Yamaha Electone availability in USA

[rcflyer]

I would really like to see Yamaha make available again the Electone ELS series here in USA. Any hope of that? I could import one, but that's not ideal in many ways.

[andyg]

It's not going to happen, sorry.

Prime reason is that the market would be so small in terms of numbers that it would not be economically viable for Yamaha Japan to set up the separate production line that would be needed to produce a model to meet US electrical/electronics regulations. And Yamaha USA may simply not want to be bothered, setting up a new dealer network for the Stagea and D-Deck models. They'd sell just a handful here and there but no more, such is the state of the home organ market. It's the same thing for us over here in the UK and Europe.

So private import via Tarotrade is the only way. "Not ideal in many ways"? I don't know your personal situation etc so can't comment on your take on the matter, but I can tell you that I have many professional friends in the UK and Europe who have bought and upgraded their instruments from Tartotrade with no issues whatsoever.

[dsl504t]

Andy was very right, Tarotrade is a perfect choice if you want to buy from USA. They also sell every parts of this electone if your electone got damaged.

[musicmaker84]

Unless you live in driving distance to a music store/dealer/repair center/technician nearby, I find it almost as adventurous to buy arranger keyboards in the US of A from established dealers when shipping is a necessity. For any problem not easily fixed by yourself, you would need pay to ship it in, plus the cost of labour, parts, and return shipping when outside the warranty. Within the warranty, the shipping would still be on you, I think. So, in my case if I wanted a Genos which trades for $6000, I would be taking a similar risk when buying an ELC-02 from TT for roughly $5200 plus shipping and duties.

Now, a keyboard is shipped more easily and cheaper to some repair center than a Stagea, but my point is the likelihood of both products needing major fixing within a year or so of limited warranty is rather unlikely unless it's a lemon. Beyond the warranty both products would be a similar pain to deal with in terms of $ as well as getting it fixed one way or another.

[seamaster]

This is why I grudgingly think the Wersi business model will be the one that survives. Make organs from cheap, generic, off-the-shelf, Chinese PC components and do everything else in standard PC software. If you have a problem, the vendor/manufacturer/whoever can connect remotely to to diagnose/fix. If they go under, you're still left with a flexible controller set-up with the possibility of third-party/open-source solutions coming to the rescue so you're not left with landfill.

[musicmaker84]

@seamaster: You are spot on. If I had the need and desire to upgrade, it probably wouldn't be an Böhm or Stagea (although I like them enough), but a Wersi OAX 1. Recycle bench, pedal board and I'd feel confident to do any PC repair on my own.