Originally posted by ianmcnll:
I imagine Roland would be more concerned with selling the remaining units of it's 4 year old G70 line before it will venture towards a replacement.
I doubt that's the case. I'm guessing also that there are very few G-70's left to be sold if the truth were known. First of all, if the G-70 didn't sell all that well to begin with, Roland no doubt would have scaled back production at the factory before a glut could occur at the retail level. If nothing else, they could use some of the parts of the (God forbid) "left over" G-70's, on the production of its replacement.
Make no mistake and don't let anybody fool you. Roland is at this very moment working feverishly on the G-70 replacement and will, in due time, make the much anticipated announcement upon its completion and according to Roland's own timetable.
The reason I believe this so adamantly is because Roland HAS TO KEEP UP WITH THE COMPETITION. If they don't they will start losing precious marketshare, and not just in the Arranger arena but company wide. They are also well aware of what their competition has recently released and they know that their 4 year old G-70 is long in the tooth and past due for retirement with a new replacement in its place.
I think we're looking at either Musikmesse '09 or Summer NAMM '09 or in the worse case scenario Winter NAMM 2010 for that long awaited, and also much anticipated, announcement finally being released to the public. But regardless of the exact timing, it
IS coming in my humble and honest opinion. Sooner is preferred though, of course.
All the best, Mike