Roland FR3X

[RowanSumner]

So due to a change in my job I will most likely be practicing at odd hours moving forward, so I'm considering a Roland, there is an frx3 near me. I play balkan music mainly and am not particularly interested in the other functions, although they do look like fun...

I would like to know what issues owners of this model have come across, and what it's like getting repairs? Also, what would one expect to pay for one in good condition. If you were going to take a look at a used model, how would your pre purchase checks differ from an acoustic accordion?

I have played one before, and found it to be a perfectly fine instrument. I actually preferred it to the fr8x which I tried in the Roland store.

Any reviews and experiences good or bad would be appreciated

Rowan

 

[Ventura]

personally, i say $1500 US is the buy price, 3x may go for
up to $2000 but can take a long time to sell

fr3 and 3x are simpler, more direct to use than the 4x, but have limitations
of flexibility. they are reasonably reliable and in many ways i
prefer the 3 to the model 4 for general purpose, everyday use.

parts availability for ALL Roland accordions is a crapshoot
as Roland had proven itself unreliable and at times more than
reluctant to keep parts available.. there were a couple years you couldn't
even get a damn battery for a 7x

 

[RowanSumner]

Okay. It looks like there's a lot of information online about repairs.

If you went to look at one what would you check before you purchased?

 

[Ventura]

download the manual

Roland - Support - FR-3x - Owner’s Manuals

Support - FR-3x Owner’s Manuals

www.roland.com

check every switch, key, button, function, that you have time for

make sure it works from the battery box as well as plugged in

play it loud enough to hear if the speakers are ok (no crackling)

 

[Pipemajor]

I have a FR3xb.
I also had a FR8xb, but sold it as It was far above my limited ability to make full use of.
The only issue I have had with it was a worn out contact on the treble side
It was repaired at a Roland agent in Southend, so not too far away, for a very reasonable price, although the repair took quite a while as they are very busy. All in all I am very pleased with my FR3x, but tend to play accoustic just as much.

 

[Jim S]

Good question! I bought a secondhand Roland FR1X last year after checking almost all the functions (as per Ventura's advice). However, I only noticed both the treble and bass output jack sockets were loose inside afterwards, and I'm sure it had been gigged quite a lot, as it was marked and a little unloved, hence the good price I suppose. However, I also play out and soon the sockets were too loose to hold a jack, then disintegrated, and I thought I'd really bought a pig in a poke, as I couldn't find a Roland replacement as the sockets are mounted on the motherboard. And that was either unobtainable or very expensive (I can't remember now).

However, my brother is an electronics engineer so on his advice I removed the front cover and took a few photos, and in minutes he'd found replacement sockets and ordered them online, three for about £4 including postage. Any electronics guy can solder them in (a friend did mine) and they work. Both my brother and my friend said many of the components they could see were generic (just as the sockets were), and they really weren't worried about working on it. In that way, Rowan, I think getting certain repairs done might be much easier than with an acoustic accordion, and I hope no-one will mind if I add that a traditional accordion workshop might not be the best place to take it for general electronic repairs.

Finally, if you are thinking of using an external amp, then test the sockets when you try it out!

 

[oldbayan]

I have been playing a FR-3xb (that I bought second hand) for years, no issue, same for my FR-18.
I agree with Ventura about the 3 v. 4 model which is way too complicated.

 

[Squeezeplay]

I bought a pre owned FR3X from a reputable shop about a year ago. It has been totally reliable, and contrary to what some had told me, is a delight to play. I realize that my being a beginner who only started playing in 1956, may make my opinion not mean much to more experienced players. . But I rarely play my midi equipped Victoria, or my Excelsior Symphony anymore…..go for it. It will be very different, but once you become comfortable with it, you will probably like it.