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.