Originally posted by rattley:
If another company came out with a new arranger that I liked, and it only came with 76 keys I'd buy it because of the way it sounded.
But would you buy it if it only had 45 keys?
That's how pianists think about 61-ers. The best piano sound in the world, if you can't play it like a piano. is a total waste. Same with Rhodes, etc.. Part of the 'sound' is the voicings. If you can't do stretched out playing and hammer the top and bottom simultaneously, well, there goes most of rock and roll, boogie woogie, barrelhouse, not to mention classical and jazz.
So, before you dismiss this issue, think about if YOU had imposed on you the same limitations that pianists feel. I think, if you REALLY put your mind to it, you COULD get by (just!) on a 45 note arranger. But you would be FAR from happy about it, now wouldn't you? And you probably wouldn't be too happy with those that told you how unimportant YOUR need for a 61 is, either!