Don I know you will tame that wild stallion and make it shine as you always do... Can't wait to hear it.

I want to really clarify my position on Arrangers....They are an invaluable tool for me as a Songwriter & Artist, & much fun for all who own one...But...Every demonstration I have ever heard on an Arranger, no matter how amazing, still sounds like an Arranger....This includes all the ones placed on this thread...

Once again: THEY ALL SOUND LIKE THEY ARE PLAYING ARRANGERS...Because they are....

When I play Acoustic Guitar I don't expect it to sound like my Piano...

Nice ! Great vocal and playing.

Agreed, Don’s songs are mostly about his voice and voice style. The SD7 certainly adds some realism, the clarity of the drums is fantastic.

The Pa4x adds more warmth – depth, than the SD7. (opinion) Don has not need for raw out-front drums. (and other instruments)

I vote for Don + Pa4x. If only he could put some good Italian olive oil on the keys to make them move easier. (smile)
John C.

And there is something wrong about this? Steve, I love the sound of a good arranger keyboard, and I personally know individuals that can replicate a full orchestra, and no one of the planet could tell the difference. Unfortunately, they do not frequent this forum, but I have posted some of their works, which are beyond a doubt, movie quality.

DNJ, who is the master of You Tube, once posted a vid of a 6-piece band playing and one by one they stopped, walked off the stage and the music just continued as if no one left. When the last player walked off the stage, a curtain on the left side was lifted and there was a single, arranger keyboard player playing the song, which, to everyone in the audience and watching You Tube, sounded the same as the live band. All this can be done with an arranger keyboard in the hands of a competent individual.

When Don Mason plays his keyboard, using one of the many guitar voices, it sounds like a guitar - not a piano.

All the best,

Gary

Absolutely nothing wrong with that...That is what I am saying...

I love my Arranger & am a believer in the Arranger for many, many reasons...But, the fact remains I can hear an Arranger when it is being played...To these ears, the signature sound is ALWAYS there

Steve,

No disrespect and I believe you when you say YOU can still hear an arranger but let's be brutally honest here, my guess is that well over 90% of the general public will not hear an arranger when they hear Don's recording. Or when they hear a good recording with vocals and played on the Ketron or Korg PA4X. Like novels require a "willing suspension of disbelief" so does music and so do these topnotch arranger keyboards.Most people can easily be " fooled " in believing they are listening to a real band. Perhaps you should not have become so well versed in music that the penalty is that you can now still discern the difference......me thinks......

regards,
John

I posted this demo of 3 individual demos.. Steve can you tell me if Demo 1,2 or 3 is played on arranger keyboard or not.

I usually go out of my way to not sound like arranger style play.. Usually means stripping down styles, and playing left hand bass.

Enough hints

https://app.box.com/s/r88pv7c2azmrafasozkugzzeivd30av7

funny people buy an arranger KB ....
and then don't want to sound like they are using one?
strip down the very heart of the engine?

yet they don't want to buy a workstation/synth KB
and multitrack their songs using the sequencer?

what's wrong with this picture

Steve and his detractors are both right. Steve can certainly tell when Don Mason is playing "arranger" guitar. Perhaps his ear is also good enough to discern other characteristics of arranger playing as opposed to live instruments.

But the way Don Mason (and others) plays an arranger is also a unique and legitimate sound of its own used to entertain live audiences. And I don't think Steve is denying that fact or trying to minimize it. At least that is the way I read the situation.