I feel terrible that there is no lighter alternative for you to play Diki, and I feel very lucky that the incredibly efficient S900 is perfect for my needs.

It's certainly much better for my needs than the 65 lb (in the road case)arranger that you have to lug around to meet your needs.

As far as the Tyros action...no thanks; I like the S900's for arranger play much better...if I wanted a T3 I'd be using one right now...it's hardly heavier than the S900, and I can buy one under cost....it's not price, or weight...it's just preference.

My experience playing the G70 as a solo piano was less than satisfying....the semi-weighted action feels absolutely nothing like a piano; no better than the S900 in that respect, so having the extra keyboard length is really nothing but a waste in my opinion....and, let's face it, buying a G-70 for easy moving is like someone downloading porn to savor the cinematography.

My P85 is far more satisfying to play....feels just like a real piano, and at 25 lbs, it is a doddle to carry around.

When Yamaha asked for my thoughts on a larger than 61 note arranger, I suggested that it have 88 weighted action keys and be under 30 lbs.

Until they do, I can get by quite nicely with two lightweight instruments, that actually weigh less together (in their cases, no less) than your big old G70 in it's road case.

Whatever reasons you and others seem to think Yamaha have for not making a 76 note arranger are all just assumptions...unless you were present at the board meetings at Yamaha Japan.

The only current, readily accessible, and completely finished TOTL 76 note arranger would be the Korg PA2xPro...the G70 is history, as is the E-60, so it seems Roland has wisely followed Yamaha's path, at least for the time being.

It could be possible that Yamaha will make a portable (under 30 lb) DGX/PSR hybrid with 88 weighted keys and the innards of the TOTL PSR S-series...far more appealing to piano players like me, and better than wasting their time making a 76 note semi-weighted arranger for a very tiny segment of the market.

I have been asked many times at my clinics and through email, about why Yamaha doesn't make a portable 88 key CVP, but I have rarely, if ever, been asked about a 76 note Tyros.

The 76 note debate can go on forever, and probably easily pass Fran's 500 post, cheap and dirty, speaker thread, but it will end the same way as any other thread did on this subject...lots of rhetoric, especially from those who would never buy a Yamaha arranger no matter how many keys it had, and lots of guesses why a 76 is not being made, but ultimately we will be no further ahead than when it started, simply because no one actually knows Yamaha's reasoning behind their, obviously firm, decision.

We both know Kingfog launched this thread because of lack of activity on SZ...what better subject to be bantered around for days and not achieve anything but fill up forum space with guesses, rants and little else?

Sort of reminds you of the Audya and Mediastation threads, doesn't it?

Bottom line is, we both have to live with a bit of a compromise until we get what we want...I just happen to like mine much better.

BTW, did you manage to get a back-up G70, or did your need for it go away?

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 04-30-2009).]