As we talked, I'm going to get the SD-5 to replace my MS-60. Any word on availability and price? Can the factory load MS-60 styles?

Let me know...

Russ

Russ.... I'm a hopin' that SD5 has some good Country Rhythms ...
t.

Smarta**! I Love it!


"Bubba"
(Founding member of "The Feeble Winds").

P.S. The tractor started...we're back in business!

Russ,
The distribution in the United States changed to a new company on November 1st.
I have not been advised if they have received any product yet from Italy. I was told by AJ, the tech support person that a shipment was do on December 5th. I have no other information as to my order. All I can assume is that this new distributor is gearing up for shipments soon.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566

They are here and shipping as of TODAY!!!

Grab yours NOW!!!

AJ

It just amazes me. I'm the main, if not the only dealer in Southern California and I've not received a call or anything from the new distributor. Not to say hello, we're here, how's business, do you want anything, would you like to know anything about us......nothing! Against my better judgment, I will try to call the company in New York tomorrow. Right now I'm pretty unhappy with the distribution change in command. This is not the right way to start a business relationship!
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

To all my Synthzone readers. I want to keep you all aware of my challange to reach the new Distributors of Ketron products here in the USA. Because of my previous post venting my frustration, I thought many of you that know me would appreciate my telling of my first attempt to contact these new folks in New York.
So, here's my result after putting a call into the new company today.
First, I called the old dealer 800 number for Bell-Duovox and fortunately it rang and answered with an electronic operator giving me a new number....not 800 though.
I called this number and spoke with a man who answered and I asked if this was the new Ketron distributor. His answer was "it depends on what you are looking for" Probably what he meant was that Bell Duovox had two businesses. One was Ketron products and one was selling Accordians. I answered "Ketron Products" and he said yes. I asked to speak to the owner of the company and he said he was not in today. I then asked if he knew why not a sole has called or written letting me know of their purchase and distribution plans since being told by Bell Duovox of the sale back in October. I also stated how upset I was that product was apparantly being shipped to another dealer in the East Coast and that I hadn't even been contacted regarding my open order for new SD5 keyboards. To this persons credit he explained to me that "yes, we have purchased the rights to sell Ketron and that their company, primarly a Karaoke distributor was also moving over the past several weeks and that everything had gotten behind". I told him my name, what store I was from and that being the primary dealer in Southern California and being kept out of the loop was quite upsetting to me. He then asked me to hold on the line while he called his brother, the primary owner of the company and came back and told me that 3 SD5's had been shipped to me on Thursday and that they were very much aware of my store and my years as a Ketron/Solton dealer.
So, I feel much better. I will have some early next week. Then, I'll let you all know what I think.

Thanks for the update, George. I'll be looking forward not only of your SD5 review, but a comparison between it and the new Korg.

Glenn

My only question at this point is:

Does anyone know how stable the Ketron company in Italy is right now? I've called there before and they make be nervous with how they answer questions.

This is a day and age where companies fold up overnight. I know they've been in business a long time in Europe, but I've been playing a many years and I've seen many established companies come and go.

I have my heart set on a Ketron, but if I see Ketron looking shaky, I'll stay with the old keyboard. In my opinion, Yamaha, Roland, and Korg are good, but can't hold a candle to the Ketron sound.

Any answers to the above question?

Mark79100,

Let me assure you the company isn't going anywhere ... for a while. We're just in the middle of some major developments and expansion which seems to tie everyone down ... even 'she' at the phones (a joke).

AJ

AJ,

Thanks for your response. I mainly wanted to get comments from the players in Europe who would be more in touch with anything going on with Ketron. I've heard no rumors myself, but, as I've said, I've seen companies fold up unexpectedly overnight. I've been in the entertainment field for a while now, but I'm not that familiar with Ketron. Any smart person who is about to spend $4,000 on an instrument would want assurances about the company's future stability from a few sources.

European players....any comments?

Mark,
AJ works for Ketron. He develops software for them, and knows what he's talking about.
DonM

Don,

Unfortunately, I've lived too many years not to question everything these days.

Please remember, this is a posting, and like all postings, devoid of emotion. The emotion here being the respect I would like to convy to you and AJ for trying your best to reassure me.

May I give you examples I've experienced. I lived many years overseas. One day I decided to exchange all my American money. The bank president (overseas) assured me he was "in the know" and that the present exchange rate was the best you'll ever get. Next day it got BETTER and I lost quite a bit of money.

Then there was the time I went to buy a new Yamaha keyboard. I called Yamaha in California and asked if it was due to be replaced. They told me "no way," and to go ahead and buy it. New week, after my purchase, the "new" models were announced by Yamaha.

Again, with total respect to you and AJ, in this world the right hand NEVER knows what the left hand is doing!

Sorry to get so philosophical, but with those quoted experiences under my belt, I proceed with caution and questions nowadays.

Are there no European players reading these posts? I gave up with calling Italy direct and trying to get straight answers out of the Ketron offices. I sometimes curse Ketron for putting out such excellent products. Once you eat steak, you can never go back to hamburger (a well-known cliche).

[This message has been edited by Mark79100 (edited 12-11-2006).]

No offense, AJ, but here is George getting the cold shoulder from the new distributor (a karaoke seller, 'fer Chris' sake!) and you qualifying your statement with 'for now.....' and an acknowledgment of transition and expansion in Italy (whatever THAT means), you can forgive us for being a bit circumspect at that news.

Perhaps, seeing as this is one of the major portals of arranger news and rumor, Ketron themselves would care to post with an explanation and reassurances to the community?

Personally, I am hoping that Ketron take a long, hard look at the Roland Chord Sequencer concept, and can perhaps re-vamp their "Riff" feature to be a more interactive, full featured chord sequencer.

I guarantee that I, and MANY previous Roland users would jump all over that bandwagon.....!

Dikki,

Are you saying what I wrote concerns you too? If so, I'm glad to have you onboard. I'm wondering if you got burned once too many times like I did?

Mark

Check out George Kay's review of the SD5 here...
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/014647.html

Thanks,

AJ

[This message has been edited by Ketron_AJ (edited 12-13-2006).]

Hi, Mark...well-put concerns. I've been waiting on the SD-5 for several years. I trust George, but, for a month or so, I'm going to stick with my 12 year old MS-60. I'm ready to buy as soon as I can feel better about the stability of the new distributor. Had a good relationship with Lou and crew, and trust AJ. It's just that there are so few dealers and I know nothing about the Italian company.

I'm even thinking about a road trip...flying out to see the unit at George's, and bringing one back, if things check out..

The SD-5 seems like the obvious replacement to my MS-60, and I REALLY prefer Ketron to any other brand.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed...


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 12-20-2006).]

Mark ... Understood ... the problem is we, the consumer, are the LAST to find out anything about a product ... case in point: 'technics' delivers their 'top of the line' kn7000 and 2 other arr kbs ... VERY shortly after that, it is announced that Mistushitsa (sp?) is no longer going to produce kbs !!! ... TOTALLY unpredicted ! ... ...

The situation with Ketron may be totally different, but the question is NOT a ridiculous one ...

t.