Quite a number of people have contacted Ketron UK about the next style update (due to be released in Autumn 2013). As you have gathered there is a problem and the project is on hold (but not completely off the table.)

This is due to a very disappointing situation; a certain well know German internet trader sells Ketron products at roughly trade price. As a result the UK dealer network has collapsed and it is no longer possible to see new Ketron products in any showroom in the UK other than the official Ketron UK retail premises in Northampton and one or two items in specialist areas (such as Accordion showrooms)

Because of this and hopefully as a temporary measure Ketron UK have been forced to match the low on-line prices and sell direct to the public (see www.ketronmusic.co.uk )- a position they do not want to take. This means the funds for additional projects (such as the style update program) are no longer available as profit is being given away in the form of heavy discounting. The irony is, the internet trader in question will have noticed a downturn in sales as very few people will buy an instrument of high value without first trying it in a store.

The only answer is for the manufacturer to enforce a MAP (Minimum Advertised price) to protect their dealer network.

Until the siltation is resolved Ketron UK cannot confidently commission new styles for the Audya. Its a sad and totally disappointing situation indeed as they have worked hard to establish a good reputation and support system, not just for people in the UK but around the world.

At the end of the day we are all losing out

thanks Tonewheel for the info

unfortunate on that whole German interent trader
and even more unfortunate that THEY are the reason we won't be getting any more kick @ss styles.
i use that UK Pack#1 for tons of my songs.

they are VERY well done, much thanks to the genius Robert Mess.

please keep us in the loop, and hope we see something new for Audya soon from Robert/UK

This raises an important question ... does Ketron UK or DE or ... (and subsequent distributors of Ketron or any other product worldwide) set the MAP prices for products within thier dealership/region or is this price set by the manufacturer for each distributor's region? Unless each distributor purchases products from the manufacturer at about the same cost, when you factor in VAT (for some regions), shipping, custom duties ... etc, a global MAP price doesn't seem normal ... but just asking to know.

Hi Everybody. It's been a while.

I wondered what the status was with the second style package. I was looking forward to some new stuff to have some fun with.

My Audya is now going on 7 years old and is still cranking out the tunes 5 to 7 nights a week.

Still have a few minor glitches here and there, but nothing I can't work around.

I do have a G note that is playing loud most of the time. Time for a contact cleaning again I guess.

Hope all is well with everybody.

Hi mate,

Nice to hear from you again. I agree, the Audya has a few glitches that show up every now and then, but like you said, nothing that cannot be worked around.

There are so few of us in the Audya world, I wish we would stop all this bitching and biting. I really don't believe that enough Audyas are being sold to effect anyones bussiness. That is not ouside of Italy, that is. In any case, I posted a link to these special prices on the Arranger forum and not a single one thought that it was cheap. The Audya is just THAT expensive!

I recently purchased a Yamaha S950. I was perfectly happy till I connected it to our sound system. The Audya really spoils one.

Cheers mate,

Henni

Tonewheel,

is Robert working on ANYTHING Ketron/Audya related at this time?

or is Robert not working for, working with, working on anything Ketron?

is he OK healthwise?
tell him we ALL miss him BIGTIME, and so do all our Audyas !!!!