Guitar Center has just recently began stocking the Yamaha Tyros2 in their stores. And I mean JUST recently. Both of the GC's in my area are now stocking the Tyros2. I think Yamaha's decision to stock the Tyros2 in MI stores is directly related to Roland's recent announcement that the G-70 will soon be sold in MI (Musical Instrument division) outlets. Yamaha IMO is trying to keep a leg up on the competition with the Tyros2 in MI stores and they will be getting a head start over Roland who won't start selling the G-70 in MI stores until January from what I understand.
I got to play another Tyros2 on display at GC and I could see a boxed Tyros2 up on the storage shelf waiting to be sold. After playing the Tyros2 again extensively I am still glad I didn't upgrade my Tyros for the T2. At over a $1,000 more than my T1 and still only 61 keys and the same AC Grand Piano patches as my Tyros I can't see myself spending the extra loot for basically the same machine minus Hard Disk recording, some SAV voices (with some being better than others), and some extra sweet!, live!, and cool! voices. But to each his own. Now if I didn't already own a high-end Arranger and still only needed 61 keys I would certainly put the T2 at the top of my list to purchase. But I already do own a high end arranger in the T1. And the T1 actually garnered the prestigious M.I.P.A. award for best Organ/Portable Keyboard in 2003 which unfortunaetly the Tyros2 didn't in 2006's competition squeaking in at 3rd place behind the Hammond XK-3 and Roland's G70. But I feel the Tyros2 is still an awesome keyboard made even awesomer by the introduction of the SAV voices. Put it in 76 keys and that alone would probably make me do the upgrade thing.
Best regards,
Mike
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Yamaha Genos, Mackie HR824 MKII Studio Monitors, Mackie 1202 VLZ Pro Mixer (made in USA), Cakewalk Sonar Platinum, Shure SM58 vocal mic.