You would think, with Roland out of the MOTL 76 market, that Yamaha would think to fill the void...

Mind you, a 20 lbs. 76 S910 is a bit optimistic, cassp, as the 61 weighs about 25 lbs.! Probably 30 lbs. is a more realistic figure, if they stick to the NP-30's keybed or an expanded S910 one... I think the E60 was about 28 lbs., so that proves a quality keybed 76 CAN be made light enough...

The thing is, it is so frustrating to watch Yamaha completely ignore the MOTL and TOTL 76 market, while demonstrating that they obviously think there IS a market for 76 arrangers. And logic seems to indicate that, if a 76 is needed at the low end, it is needed even MORE as you progress musically. Add to that how little it would cost Yamaha to simply make a larger case but leave the electronics exactly the way they are, and you have a head scratcher of the highest degree.

Steve Demming actually called me at home quite a while ago, and we had quite a conversation about why Yamaha won't make a 76 arranger, the gist of which was essentially, there's no demand for one. And yet, here are Yamaha, showing once again that they DO think there's a demand for one.

Just not a GOOD one...