I�m wondering why (I think) most of you are playing Yamaha�s and Korgs (and some G-70�s) and NOT Ketrons?

Outside of actually playing an SD5 for about two hours, I hardly have any hands-on experience with it. But in those two hours, I was knocked out with what that thing can do. Since then I�ve been reading everything I could about the SD5 for quite awhile now. I�ve also downloaded every demo from every site I could find on the Net. Just about every one I listen to is brilliant (good instrument sounds and good players demo-ing them). I think they are the Rolls-Royce of arrangers�definitely for sounds, and probably also for versatility. Not sure yet about the ease of use on stage.

So, I think most of you agree with me on what I wrote so far. And, if so, I�m curious why you play everything else but�..?

MC said he sold his because it was too heavy to carry around. That�s a good reason.

Some of my own Ketron criticisms (that might put me off of buying one) are:

1) The dance styles are too aggressive�.kind of get in your face�.not easy-going as in (my opinion) the Roland�s.

2) What happens if the particular SD5 that you buy is trouble-prone from the start? What Ketron dealer (from the small pool of US Ketron dealers) is going to back that up with a new one? I�ve been down this road before with a previous gigging instrument and it�s a nightmare?

3) I�m REAL concerned about service if it goes down. I�m guessing it would have to go to a �service center� which (no matter what state you live in) would be 7-8 states away and it will be gone for weeks.

4) Because of the uniqueness of the Ketron sound, if your act was successful partly because of the Ketron �sound,� you�d have to have a second SD5 for backup.

5) It IS a small company, and, yes, what if the Audya �breaks� them financially and they go under. What if the Audya DOESN�T break them and, being a small company, they still go under, What if they decide to convert the company into a meat-packing plant?


I�ve been thinking about buying one for quite a while now, but every time I�m ready to plop down the money, something goes off in my head saying: �not a good idea!�

So that brings me back to: �What�s the reason, when all of you have good things to say about the Ketron in this forum, that you still stick to Yammie and his friends, Korgie and Rolando? I need new thoughts to toss around in my head before I make any moves!

Lucky