One of the guitarists I play with is also quite the proficient bass player, so we do a couple of numbers with him on bass.

Though I do like playing some bass on the keys ( I often turn the style bass off, and it works even better wit a good guitarist along for the ride ), it is nice to have someone else who can play it and expand on what the rest of the style is doing. It frees me up to solo more and play nice combis with both hands.

Pose hit the plusses and negatives well, particularly on the suggestion that the music will sound less canned. What I do miss about not having a Yamaha arranger is that the PA80's pad buttons aren't assignable with phrases and sounds in the way the Yamaha's are. Good pads add even more possibilities to spice up the rythyms.

I wouldn't put up with any of those potential negatives for very long, but I'm blessed that none of the guys I play with seem to display any of them.

AJ