Yeah, that's for sure, and considering there seems to be little in the way of anything really innovative, you really don't need to upgrade.

I chose the seemingly small upgrade from the 3k to the S900 because the SA voices in the latter were, to my ears and fingers, a significant improvement...even though there were only a few, the ones Yamaha picked were ones I use very often.

When I play the Sweet Tenor voice (which was also on my old 3K) and then play the SA Sax, there is so much more realistic expression in the latter, especially when using legato phrasing so that the attack disappears as on a real sax...when I hear the Sax on any other non-Yamaha arranger, it sounds so phony, even though only a short time ago they were probably the best of the bunch.

The same goes for the SA Concert Guitar.

So, a seemingly minor upgrade for some turns out to be a major (and happy) one for me, and many others as well, seeing how many of my former 3K clients have decided to move up to the S900.

I'm not one to just buy and not put the time in to get the most out of the instrument, but I am one who likes to improve my sound, even if sometimes it is incremental...I'd say I use 100% of my arrangers, partly because it's my job to do so, but also I have always enjoyed exploring and learning every feature.

New styles mean nothing to me since I assemble my own and have hundreds of great donor styles for parts....I'm still using styles that began on my old PSR-2700, and we both know it's not how many you have, but how high the quality is, and how effectively you use them....I can do a whole night using only 20-30 well prepared styles.

T'would be a shame to see Roland bow out, but at least, if they do, they ended on a high note and a decent instrument.

Ian

PS...Yeah, I edited my post...just turned 60 the other day...I must be getting mellow, and besides, this stuff is just small change, and hardly worth belly bumping over



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 03-24-2009).]