I’m wondering why (I think) most of you are playing Yamaha’s and Korgs (and some G-70’s) and NOT Ketrons?

Outside of actually playing an SD5 for about two hours, I hardly have any hands-on experience with it. But in those two hours, I was knocked out with what that thing can do. Since then I’ve been reading everything I could about the SD5 for quite awhile now. I’ve also downloaded every demo from every site I could find on the Net. Just about every one I listen to is brilliant (good instrument sounds and good players demo-ing them). I think they are the Rolls-Royce of arrangers…definitely for sounds, and probably also for versatility. Not sure yet about the ease of use on stage.

So, I think most of you agree with me on what I wrote so far. And, if so, I’m curious why you play everything else but…..?

MC said he sold his because it was too heavy to carry around. That’s a good reason.

Some of my own Ketron criticisms (that might put me off of buying one) are:

1) The dance styles are too aggressive….kind of get in your face….not easy-going as in (my opinion) the Roland’s.

2) What happens if the particular SD5 that you buy is trouble-prone from the start? What Ketron dealer (from the small pool of US Ketron dealers) is going to back that up with a new one? I’ve been down this road before with a previous gigging instrument and it’s a nightmare?

3) I’m REAL concerned about service if it goes down. I’m guessing it would have to go to a “service center” which (no matter what state you live in) would be 7-8 states away and it will be gone for weeks.

4) Because of the uniqueness of the Ketron sound, if your act was successful partly because of the Ketron “sound,” you’d have to have a second SD5 for backup.

5) It IS a small company, and, yes, what if the Audya “breaks” them financially and they go under. What if the Audya DOESN’T break them and, being a small company, they still go under, What if they decide to convert the company into a meat-packing plant?


I’ve been thinking about buying one for quite a while now, but every time I’m ready to plop down the money, something goes off in my head saying: “not a good idea!”

So that brings me back to: “What’s the reason, when all of you have good things to say about the Ketron in this forum, that you still stick to Yammie and his friends, Korgie and Rolando? I need new thoughts to toss around in my head before I make any moves!

Lucky