I truly believe that, were an Arranger keyboard marketed in the USA WITHOUT a single Schlager, Valz or Folksmarsch in it, it would sell WAY better! These styles are utterly useless (and to our ears - no offense - utterly cheesy) that the minute you dial into one while you're trying out the keyboard in a store, you go WHOA!! and maybe miss some of the better Gospel Styles, or Rock or whatever.

It seems that the USA divisions of the major manufacturers of Arranger keyboards do next to NOTHING to change the factory styles to a more American taste. Roland Brazil, Roland Scandinavia and others are always adding free styles (or at least marketing them) on their websites. What do we get in the USA from Roland....... ZIP!

I think they realize that if Arrangers become more Americanized it will cut into sales of things like Fantoms and Motifs etc., and ANY sales drop, even because of another Division's sales rise, will reflect poorly on them (and their bonuses!) so nothing gets done.

What is needed is an American company to make cutting-edge American Styles for American players, and you will see the popularity of arrangers go through the roof. After all, Hip Hop is nothing but small chunks of arrangement cut and pasted and layered......... ideal fodder for arrangers! How about it Roland, a Ghetto Arranger series, nothing but HipHop and Rap styles! You don't think that wouldn't go over in the 'hood'??

What about the Cowboy's Best Friend Series, or the Sunday Gospel Series?! ANYTHING but more Schlagers!!

If these Styles get prioritized, just watch the rest of the world snap them up like hot-cakes, I got a sneaky suspicion they would MUCH rather play a P. Diddy or DMX style than a Tarantella any day!

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 08-30-2005).]