I must admit, Mo, I don't understand why you are so pi**ed at me... I don't manufacturer keyboards at all. You got a beef, it's with EVERY single manufacturer out there.

Yamaha's last 76 note arranger weighed 45 lb. Roland's current one weighs the same. The new Audya will be 37 lb. The Ketron SD-1 weighs 36 lb.. NONE of these arrangers have speakers... The Wersi Abacus has only 61 notes, but has speakers, weighs 77 lb.!

I am simply trying to point out a few of the reasons that I think they have for making them that way. But maybe they are just doing it to bust your back? I don't think so...

As I said, WHEN they make a 30 lb. 76-er that feels as good as my G70, I'll be first on board and no complaints. So I AM agreeing with you... But in the meantime, thank God, I am still physically fit enough to move one around solo, when I need to. When my strength eventually goes, I will probably be in the same boat, and will HAVE to use whatever exists then at that weight point (or lighter). But by then, it will probably be a laptop (or rack computer) and a lightweight master controller.

There are well documented problems with many ultra light weight 88's and a few 76's. Seems that, unless you support them very evenly (think a table top), the cases flex sufficiently to make for 'sticky' notes and unreliable triggering. It's just basic physics. The case that supports the keybed has to have sufficient strength to not flex, and unless you are willing to pay the high price of carbon composites, that case (so far) has to be made of something that weighs more. They build bridges out of steel and pre-stressed concrete, these days, not wood.

I'm sorry, Mo, but YOU are the one complaining about a trade-off, NOT ME! Roland make a perfectly good 76-er in the weight range you want. But YOU don't want to make the trade-off that incurs. I've already tried to help you with tips about using MIDI pedals to get back the FC-7 functionality, but that is too much bother, apparently. There are rack vocal processors with (IMO) far better harmony capabilities than most arrangers out there (Korg excluded), but that is too much bother, apparently, also. And if all you need is a mic input and some reverb, your mixer already does that!

I'm sorry, but IMO you have this thing turned around... I'm not ragging you about using light weight keyboards. Have at it, and all the best! YOU seem to be the one upset about anyone satisfied with the way things ARE, rather than your utopian vision of fly-weight keyboards with no compromise. Don't shoot the messenger. Take it up with Roland, and Yamaha, and Ketron, and Wersi, and Korg, and Lionstracs (have I missed anyone?).

Final words (and they ARE my last on this topic ), I am utterly fed up of Ian, and Donny chiming in on a subject they have NO place commenting on.... When you have a 76-er, feel free to join in. I remind you once again, Yamaha's last 76 note arranger weighed 45 lb. and had no speakers!

Let's just stick to comparing apples to apples will you... Or I'm going to start posting info on those cute little 2 octave, 4 lb. controller keyboards the laptop jockeys LOVE, and ask why you are playing those 25 lb. behemoths!