Spalding another excellent post!!
You really have the ability to analyze and also realize that something is not as simple as some may think it is.

I would agree that Yamaha knows their market and are very confident (arrogant?) in their product . They do not do things for no good reason.
For example, when they increased the price of the XS lat year (in the height of the recession), I am sure that it was done with the thinking that the new XF would have been out in 2010 and rather than making it seem that the XF is costing more it looks as if the XF is the same price as the XS.

However, I don�t know if I am convinced that Yamaha understands their market.

Just and for example, if Yamaha took their 61 key customers and asked them if they would like a 49 and a 76 key arranger, I am sure the answer would be the same for both the 49 and the 76.
Now, if you ask them why did they give the answer they did, it would be for 2 very different reasons.
I wonder how much of the Why question does Yamaha ask.


And yes, one advantage that Yamaha has is that that they have markets across the board. So if you are a beginning player you get a Yamaha and after a few years you become good and want to play professionally, you can still stay with Yamaha because Yamaha also makes keyboards for professional player.

If you are a beginning player and you have a Casio, and later want to play professionally, you have to get another brand.

If you have been playing Korg, Roland or Ketron professionally and now want a keyboard for your little child (or your self) to play with at home, you have to go to another brand. (something that Iana thinks is a good thing)


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I have shortened my ID to TTG