I love the debate that Yamaha creates here with every new release of a 61 key arranger, it's some of the fuel that gets SZ active. Audya did too recently, but after months of SZ being on the mellow side Yamaha brings out another 61 key arranger and the debate goes full circle again.

Here's my take on it and I'm only speaking for myself. I've longed for 76 keys on a Yamaha arranger, but I'm convinced we won't see one in the class of the S9xx or Tyros series. Why did I want 76 keys? The extra real estate feels better to me who spent more years with piano than arranger. Then the light bulb went on ( duh) 95 % of gigs I play are assisted living facilities, the better ones have a grand piano in the lobby/rotunda where I play, the others have some form of piano, maybe a digital. The other 5% are the occasionaly wedding piano cocktail hour So why do I need 76 keys on an arranger when I have 88 on a grand piano? I really don't and since Yamaha isn't interested in 76 key arrangers I've given up the hoping. So at the gig I usually move to the 88s and play a 10 minute segment on the piano and at a cocktail hour the arranger stays home. Works for me, but everyone's circumstance is different.

Lee, for about 5 gigs going back a few years ago I carried a Casio Privia px410 and used midi to connect to the 3k. After 5 gigs I started leaving the Casio home where it still sits in a keyboard bag. It was way too much work.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 09-13-2010).]