It is is easy for the "armchair keyboard designers" to say how simple(and inexpensive)it is for Yamaha to make a 76 note arranger...but talk is cheap unless they have solid information, like facts and figures, to back it up.

I think Yamaha is wise not to wade into the murky waters of a 76 note arranger production unless the market actually shows that these instruments will turn a good profit.

The members of SZ probably represent a tiny fraction of the overall keyboard market as Gary has pointed out, and many of the members would not buy a Yamaha no matter how many keys it had...brand loyalty is strong with quite a few forumites.

I want a compact and light arranger so 61 keys are perfect for my needs, and Yamaha seems to think this way as well.

It does not make good business sense to "dominate" an unsuccessful or barely thriving market, and if the very poor sales of Roland's G70 and E-60 are any indication of what to expect, then Yamaha has wisely decided to tread on the side of caution.

Maybe Korg's PA2Xpro will do well and give a proper indication that there is a viable market for a 76 note arranger, but I have my suspicions that the sales will be mediocre at best.

Yamaha is the industry leader for a reason....wise and careful decisions based on fact, not conjecture, or, least of all, the results of a forum poll.

Ian