I was faced with this when I bought my Motif XF. I bought a 6. Once I had it, I very quickly realized that I could set things up by splitting the keyboard and playing different instruments from different parts of it. At that point, I decided I really needed the extra keys and traded the 6 back for a 7.

When it came time to buy a Montage, I bought the 7 right away.

Similar to Michael - I had a MO6 and knew how much more I could get with the extra keys. I wanted 8 for live use and did purchase one. However, the keyboard is too too heavy for live use when stairs are involved and it's just me hauling the keyboard around. I don't mind the action of the 8 even for synth use - but the weight during transport killed it.

This question, however, is best guided by your own usage. Mine involved use of lots of live splits where using the MO6 - I had many performances where I was using the octave +/- buttons (sometimes pressing twice for 2 octave shifts in either direction) to fit my splits. With the 7, I no longer use the octave key to gain more keys for splits (yet).

Thanks for your input guys! Of course, I really want the 7 (seems you both did as well), but the price on a Montage 6 demo seems too good pass up. I'm not a skilled pianist, but I do like playing bass octaves fairly low on the keys with my left hand. I have a 61-key V-Synth GT, but I mainly play leads on it so it never bothered me. Even my 37-key VirusTI Polar never really bothered me either (but again, I typically only play bass-lines or leads on that).

Also, I had a Motif XF6 for a few days, and I seemed fine with it as well. Not sure how much time I'll spend with my new Montage, or how I'll be using/playing it yet (backing tracks, leads, etc.) since I already have two 88-key ROMplers in the mix: Fantom G8 and Kronos 88 (I got the Kronos 88 since that's where all of my SSD orchestral libraries are). If I fall in love with the Montage and start playing bass-octaves/chords with that more than on my Kronos, I'll know I'll probably regret not getting the 7.

As some of you know, I've been ping-ponging back and forth between going all-softsynths or getting a new Montage, and now I'm back in the "hardware rules!" camp again (ask me why). So even though I could use a different controller for the Montage 6, that would defeat the whole purpose of getting another hardware synth, and especially so with the Montage.

I just hate having price influence so many of these kinds of decisions. Instead of the too-heavy, hammer-action of my Kronos 88, I would've much preferred the lighter-action Kronos LS-88—same synth—different color (brownish-red), and a semi-weighted keybed instead of hammer-action. Unfortunately the color-scheme Korg chose for this special-model Kronos is just too weird, making a not-so-pretty keyboard even uglier (see second photo below).

But I got my Kronos Platinum 88 brand-new at a $740 discount which really helped seal the deal. Though, I probably would've been better off with the lighter-action 61-key Kronos (or the ugly LS-88), but I basically got the 88-key for the price of the 61-key (still not sure how smart that decision was for my playing habits). I just think the regular Kronoses are dark and ugly (black-anodized aluminum and weirdly shaped wooden end-caps). I chose the Platinum model for its cosmetics–it's clear-anodized aluminum and looks super-cool (see photo below).

As far as Yamaha's cosmetics goes, I think the Motif XF6 special 40th anniversary edition in white (below) is still one of the prettiest boards around. The new Montage, though it steers away from the Motif-series' signature good-looking "wedge" design is very attractive in its own right—a modern refresh on a new-concept KB. Anywho, thanks again for your comments!

Kronos Platinum 88

Kronos LS 88

Motif XF6 40th anniversary edition

Geez! What to do??? (The seller's offer expires in an hour!) A "mint-condition" Montage 6 demo-unit for $2,120, or a new Montage 7 from Sweetwater for $3,500 (plus, both are eligible for the free Yamaha HS5 monitor promotion). That's a difference of $1,380. I know that's a lot of money, but after a few more paychecks, I'll never even know I spent it, right? Then I'll always have it! (I kinda never sell any of my gear.) But, if I go for the deal, I'll always have that. (It's also a tough decision since I bought nearly all of my synths as either factory-refurbs, like-new demos, or mint-condition used—I almost never paid full-price!).

. . . I think I'm going for the 7.

You already have two 88keys keyboards. I don't see what benefit would bring a Montage 7 to you. It's a total overkill, but then, it's your money.

It depends on usage. If you gig with a single keyboard but keep the other boards in the studio - then perhaps the 7 makes sense. If you carry multiple keyboards - then the splits become less of an issue as you can leverage the other keyboard(s) for splits.

I don't see what benefit would bring a Montage 7 to you. It's a total overkill . . .

That's how I roll—total overkill (you should see my other hobbies). I don't gig or perform—these are for my own pleasure in my home studio.

Let me guess: You got the 7???

Yup!

I bought an 8 and wished I could buy a 9 🙂

Seriously. The Montage can be split in 8 zones. But that's giving you only 11 keys per zone.
So my solution was: buy two additional 88 midi-keyboards with which I am addressing parts 9-16.
I love the almost endless adaptability of the Montage/

studio wrote:

I don't see what benefit would bring a Montage 7 to you. It's a total overkill . . .

That's how I roll—total overkill (you should see my other hobbies). I don't gig or perform—these are for my own pleasure in my home studio.

So, if I understood you right, you paid one additional octave which you actually don't need, about 1400$. Great job!!! 😉

So, if I understood you right, you paid one additional octave which you actually don't need, about 1400$

Actually, I paid less than a $1,000 since I found a 10%-off flash-sale (and used a 2% cash-back rewards card) on a brand-new Montage 7 (instead of a demo-unit a million people banged on at NAMM). This reduces my marginal cost for a new Montage 7 (over a new Montage 6), to just $87.00. Plus, I get a free pair of Yamaha HS5 monitors worth $400.

Great job!!!

Yeah, I thought so!

Jan wrote:

So my solution was: buy two additional 88 midi-keyboards with which I am addressing parts 9-16.

That's a serious amount of keys, Jan! Nice set-up!

Years ago I went all out and got a Motif ES8. Weighed a ton. Great board of course, but I realized 61 was perfect for me, especially with the octave button + -. My next board was a MoX6. Did not miss the extra keys for a second. Now I have a Montage 6 and it's excellent for me. I'm not a deep programmer type, or pro synth player. I'm a multi instrumental guy Vocals, Guitars, bass, Drums and Keys for my recordings and it's just what I want and need.