Hi everyone. I am a new member of the forum, although I've been a reader of all your wonderfull advice for some time now. Here's my problem. I am in the market for a new arranger keyboard, but since I've never owned an arranger, only synths, workstations etc.. I need your opinions. I am going solo after 10 years of doing the band thing "to much work and headaches." I will be using it @ live shows, and will utilize it's accomp. mostly and will not be using a seperate sequencer, so it will have to have great styles and sequencing ability etc... I've been looking @ the 9000 Pro, Va-76, KN6000, PA-80, PSR 2000, and Wersi Abacus (very expensive by the way}. In what order would you list these based on price, performance, user freindliness, and of course sound quality & dependability. If there is one that I missed that should be a contender let me know. Also does anyone know what will be new @ NAMM, because several places told mee the 9000 Pro is being discontinued?

Hello synthmeister!.

For what its worth, I will throw in my 2 Euro’s on what "I" Think is best for a certain sound/style/features, ease of use etc.

Ease of use:

1)Kn6500
2)9000 Pro/2000
3)VA7/76
4)PA80

Styles:

1)Kn6500
2)VA7/76
3)PA80
4)9000 Pro/2000

Sound Quality:

1)VA7
2)Kn6500
3)PA80
4)9000 Pro/2000

Value for money based on the Above:

1)VA7
2)Kn6500 (if you live in UK)
3)PA80/PSR2000 (tie for 3rd)
4)Pro 9000 (very expensive in UK, almost twice the price of a PA80 - and SHOULDN'T BE

Features:

1)9000 Pro
2)VA7
3)KN6500/PA80
4)PSR2000

The Sequencer is a tough one to answer, because you have to actually "OWN" a keyboard to give a "view" of some sort, but the PA80 has not one, but two sequencers. The Yamaha(s) has a Sequencer Capacity of 38,000 notes (that’s about 300KB) KN6500 has 40,000. Not sure about the VA7/PA80, but there will be ample space I would say in ALL the keyboards. However, in your situation, "Ease of use" I would say "Yamaha or Technics" for the Sequencer, because the VA7 (good that it is) is a Touch screen keyboard, and I wouldn't have thought so user friendly to use in a live situation.
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Quite a "little" thought went into that by the way, having listed to demo's of them all etc, and I know it has helped you NOT ONE BIT

Well, had 15 minutes to kill




[This message has been edited by Octave8 (edited 01-14-2002).]

Oh by the way, if you was to hold a gun to my head, and tell me to pick one out of the above - no matter what, I would pick the VA7/76 - but that doesn't mean I would pick it if the gun was loaded with rubber bullets

O8

None of the above ! dano

George Kaye has confirmed that the 9kpro is NOT discontinued, and I trust him. Those stores that told you that are serving their own agendas. I'm sure DanO has a suggestion for at least ONE model you may want to consider .............. Dan?

Synthmeister,
Again, let me say to you and all that the 9000PRO has not been discontinued by Yamaha and perhaps it is just some of the chain stores, as Yamaha has told me yesterday, that have discontinued this model.
Readers of this forum for some time now have heard me talk of the problems manufactures have with many large (and smaller stores) not having the ability to sell high end arranger keyboards in any quantity. This is generally because of a lack of knowledge and demonstration abilities of the store personal. Management within these stores and chains make decesions to buy certain products based on the number of turns per year, and if items are sitting on display and in inventory they might decide not to sell these products. This is the case of the Yamaha 9000pro in certain stores.
Don't think that just because a store chain decides not to sell a product that the product is discontinued in all stores.
Certainly, by Thursday night I will be reporting to you all on what's new, however, I don't expect much this year from the rumor mill.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, Ca.

Synthmeister,
Have you looked at any of the KETRON (formally Solton) products? Based upon your needs and requirements, this would surely be one of those you would want to 'ckeck out' prior to making up your mind. Take a look at the KETRON X1 & the KETRON SD1 keyboards. I won't say much about them because you NEED to check them out for yourselves ... I will say this though - they both have sequencers (150,000 notes) with the X1 expandable to 300,000 (if you add extra SIMMS chip)!
Bon voyage!
AJ

Thanks for your excellent response Octave8. Dan01 Uncle Dave and I are curious? George Kay, thanks for clarifying this issue. Do let us know if anything new is due out @ NAMM. I would also value your opinion on the arranger, let us not forget if there is one I missed let me know.

Uncle Dave is NOT curious. I already test drove both the X1 and the SD1, and neither one fits my requirements. Better drive one yourself, though ..... they are pretty pricy to buy on faith alone.

Sorry Uncle Dave, no disrespect. So you mentioned boards I know nothing about. Give me an idea of what you experienced with these boards.

I spoke with my roland rep today (pro division) and he really sparked my curiosity. He said he had a new product he couldn't tell me about until the show on Thursday Morning (NAMM) and that it was right up my alley! Well, he knows that my alley is arranger keyboards so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will all be happy to see and hear what he has to show me!
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

george,

now your getting me excited!!!!

George, do let us know as soon as possible in regards to a new roland arranger. So you own a store who better to help me on my decision. Maybe I can buy it from you??

Where can I find out more? Thanks by the way!

I don't want to go into my reasons for why I don't play Ketron products again - it's in the archives somewhere, and it seems like so long ago that I just can't put all the thoughts together at this time. I DO remember that it was mainly the operating system, and NOT the sounds or styles. Polyphony was a problem for me too - I lay on the sustain and play big fat chords, and it coughed too much, and screwed up the harmonizer when the limit was reached. Too weird for me. Sounds were good thgough.

Hi Synthmeister,
Ketron www.ketron.it
Looking at your 'name'...... you could be German or perhaps live in Germany ?
Well, the 'Musik Produktiv' shops have Ketron Keyboards (and many others too !)

In my opinion the SD1 beats them all.

Roel