Yamaha has made several 76 note keyboards in the past. None of them were tremendously successful for Yamaha. I know you guys think I have some kind of hotline to the design and engineering staff at Yamaha, but the truth is, I don't. I don't know what reseach they do before they launch a product, and I don't know exactly how they qualify a failure. But I'm sure, it always comes down to the bottom line. If, in your work you find a formula for success, you stick with it. When you try something new and it doesn't pan out, you shy away. Even if that same formula works for someone else, if it doesn't work for you, you go back to doing the tried and true.

I'm sure these guys (designers) are under tremendous pressure to deliver products to the market that result in profits for the company.

They design musical instruments. A tool designed to fit the hand of the musician. They are not trying to ignore your requests. They are not careless about pissing you off. They are trying to design instruments that please the greatest possible number of customers. They are trying to do their jobs the best they can.

It's a good thing if Roland and Korg are doing well with their 76 note arrangers. If the trend continues, Yamaha won't ingore it. But Yamaha has found that being first doesn't always bring profit. Be patient. I'm not the only one from Yamaha who lurks at this site, not by a long shot.

Yamaha is interested in what you have to say. But the message here is quite fragmented. Pretend you're a marketing guru in Japan, exploring this site for the first time. What message would you take away from the General Arranger Keyboard Forum?

What is Yamaha saying to you? Yamaha isn't saying anything, Yamaha is listening.