There are many factors
-Support(Technics - now out of the question)

-Reputation(generally speaking,an expensive Casio arranger will not have the same resale value as a KORG,Roland)

-3rd party support(Yamaha definately have the edge)


As a fact,I know that KORG arrangers retain their value well.I had bought/sold Yam,roland and Korg arrangers and the reason that Korg hold their value is - having workstation type sequencer and same sound board.(X series workstaions - I and IS series arrangers,PA series arrangers- from Triton classic).since sound board is much better than competitors (speaking of arrangers).Craiglist or Recycler(not even Ebay)you can almost get a decent price without waiting for a long time.
Not all buyers are arranger users(since Korg does poor in fills,OS somewhat not easy as Yam),but the hardware,sound and functionality(can use it in a band - always have combi/performance type user setups where you can split and layer the WORKSTATION quality sounds/ALSO LOADS WORKSTATION PATCHES/PROG)as a studio KB plus occational arranger work.


hardware wise(before PA50)all most all Korg arrangers are built to last(some rolands are too-but the the downside of Roland is the sound board GM/GS instead of XP,fantom series).Since they don't have much mid or low priced arrangers,most support Aftertouch compared to the competition(exception of IS 50,I5/4,and ofcource pa5-60)).Earlier ones also have more worktaion look(I3,30,Ix300 etc).

I3 or I30 will be sold pretty quick but not so with G600/800 or even 1000-ask Uncle Dave),you have to wait or sell with lower price.

On Roland side, though they have better piano,comparable hardware,better Keys sometimes -sound board is not comparable -VA series doen't have the same XP engine for example,nor G70 have the same Fantom engine),most of them have revamped SC88pro sound canvas board with SOME workstaion sounds/expension slots(not the case with KORG where they use EXACT SAME samples.Mid level Rolands are hardest to sell.E70,86 harder than G1000 for example.

befor PA50, there was no midpriced Korg arranger,everything was more than $1500.Not the case with Yam or Roland.

In general,arrangers that still hold their value in the used market are the ones with good hardware/keys/functions(must have D drive,mod wheel,joy stick)-(Korg i3,2/I30/Roland Va7,G1000 yam psr 9000 pro,etc).Not so with mid priced,corners cut I5 or G600 or PSR 1000,1100 which lacks mod wheel.

-another important point about Yamahas is,in US market(after introduction of psr 2000,though the keys are not as good,lacks after touch,weak hardware),you can sell it much quicker than say more well built Roland VA3,same is true for psr2100,but not so with 1000,1100 (for the above mentioned reason).The only problem is most Yams were beaten hard before they hit the used market(problems like stuck keys,non working outputs)(since hardware is poorly made).Not the case with higher models like T1 or 9000 pro.
In EU and mid east where arrangers are more widely used,both KORG and Roland have the market better than in US ,so it's easier/faster to sell.


So if you have invested in a good arranger ,it will retain it's value atleast 40-50%. (to your question- recently purchased arranger like T2 or G70,will go down atleast $500.)




Like most electronics,we buy the technology for today,so we better use it today.If we want to use it next year ,buy it next year.If we buy a acoustic instrument(ac piano or classic guitar),it's a differernt story.



[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 08-06-2006).]