Kudos to you for thinking ahead and caring about the potential new owner.

ESP is registered using the serial number of your Montage M. So if you register your current, temporary, instrument the new owner won't be able to register it again until you unregister it.

Others have experienced delays with unregistering/reregistering licenses but for some it has gone smoothly. The biggest 'hassle' is that it can be next to impossible to actually talk/communicate with a human when if/when things go wrong.

Your options are:

1. keep the unit you have - the retailer can tell you when it was first sold so if it is in working order and most of the warranty still applies it 'should' be equivalent to a factory-sealed one. The risk here is there could be unknown damage - maybe the previous owner, or their kids, spilled a drink on the keyboard.

2. don't register the current unit - wait for the new replacement to be available and then register that one. Risks include: a) extended delay in the new unit arriving, b) you accidentally damaging the current unit and complicating the future trade-in arrangement and c) you won't have access to ESP until you get the new unit. 

3. register the current unit and deal with the registration issue when you get your new unit. This has the same risks as option #2 as well as dealing with any re-registration issue.

Our advice would be three-fold based on this:

This had happened before with this retailer, so after a conversation with the manager he agreed to let me keep this one until their next order comes in on February 2, at which time he will swap it out for a factory-sealed one.

First - get that agreement in writing or an email. Even then, if the retailer finds ANY damage at all at trade-in time they can, potentially, void the agreement or penalize you.

Second - you will be able to register the new M whether the current one has been unregistered or not. The new owner of your current M is the one that will suffer any delay/hassle in registering it in their own name.

Third - your main risk is damaging the current unit and the inherent risk in not being able to trade it for a new one or having to pay a penalty. The re-registration risk isn't really YOUR problem. It is great that you want to minimize the problems a new owner may have but you shouldn't let that keep you from making the decision that best fits your needs.

Choose option #3, register it now and take special care not to damage it. 

Thanks, Toby 👍

https://yamahasynth.com/community/montage-series-synthesizers/used-montage-m8x-esp-vst/

Posted by: Anonymous

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First - get that agreement in writing or an email. Even then, if the retailer finds ANY damage at all at trade-in time they can, potentially, void the agreement or penalize you.

So two weeks later, still no confirmation in writing or email. 

What's more there's a sizable (1/4") nick in the top of the keyboard, must have occurred during transport on from the last gig, so I guess they could deny the swap just for that 🙁

That's what I get for being reasonable. Anyway, guess I am gonna download and install that ESP now and see what happens.

Sorry you haven't heard back - not making excuses for Yamaha/Steinberg but there is a lot going on with the holidays and preparation for NAMM in 3 weeks. 

What's more there's a sizable (1/4") nick in the top of the keyboard, must have occurred during transport on from the last gig, so I guess they could deny the swap just for that 

They probably could. Or you could argue with them that the nick was there when you got it. Then it becomes a 'who blinks first' sort of thing.

That's what I get for being reasonable. Anyway, guess I am gonna download and install that ESP now and see what happens.

It might be worth a phone call to see if they have an update on the new unit for a swap.

Otherwise it looks like it's down to one of two things:

1. the swap happens, despite the nick, and the new owner will need to deal with the issue or

2. the swap doesn't happen because of the nick or because the dealer wants to 'nick' you for some bucks to cover the difference.

In either case any issue reregistering the ESP will be for the new owner, if any, to deal with and if YOU are that new owner you will already have the ESP.

The unit you have should be on warranty from the date you got it so if you are happy with it you could just keep it.

That is one of those unfortunate things that no matter what you do it isn't going to feel right. That's when my dad would be telling me to put my 'big boy' pants on and worry about something more important! Never did like hearing that.

You bought it new.  Regardless of how it arrived, that's what you thought you were getting.  Someone in the chain is going to make this right.

Software licenses are the easiest of things to accommodate.   

And it was used before you got it.  You haven't done anything but honor your end of the deal.  Use it until Feb 2nd.  I'd still swap it out unless you're really happy with everything this one is doing including, in retrospect, how it arrived.

Posted by: Anonymous

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Sorry you haven't heard back - not making excuses for Yamaha/Steinberg but there is a lot going on with the holidays and preparation for NAMM in 3 weeks. 

What's more there's a sizable (1/4") nick in the top of the keyboard, must have occurred during transport on from the last gig, so I guess they could deny the swap just for that 

They probably could. Or you could argue with them that the nick was there when you got it. Then it becomes a 'who blinks first' sort of thing.

I'm not gonna do that. It's not right, and I'm not a good liar. 

Posted by: Anonymous

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The unit you have should be on warranty from the date you got it so if you are happy with it you could just keep it.

That is one of those unfortunate things that no matter what you do it isn't going to feel right. That's when my dad would be telling me to put my 'big boy' pants on and worry about something more important! Never did like hearing that.

Your dad is right, though 🙂 I registered the M7 and activated ESP. This is it for me now.

Posted by: Jason

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You bought it new.  Regardless of how it arrived, that's what you thought you were getting.  Someone in the chain is going to make this right.

 

Software licenses are the easiest of things to accommodate.   

 

And it was used before you got it.  You haven't done anything but honor your end of the deal.  Use it until Feb 2nd.  I'd still swap it out unless you're really happy with everything this one is doing including, in retrospect, how it arrived.

That's all true, but the nick on the body is on me, happened during transport from the gig. 

It's okay, though. I'll reach out to them closer ot Feb 2 and if they're cool, great. If not, this will be my last big purchase from them.

Have you considered getting a soft case for the keyboard?

That's all true, but the nick on the body is on me, happened during transport from the gig. 

They can be pricey but even a small bump in the wrong spot (knob, slider) could put you out of action and require a costly repair. That is always a tricky trade-off to have to make.

Posted by: Anonymous

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Have you considered getting a soft case for the keyboard?

That's all true, but the nick on the body is on me, happened during transport from the gig. 

They can be pricey but even a small bump in the wrong spot (knob, slider) could put you out of action and require a costly repair. That is always a tricky trade-off to have to make.

 

I'm using the YSCMODX8 case. Best case in the business, bar none. Perfect fit for MODX8, pretty good fit for Montage M7, although it's not designed to handle the extra weight.

I grabbed the handles and slung it over my shoulder the way I have done with the MODX8 countless times, but with the added heft of the Montage this motion ripped the fabric where the handles are stitched to the sides. Still usable, but needs to be managed with more care when used with the Montage.

For my Montage7 (non M) I use a Gator soft case.   It's held up since 2016 with weekly gigs and practices.  Handles are still good and it has backpack straps I use as shoulder straps to carry it sometimes.  Mostly it's sitting in a cart for transport.   Zippers are still holding too.

No wheels on this case like the MODX8 case has (I believe).