Got mine from e-Pianos last year at much the same price, £1,750 actually, so I can’t knock it. Mine was in showroom condition, including the gold lettering, and came with a few registration disks and a 2-year guarantee. They gave me a good part-exchange deal on my EL-90 so, whilst I paid a premium price, I was happy and knew I was getting a quality instrument. Delivery was included, something else you don’t get with a private purchase through eBay, and probably worth a few hundred pounds if you use a professional carrier.
I’m pleased the AR is still able to command such a price and have no doubt it will sell. I’ve been to quite a few concerts over the last year or more and the AR holds its own among the other instruments I’ve heard; Roland Atelier, Technics, Yamahas old and new - HX-1, EL-90, Stagea. It’s all very personal but I’ve heard nothing that would readily tear me away from my AR, not even £30/40,000 Böhms and Wersis, good that they are. The Atelier AT-800 and 900 are nice but probably not about six grand nicer. The Stagea has beautiful sounds but looks like an IKEA flat-pack and I could not live with that.
I think we’re incredibly lucky to have such versatile and capable instruments which are maintaining their popularity and value. Long may it continue.
