In many ways I'm like DNJ--tried a lot of keyboards, some that were very expensive. However, the Yamahas always sounded best to me, and my audiences. If Yamaha really does dominate the market, it's probably for one very simple reason--they sound fantastic, both in the home and on stage.

Cheers,

Gary

------------------
Travlin' Easy

Your dead right there Gary, in my opinion no matter what features and buttons your keyboard has, its all about music and the sound that comes out is what people/audience notice.

Nick

I do want to see both KORG and especially ROLAND competing with YAMAHA(esp in mid range market).This is good competition for all users.More fetures and better sound/hardware for cheaper price.

Roland ruled the market in the whole 90's(where mid Yam arrangers sub standard sound wise to most users.Korg kicked all of them when they did I3 with prosound borad in 93(full seq but no direct disk play) so it was Roland E86(PSR 3000 of that time) who was the winner for some years(in mid east in EU)then came newer Es,G's when Korg failed with IS series(better sound but same luckluster features and OS for an arranger) and so on.

The success of E86 = success of PSR 3000
What are they? - Light weight,usuable sounds for gigging,more instant features for live arranger play than competition,better OS and cheaper price than competition.(E86 can read SMF and styles from FD with no load time- where I3 can't do)and it was in 1993.

Yamaha may be selling,but it doesn't make them the best(I agree).Some KORG and ROLAND has much better hardware,some better(unique) features,more synth editing power and sequencer.Can Yamaha do that,ofcourse they can.But why not?

After 2k's hit(and failed 9000 pro),Yam got the secret:More features for an ARRANGER,light weight,good price,good must have sounds(subjective),still got away with bad hardwre,no seq,synth editing) etc.Their intention - "TO SELL WELL in arrager market"- and so they did.

Arrangers are mostly sold in EU and mid east.KORG(especially) and Rolands are selling well(BETTER than YAM as I said in my above post) -3k,T2 is starting to change) there.Do you know that in some EU countries KORG PA50 is $720 and PSR 3000 is $1700 new?

US is a different story.(and most pro arranger users who are playing out(not pros at home) prefer YAM as an arranger to gig(they don't need mid east sound and styles,where other guys including GEM and KETRON shines).
In US arranger gigging(nursing homes-senior residences ,you use arranger styles for a request if you don't have SMF(espicially for oldies -40's ,50's and 60's).So yes,PSR 2000,3000,T1 and T2 are the best sellers (also for their well programmed simpler western styles,fills),and most seen in OMBs in USA.


In ASIA,also interesting -(except for INDIA -who demands more ethnic sounds and mainly SMF playback(for songs in film music- where you have to sequence and sound it right or the audience will notice)(similar to EU and mideast -mainly current hits- sequenced closed to original)-KORG has a good market since O1w/fd days.
Malay and S'pore,Thiland,Indo,V' nam and Philipines -most OMBs plays WESTEN songs(also their own)-YAMAHA tridionally have very good market and 2k,3ks are doing extremely well.


I prefer KORG(overall sound with some exceptions) and as a all in one KB-synth power and sequencer.I also like some ROLANDS's sound and some features/hardware.But I have to admit(hard to ignore) that Yamaha has done things right (not the best)in most important areas in recent years as an arranger,so if I want to take a gig that needs mostly ARRANGER backing -YAM will be the choice.(But for my band or sequencing at home or SMF (alone)playing gigs - I have other choices).




I LOVE ALL KEYBOADS.JUST DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY THEM!

Peace.



[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 10-13-2006).]

Well like it's been said:

EVERY Keyboard Manufacturer has SOMETHING to contribute to the musical world.

But I HAVE to say one more thing....

until Yamaha make a 76 key Tyros, it's hard for me to take that 'board seriously.

In.My.Opinion.

I just want to add a remark here, on most spanish spoken latin america countries yamaha arrangers and digital pianos rules. why? they have fame with quality construction and sound quality as well, people know they are consider believe it or not as investments, people know they are expandable thru styles,libraries more than anything else.
they are being recommended by most professional piano teachers specially for solo performances, there is a big market for yammy arranger products all around latin america. Colombia for example which we agree(I'm from venezuela) have some of the better talent musicians(in latin america), they are still selling brand new psr9000 and psr2100 and psr1100 (high,mid,low budget respectively) on yamaha authorized dealers with full yamaha support on parts and accesories(they are bringing those directly from japan). Incredible ah, in my opinion that is one of the keys for yamaha sucess, they keep providing support for outdated products, which people believe are still current on their countries.



[This message has been edited by superpowter77 (edited 10-16-2006).]

Arranger keyboards here in the USA...just do not sell well in MI stores..Sales people don't know what they do and they don't want to know what they do..
Most Pro keyboard players are snobs when it comes to arranger keyboards...The same Pros that use three boards ..one to play left hand bass and one or two others to play right hands sounds...throw in a dedicated drum machine..These same Pros can't figure out that the arranger keyboard makes their set ups obsolete, and why they can not see the benefit of a single arranger is beyond me..
For years as a dealer and fellow musician, I have been banging my head against the wall trying to enlighten these Pros..

You know what? It is their loss..

Back to why The CK[Roland} home piano stores received the option to sell the Roland arrangers here in the USA...It is simple, the CK dealers have a different mentality when it comes to marketing keyboards...First, they make a profit[and I don't mean 15%]..On average they know how to sell, if not product knowledge, at least people knowledge..When you sell to the home market..you sell the "sizzle, not the steak"..otherwise the benefits the new owner will enjoy...not what the board does for the other guys.

If you look at the numbers, I think you will see the VA7 sold in CK stores out sold the VA76 sold in IM stores..and by a wide margin...and guess what the CK dealers found it profitable..

Sure there are exceptions as George Kaye's store, but that is rare.

Sam Ash doesn't want to be bothered with high end arrangers,,neither does Guitar center, and a million other MI stores..

Excellent post, Fran.

You have covered a lot of very important points about the arranger market and how most pros view our instruments of choice.

Ian

------------------
Remember to leave good news alone.