound module, which provides a superior drumming experience with advanced Prismatic Sound Modeling inherited from Roland’s top-of-the-line TD-50. Its sounds faithfully reproduce the character and tone of acoustic drums, with lightning-fast response time, wide dynamic range, and natural tonal changes that vary depending on where and how hard the pads are played.

‘With 3 different new TD-17 kits, Roland promise to deliver an authentic, and exciting new drumming experience.

Following the huge success of the TD-11 series, we can only assume the TD-17 comes in to change our perception of what electronic drumming is!

The KV and KVX models feature a 12” snare drum pad, bigger and more sensitive than before, with a module that includes many more features than its TD-11 counterpart. Featuring twice as many kits as before (50 presets, and 50 user patches), you will be able to input your own samples, and create your own kits, as well as layering existing sounds, too. Available at Rose Morris by the end of the month, we can’t wait to get our hands on these very promising kits!’

Drum Specialist,

Nuno Oliveira.

Roland UA-55 Quad Capture Audio Interface

 "The Quad Capture is a brilliant interface for the price.

Roland F-140R Digital Piano

"Living in a small mid-terraced Victorian house in London as I do, space is crucial.

The Roland F-140R was my perfect solution.

At just over 12 inches in depth, it actually fits in my hallway, but more importantly for me the piano key action is the closest to an acoustic piano I've ever tried on a slim-line digital piano. Sorted!” 

Jeff, Pianos & Orchestral Manager

Roland KC110 Stereo Keyboard Amplifier, 30 Watts

“The KC-110 stereo amp has always been popular with keys players. With the option to run it off battery power, it is a popular companion with a lot of buskers I see around London.

The amp has two 6.5 inch speakers and two tweeters generating 30 watts of power. Quite the kick!”

Jordan, Pianos & Guitars

BOSS ST2 Powerstack

“For some reason this pedal is very much under the radar as far as Boss pedals are concerned...

This is a truly excellent digital modelling pedal that emulates the classic Marshall amp tones from all eras, from the JTM45 through to the modern Marshall models.

Very simple to use, nice touch sensitivity, cleans up really well when backing off the guitar's volume control.”

Andy, Guitars

BOSS CH1 Super Chorus Pedal

“The original tried and true classic, much copied by other pedal makers. Smooth warm analogue tones, ranging from a gentle spacious swirl, through to Leslie-like fast vibrato.

Still holds its own against the more expensive "boutique" pedals that copy this design.”

Jake, Guitars

In late 2016, Boss launched the new range of Katana amps.

They have been extremely well received and all of us at Rose Morris love them! I loved it so much that I ended up getting the Katana 100w and when you plug in it’s not hard to see why, let me talk you through my reasoning.

I am a songwriter so when I’m in my home studio I always want either a versatile amp or a massive array of pedals that I can mess around with which can be very expensive and you need to know what you’re buying\using. With the Katana you get both! Now… let me explain.

In all the Katana amps you have “Tone Studio”. This is a technology built into the amp that gives you over 50 legendary boss effects pedals you can use pick from to mould your sound to whatever your musical soul desires. For example, if you are a metal guitarist you might want to add some different types of distortion to add some more grit to your sound. Or say you want to find a more ambient guitar tone you can add some different reverbs, delays or chorus to experiment with! As you can see, in terms of tones the sky is the limit with these amps and one of the main reasons I went for one.

In terms of layout, the top of the amp is very simple which is a breath of fresh air on an amp with so many options built into it. You have your amplifier section, a 3 band EQ, effects section and a master volume with a presence control.

You have 5 types of sounds. Acoustic setting for playing an acoustic guitar which is a nice feature, Clean, crunch, lead and a brown sound which is a higher gain distortion.

This is a very versatile array of sounds to have at your disposal for live, practice or studio application.

In terms of use as a practice amp a feature that I have found extremely useful is the power control. This allows you to have a cranked-up tone at a lower volume to make sure you still get inspired without annoying the neighbours! (too much)

The Katana amps come in 4 different models. 3 combos and 1 amp head.

For your combo amps, you have the Katana 50w, 100w and a 100w 2x12

http://rosemorris.com/search?q=katana

The head is 100w watts and has a 5-inch speaker in it. (Ever seen that before?!)

http://rosemorris.com/products/boss-ktn-head-katana-head

In conclusion, the Katana amps are great for anyone who are still trying to find their sound and experiment all the way to a studio amp that anyone can come in and make use of.

The amount of effects you can use makes the amp extremely adaptable for any situation.

And the different sizes give you options to suit anyone’s needs.

Come down, try one and see what you think!

Jordan

"Who actually made the first electric piano?" I hear you ask. Well like me, you probably imagined it'd be one of the big five brands. However, having 'googled' I was surprised to learn it was in fact a certain Mr C Bechstein. Yes, the purveyor of some of the finest acoustic grand pianos in the world beat all the other companies to this accolade way back in 1939 with the rather audacious sounding Neo-Bechstein - It was an acoustic Grand piano fitted with electric pick ups, a valve amplifier and an external speaker system….A truly innovative product of its time.

So, why am I boring you with all this? Well, Bechstein have teamed up with Casio to produce a unique digital piano which combines the best of both worlds in the form of ‘Grand Hybrid’. Using the same wooden materials found in traditional Bechstein Acoustic piano actions (Austrian Spruce) and developing a unique hammer action combined with all the benefits usually associated with electronic pianos, the two companies have come up with a game changer. They’re aim is simple: Combine the best features of a digital piano with the feel as close as possible to that of a high quality acoustic grand piano hence the name ‘ Grand Hybrid’.

Using samples of the top three European acoustic piano manufacturers along with unique features which allow you to play along with real audio recordings from world famous orchestras, the GP300,& GP500 models have an authentic touch and response which is definitely worth your time and effort to visit our showrooms!  JL

With so many acoustic guitars to choose from, it's easy to get a little lost when trying to find the perfect fit. 

Although it was quite a tricky task, have no fear, I'm here to help make your decision a little bit easier with a rundown of our top ten acoustic guitars:

Shaftesbury 3190e £449

In the 1960's Rose Morris introduced a line of Rodeo Guitars- affordable acoustics readily available to any budding rock star of the day. Nearly 50 years later, we have revamped a Shaftesbury Classic into the modern workhorse. The Shaftesbury 3190 is an all solid wood guitar with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. This classic dreadnought shape is great for all players alike, especially those who enjoy blues, country.

I particularly like the way this guitar handles country style-finger picking and big bluesy chords. 

Setup and designed right here in in our London work shop, these guitars are only available at Rose Morris! The 3190 comes with a tweed hard case and a lifetime warranty. Models also available with a custom-fit fishman pickup. 

James Neligan DEV-A £199

Truly one of the best values for money, the James Neligan ASY-D makes for the perfect guitar for beginners and acoustic enthusiasts alike.

I always recommend this guitar to customers who are looking for something they can grow into as well as something they don't have to worry about growing out of too quickly. This guitar's surprising playability will certainly help those who are just starting out get used to the instrument and will also help you stay motivated! 

Sitting at just under £200 with a solid mahogany top, this guitar is perfect for those looking to enjoy warm tones and playability without breaking the bank.

James Neligan offer a full range of guitars under £400 that would suit any beginner or enthusiastic guitarist in search for their first upgrade. Our full range of James Neligan's can be found online here or in store. 

Guild M-120 £471

This all solid mahogany parlour guitar is the perfect companion for any singer/songwriter or blues/folk enthusiast.  With it's slim and rounded neck profile and parlour sized body, this guitar is comfortable and practical, making it the ideal companion for anyone looking for a functional and enjoyable guitar.

I find that this guitars takes really well to melodic fingerpicking patterns. For it's size it is a surprisingly warm sounding guitar, adding a great texture for a vocalist looking for some hearty and lush accompaniment. 

The Guild M-120 is also available with a pickup and comes with a custom-fit Guild flight case. 

This Canadian-made solid top Mahogany acoustic is the answer for anyone looking for an all around classic acoustic guitar. The Mahogany top provides a range of mellow and warm mid-range tones, giving this guitar's sound a great bit of character. 

I would recommend this guitar for folk players looking for an even voice for passionate strumming and intricate fingerstyle techniques. 

Seagull source all of their wood ethically and continue to maintain a positive relationship with lumber mills and use environmentally sustainable materials in all of their guitars- making them completely natural, like an acoustic ought to be. 

Taylor GS Mini-e Rosewood £539

The GS Mini Rosewood takes the cake when it comes to travel-sized acoustics. A classic spruce/rosewood combination gives this smaller scale guitar a strong and confident voice. Recently, Taylor have fitted all of their electro-acoustics with the ES2 pickup. Up until now these wonderful pickups have only been available in American models, but are now spread across nearly the entire range allowing any Taylor player to get an authentic acoustic sound while playing live or recording. 

If they haven't played a GS Mini before, customers are always shocked with the playability and volume of this comfortable guitar. I always reassure them that what Taylor does best is consistency, and that their GS Mini's incredible tones will be surprising them for years to come!

This shop-favourite, along with all GS Mini models come with a custom-fit padded gig bag and a 12 year Taylor warranty. 

Taylor 214-ce Deluxe £1035

Like its little cousin the GS Mini, the 214ce Deluxe is another one of our most popular Taylors. With it's glossy finish and handsomely figured rosewood back, this guitar definitely looks as good as it sounds. This is most certainly one of the crown jewels of Taylor's wide range of Mexican made acoustics.

Rosewood back and sides give this guitar a balanced yet powerful bassy tone, while the spruce top is bright and sharp.I think this guitar is great for a variety of styles, but really shines for sparkly pop chords, gritty blues licks, and twangy country plucking. 

The deluxe model features a high-gloss finish, diamond-inlays and includes a Taylor hard case and 12 year warranty. 

Riversongs are certainly the most unique acoustic guitars we have ever stocked here at Rose Morris. Last summer we had the honour of meeting Riversong CEO and inventor Mike Miltimore, and got a first hand experience picking the brain of someone who wanted to change the way acoustic guitars were made. 

These unique guitars include a neck that goes all the way through the body, allowing you to make quick and easy adjustments to the action without needing to use the truss rod. This particular model has a body made entirely of solid Canadian Spruce, giving it a bright and boomy sound. 

I especially like how Mike and his team source wood locally and ethically in their home province of British Columbia. Simple and practical, these guitars give a breath of fresh air to the time honoured design of the acoustic guitar. 

Taylor 614-ce £2663

On a recent trip to Chicago I was given the opportunity to try out the newly redesigned 614ce before it arrived over-seas in London, and I must admit, I was very excited about the prospect that we would be stocking this guitar. 

The 714ce is a rootsy-sounding acoustic that sits perfectly in our wide range of Taylor's. This American-made solid Cedar top acoustic provides sparkly mid tones complimented by deep and boomy solid rosewood back and sides. 

This guitar is great for folk and roots players looking for a bit of bite and their tone. I think this guitar sounds particularly nice in open tunings, and has a nice even tone for those lush open chords.

The Taylor 714-ce comes with a full taylor 12 year warranty and a deluxe hard case.

Even though this guitar has mahogany back and sides, it's surprisingly rich and bassy. You can really feel the guitar resonate, especially on those big and boxy open chords. This guitar is great for a variety of styles, especially complimenting styles like blues and country with it's crisp high tones and strong lows. 

The 510e also features a slightly shorter scale length and a slotted headstock, allowing it to feel like it has a lower tension- making string bends easy. Like all American Taylor models, this guitar comes with a hard case and 12 year warranty. 

...and it's high time for a fresh blog, and what better way than discussing what's so good about the new Roland FP-30 compared to the outgoing F-20?

For starters it's sleeker..with more buttons (the F-20 is mainly sub-menu, ie finicky) and weighs a whole lot less! 

By the by, the new iPhone 4S is the first mobile to have Bluetooth 4.0, and the FP-30 is the first digital piano to have it!  Another more useful addition being 5 types of keyboard touch plus escapement on an 'ivory' touch keybed. At a £450-ish price point Roland should clean up!