2017 and keyboards

Where 2016 was a slow year so far for building GAS with

Yamaha Montage
Ketron SD40
Roland System 1
Casio MZ-X500/300
Wersi OAX1


2017 might be a top year for gearfetishists...

There is quite a lot of new stuff to be expected....

Yamaha Tyros replacement
Yamaha MOXF replacement
Korg Kronos replacement
Korg SV-1 replacement
Korg PA900 replacement with PA4x technollogy inside
Korg new Havian with updated technollogy
Ketron SD9 Pro
Roland FA series follow up
Roland EA-9 with 76 keys and super naturall engine
Roland RD800 follow up
Nord Stage 3
Kurzweil PC3 series follow up
Casio PX-5S follow up


I am definately looking forward to testing all that new gear...

Okay, lets take the SD9 Pro from that list, just learned the first ones will arive in the UK next week...


So let them Ketron demo's showing off all those new features, options, styles and sounds roll in...

sounds like your not so happy with what you already have?......

You know i am quite happy...


But i am allways interested in new toys, its much like wayting on Santa, you never know what you are gonna get, playing a new keyboard is as exciting as unwrapping those packages under the christmass tree..


But think back to your time as a kid, only rarely those new toys under the tree became your favourite toys, chancess where high you returned to your old toys by new years eve... with only sweet memories left of enjoying those toys while they where still fresh...

For me with technology improving rapidly I don't see that much change in sound and styles quality in TOTL arrangers,.........where years ago every NEW release was really a major improvement. Changing & Buying New gear is becoming a longer and longer in between process if you really think about it.
And then you always have to ask yourself "DO I REALLY NEED THIS"? and "WILL IT MAKE ME PLAY & SOUND BETTER"? ......Most times not.
But if it makes you feel good go for it.

Man, if they can jam the 4x guts into a box with speakers ... I'm SO IN!

Add 88 keys.. call it Havian 400 pro...

61, semi-weighted keys will be a more popular choice for the intended demographic, I think.

The current T5 has sold more 76 keys then 61.... but yes, 61 keys might be more popular, however people might be surprised how good an 88 key TOTL arranger/stage piano combo might sell...

If your instrument was acoustic piano, I can see having the 88 key jones, but for many of us, the extra weight, slower response, and larger size/weight just make it more of a chore than a blessing. I'd rather play a Rhodes than a piano ... but that's just me.

Since i only play for my own amusment at home, the extra weight does not bother me, time has changed me from an organ player into a piano player...

On average is real life permits me, i play two hours a day, one hour piano and another hour of arranger... its easier to play arranger with 88 keys, then piano on a synth keybed... i also love a good Rhodes sound, my Kronos delivers on that.. i dont know how a real Rhodes played, never got my fingers on one... however, its on my to do list...

Well, it was sloppy compared to a good acoustic piano, and slow compared to the quick stroke of the Wurlitzer 200a, but it had ATTITUDE and character in spades! You could get so much dynamic expression from your playing style, and the tone ... well, it's still the GO-TO, die-4 sound in almost every genre of music.