What was the real reason why they stopped producing keyboards with such a huge fan base?

Panasonic was the parent company. The arrangers were an extremely small drop in their bucket. I was told it was making as much profit as other areas of the company.

Interesting Don... So many were devestated when tbey closed shop. Sad.

++ 1 ... If they were still in business, I would still be playing one, and would probably be the only AKB player to only play one brand of KB ...
Oh, wait, I forgot about Fran ...



I may be mistaken, but I think there was a change in corporate leadership who wanted nothing to do with AKBs - regardless of the fact they were a profit center ...

Those were the days my friend.............. we thought they would never end........... but sadly....... they did.

I read that the arrangers were the pride and joy of old president,and when he died or retired,Panasonic took over and pulled the plug. I didn't know it was that profitable,but it certainly wasn't for Panasonic.GRRRRRR

More companies...
More arrangers....
= lower prices all around
with more competition..

Hi Bernie,
that was my understanding also.

If I'm not totally wrong, it was Matsushita that was the parent company for both Panasonic and Technics back then?

Takes me back to the old discussions in the Technics Forum.

I loved my KN5000.......I couldn't fall in love with the KN7000s
Sunken Deep Keybed which for me was too restrictive
on each end while playing especially while swiping and having
my pinky cramped in. I will admit it did have terrific sounding onboard speakers...wonder what would have been if the series continued with a KN8000,KN9000, etc. today..?

My very first arranger keyboard was a Panasonic. I paid $135 for it at the local music store, it had just 30 styles and voices, of which only the piano and vibes sounded OK. When the PSR-500 came out I thought I died and went to heaven - 500 styles and 500 voices OMG! And, it only cost me $500 in the local K-Mart. The local music store said at that price, he could not make a profit. Amazing how times have changed.

Gary