I feel genuinely sorry for those who cannot reap the joys and benefits of using an arranger, especially in a solo OMB situation and are stuck with the traditional instruments like piano and organ and perhaps synthesizer.

There are several members on this forum who admit they find that arrangers are "toys" and not really "legitimate " instruments in their own right.

Too bad there are those of vision so short and egos so tall...they remind me of little boys who grow up too fast, and delight in telling the others there is no Santa Claus, or Easter Bunny...they want to appear so "adult" and so much wiser, yet secretly they wish they still had the child-like wonder of their peers.

After listening to many people play arranger, I cannot agree that just ANYONE can make them sing...in fact, few can take it to a level like we see in the hands of demonstrators, or the more adroit players we hear and see on YouTube and the arranger forums, although the "average Joe' can make acceptable and very listenable music on one, certainly enough to please himself and his friends and family.

I think arrangers have their place as evidenced by all the fun and joy as reported to me by my clients and of course, the testimonials by users here on SZ, some of them making a very good living using one.

Froggy, I thought you were familiar with the CVP-409 GP which is an a arranger in a grand piano case?

I believe Roland make similar instruments in their KR range.

Ian