There's no way I would entertain Ebay since they take a nice fee for themselves then Paypal also get in on the act so I would definitely keep the Tyros 2.
The T2 is the first arranger I have ever purchased with 61 notes. Personally I would never entertain them normally as 76 notes has always been a must for me, but the sounds, styles and features were enough to make me think sod it and buy one. Within a few minutes my fingers had got accustomed to 61 notes anyway so I now don't even notice it having less keys when I play. With experience you can easily accomodate your playing style and adapt.
DNJ I've no need to learn how to play better I've been playing for 27 years and been a qualified music teacher for 17 years but I see where you are coming from with the styles. There are many poor quality ones on the market that's why I make my own up when I can and I also edit all of the internal sounds with the great software package Yamaha thrown in. I'll soon have 128 new sounds done so I'll possibly post them somehwere for the T2, then again I may set up shop and sell them lmao
What I meant by new T2 styles was that Yamaha promised to bring out 10 new ones every month from the release of the T2 and I have never seen any of these yet

George,

Thank you for the informative report - as usual, it was a pleasure to read. I appreciate it even more knowing that you have made your rounds with a sore back. Thanks again, and I will look forward to the next installment after Sunday.

A comment: as I was looking to add a keyboard to compliment my aging G1000, I was kind of looking foward to the new Ketron - although it only has 61 keys, it would be of interest to me, considering the built-in speakers and the support for the vocal harmonizer and the hard disk, along with the PSR3000 (unless there is a newer model by the time I am ready to buy). Judging by AJ's earlier posts, it was supposed to be priced right. However, at MSRP of $3000 it falls very close to the SD1 pricewise. While I don't know what the final price will be, this sounds very close to the Korg PA1x /pro and Roland G70, both of which sell for about $3500, and comparable to the older SD1, which I have seen advertised for listed $3000.




Craig, if the 76 keys were really that important, you should have put your money where your mouth was, and did not buy the T2. Since you did purchase it, it was not that important to you. So I hope that your whining does not deter Yamaha from addressing the needs of the others.

I would not buy a high-end instrument without 76 keys; however, I may entertain this idea for a secondary, more portable keyboard, with the built-in speakers. I hope that now that Yamaha has you on the hook, they will go after my business, and come up with a 76-key high-end board quickly, before I am forced to replace the G1000 with something else. The feature set of Tyros2 is really appealing to me, save for the short keyboard - I hope Yamaha is listening.

Regards,
Alex

Thanks for the report George.

I was a proponent of a new 76-note T2 also but having played my two 9000 Pro's for years now and with the gaining importance of the best possible piano sound and action in my life, I'm already past the point of waiting for a Tyros Pro. What I'd really like to see from Yamaha is a "QY-T2": a much-needed leap forward in the QY-series with Tyros 2 sounds and features. In fact, Yamaha is behind the curve in not having a new QY out based on the original Tyros... the Ketron MidJay looks like the leader is tabletop arrangers now and I hope to see it's popularity increase.

But it's an American synth that is really pointing the way forward in my mind: the Open Labs Miko. This is the affordable computer-based instrument that our own Frank L. Rosenthal has been waiting for ($2000 base price). Miko makes softsynths and programs like OMB more practical for stage use, not to mention monster programs like Reason, Ableton Live and more. You can max out a Miko with some heavy-duty computing power and stay under the price of the Tyros 2 while loading up sounds that can exceed the capability of any hardware synth made. And it's fully upgradeable in both hardware and software... it's nearly future-proof. I could see adding a hammer-action 88-note controller to the Miko and running Ivory with nearly unlimited accompaniment options. It looks like live light and video control are also possible with the Miko. The best thing about the Miko is that it has my wheels turning.

Esh, it is going to happen....affordable software based arranger/workstations. Plus you end up with a good control surface.

Craig thanx for the clarification I understand what you were saying now about teh styles.

Alex K if DNJ understood me then why the hell can't you?
It's the likes of you with the comments WHINING (when I wasn't anyway) that makes long time users of SZ go onto other forums.
Personally if Yamaha bring out a 76 key then good for them, I couldn't give a rats butt.
I was merely saying that it would be bad timing for everyone NOT just me who has already forked out our hard earned cash for a T2. I'm assuming you are not a T2 owner with the poor comments you chose to make.
It obviously didn't bother me having 61 notes otherwise my money would have stayed in my pocket. Perhaps you should buy a 61 note T2 now otherwise you are more than likely in for a long wait until the T2 replacement comes out (probably with 61 notes again if Yamaha doesn't listen to people wanting 76 lmao).
It's a good job I don't take things to heart on here, I'm getting used to sad comments and bickerings by now!

Craig,

I am quoting your original message so that there is not ambiguity here.



I have no objections to your contention that Yamaha should create more high-quality styles for their instruments (T2 and others), especially the ones which are equipped with the internet connection for supposedly exactly the purpose of downloading these styles.

However, your contention that Yamaha should "leave the 76 keyboard for the NEXT time" is what I find objectionable. I believe that the time for a professional version of the T2 is NOW, not 3 years from now, and do hope that Yamaha does listen to the concerns of people who REALLY need the 76 keys, and not the ones who say they need it, but in reality do not. Yamaha's (and others') position is exactly as you said - "With experience you can easily accomodate your playing style and adapt". By saying this you are doing a disservice to me and all others who want to see a 76-key version of T2 come to fruition. I am not telling you not to voice your opinion; however, you will have to forgive me for stating my disagreement.

I am sure if you re-read my posts, you will find that I substantiate my point of view. Reading my post carefully, you will also see that I am indeed not a T2 owner, exactly because it does not have 76 keys.

Yamaha brought out the 9000Pro a year after releasing the PSR9000. I hope they followo the suit and bring out the the T2Pro soon.

Regards,
Alex

The fact is that the 9000pro turned out to be a financial DISASTER for Yamaha. Before releasing Tyros2, Yamaha performed extensive marketing research to determine whether to release the followup to Tyros1 with 76 keys or not. I was told that their research results showed that their targeted market prefered the smaller portability (+ lighter weight) of 61 keys.

Here's my personal professional opinion regarding the 61 vs 76 key debate. I have to concur, that for traditional solo style keyboard playing, 76 keys is mandatory, and 88 preferable. Yet for strictly arranger style playing (especially split mode), 61 keys quite adequate, as with the split point set at F#2, this leaves 3-1/2 octaves of real estate for right hand playing, and only 1/2 octave less than the notes available from middle C to the top of not a 76, but 88 note keyboard, certainly adequate (imho) for most typical right hand soloing.

If Yamaha could squeeze 76 keys in the confines of it's current outside shell dimensions, I too am all for it, but I personally am not willing to sacrifice Tyros2 lightweight portability and smaller size for a larger case (shell) like the Roland G70 & Korg PA1XPro have, to fit 76 keys. On the other hand, Ketron's SD1 is a winner in this regard, making it the lightest weight & shortest length 76 note arranger available. Unfortunately, from what I've been told, because of their financial disaster with 9000pro, Yamaha Japan has NO PLANS to release a Tyros2 Pro with 76 keys.

On another note: I had a chance to watch & hear three terrific arranger keyboard players play the Tyros2 at NAMM the other day, and they all (Martin Harris, Mark Anderson, and Ken) got around that board just fine, showcasing their terrific keyboard chops, and on 61 keys . . . no problem.

As a traditional acoutic piano player myself, had to make some big adjustments when switching back & forth between piano & synth style keyboard. In addition to forfeiting 88 notes for 61, the key feel and even the size of the keys are different, and of course the PLAYING STYLE (technique) of auto accomp arranger playing is entirely different as well. Switching between an 88 note piano and any arranger requires approaching each with a different mindset. Once you're open to doing this, barriers will be broken, and new doors of playing opportunity become available.

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 01-22-2006).]

Well each to their own Alex
I can remember having a VA7 then losing a considerable amount to upgrade to a VA76, I guess that's why I posted my initial message stating people would be p'd off as I was when Roland did that to us all.
If Yamaha bring out a 76 note T2 and I hope they do for the people who have not already got the T2 since it's more sales for them, I can see all the music shops rubbing their hands together thinking we are going to make loads of extra dosh from the people part exchanging their T2 back in.
Regardless of what they do I have now been converted to Yamaha and that's taken quite a few years I can tell you.

I'd just like to address the weight vs. 76 key issue for a second as brought up by Scott. I am a big advocate of a 76 key Tyros. I use two keyboards when I gig, a 76 key Korg Triton Extreme and a 61 key Tyros 2. With keyboards in the case, the Tyros 2 is the FAR heavier keyboard. Even considering the Korg is built like a tank with it's metal frame it's still lighter than the Tyros 2.

I really think the answer might be to use a controller with 76 keys and control surfaces with the Tyros 2.

Al