I know the psr 8000 is "old" now but they're on special here (1/2 price) and as I cant get an x1 here in Australia I'm tempted to get one. My question is " are they a good keyboard, particularly for gigging? " Thanks

The PSR8000 is a wonderful keyboard. Make sure you install a hard drive if you want to have midifiles and custom styles available quickly. The registration memory is great for storing all your sounds and styles you need in a live giging situation. You can even have a registration memory call up a certain song you need to play live, with the sounds and effects and microphone settings you would need to play along with this song.
The vocal harmonizer is great if you are a singer and the sounds are very good and the styles, although not the X1 quality are very good. Many of my customers who purchased PSR8000's over the past 2 years are quite satisfied. I'm curious what 1/2 price is in Australia. Here is the US, the retail price of the PSR8000 when they made it was $2995.00 without a hard drive, and $3595.00 with a hard drive. Have you contacted Solton at www.ketron.it and looked at their distributor list to contact one and find out if you can purchase an X1 in Australia?
George Kaye

He Keygar!

Strange, cause you can afford yourself an X1, but cannot find it there. Well then wouldn't you consider a Yamaha PSR9000? Or a Gem WK8? Or a Technics KN-6000??? The Technics has some fabulous Technic. They are always first. Like the Dolby Surround System which they have and no other keyboard offers!

Ilija

Thanks George, I could find no dealership in Australia for Solton unfortunately. The PSR 8000 was retailing here new for around $6000 aus, now going out for $2800 aus. Sounds as tho you have a pretty high opinion of them, there is a psr 730 going at $1300 and I was tempted as it is is very light, but then I dont want to replace a keyboard too often, as evidenced by the fact that I am still using my Roland D20 synth.....Thanks

thanks Ilija, the technics are fine, but I need better sounds than styles as I play mainly in live bands and I felt the Yamaha had better sounds, also the Technics keys seemed a little "rougher" tho I did like them a lot, yes , a pity the Solton just cannot be got here in Australia ....Thanks