RJ -

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. I do realize that it must have taken quite a while to get that all thought out and then typed. It is appreciated.

I am still a little confused but you have helped me a great deal. I agree with you and definitely don't want to use a $2000 arranger as a glorified drum machine. I have a $200 Alesis SR-16 digital drum machine that can do that just fine.

It sounds like triggering the arranger off of the chord might be the best idea but I need to experiment with it. I have taken accordion lessons for about 15 years and don't want to waste all of that left-hand talent by simply hitting the bass and chord buttons together each time I want a chord change. Not to sound offensive, but any keyboardist could thus "master" the accordion with an arranger in this manner in about a week.

When I had an older Cordovox repaired last year the gentleman that was repairing it showed me a Solton MS-40. I played with it a little bit and then he told me that I could really play the accordion. When I asked what he meant he told me "all those guys that use those arrangers don't know how to play the accordion. They just play the right hand and the arranger does the rest." His comment stuck with me but I didn't really understand it until I read your response here.

I'm starting to get nervous that maybe I don't need an arranger at all.

Thanks again for all of the hard work on the response.

Take care.

[This message has been edited by The Accordionist (edited 03-27-2003).]