I don't necesary need the sampler and aftertouch from 8k. What is important to me are the sounds of piano, guitars, sax, flutes, trompets, acordions. 3k has amasing quality of this sounds and I like it. 8k hasn't the same quality of this sounds because it is from 1997 (so spalding, your 8k is 8 years old) and 3k is from Tyros generation of 2004. Maybe I will can get 3k with less than $1600.00 (EU1300) from Spain.

I know Korg PA80/60/50. I like the sounds and styles but i don't like the LCD. PA50 don't has the optional HDD. Since 2001, PA80 was my favorite keyboard till 2003 when it released PA1X/Pro. So, now the best for me is 3000, I guess. I have a frend who has 8000.I will try to see and hear it.

So, spalding, did you succeed to record some demos and convert to mp3 ?

i will i promise. In the middle of law exams at the moment. Will try and record somthing late may.Good luck with your purchase

Agree with every word of that. My last keyboard was an 8000, and I still use it as a backup. Truth is that I'm about to sell it as soon as I have time to reattach the vocal harmony section. But it is a great keyboard and I miss many of its features on my Tyros. (Especially the memory feature which retains all the keyboard settings when you turn it off!)

Somebody can tell me how is the key feel with 3k and 8k ? I know the key feel from Korg PA-80, Korg PA1XPro and Korg Triton because I touched this Korgs.

The 8000 is slightly firmer, but not enough to make anyone jump up in the air and scream WOW! I had an 8000 for about a week, took it back to the dealer and said nice board, but it's not what I'm looking for. It weighed a ton, the sounds were OK, but not fantastic, and my older 5700 still sounded and felt better.

When the 740 came out, the 52-pound 5700 was still in service and I used them both in combination. Neat rig, but it took 45 minutes to set up and 8 trips tot he van just to haul in all the gear using a refrigerator dolly.

When the 2000 arrived on the scene, the advancements were astonishing. Incredible sounds, fabulous styles, great operating system, lots more memory, plus instant access to the floppy drive. This incredible machine is still being used by a lot of gigging musicians/entertainers who make a darned good living in show biz.

When the Tyros hit the streets, I was awestruck, but as much as I liked the keyboard, I really missed those onboard speakers.

Then the 3000 appeared! IMO, this is the most incredible arranger keyboard ever concieved. Huge number of fabulous styles, megavoices, incredible sampled sounds, more storage than anyone can use, lightweight, extremely versitle, and the easiest to use operating system of any keyboard I've ever owned.

I've owned lots of other brands as well. In fact, my wife says if I bring home another keyboard she's gonna' divorce me. I'm sure going to miss that woman!

One other aspect of the 8000 was the key strips, which were, and still are, a constant problem with this particular model. When the fail, and they will eventually do so, they are a real problem to replace. I've replaced them for friends and it took hours to do the job. The cost was about $80 U.S. for the strip and if the service department of the local dealer had to do it, the labor charge would have been $150 to $200 at the least.

You can replace the key pads in the 3000 in less than an hour, the strips cost $20 U.S. and the hardest part of the job is taking out the 18 case screws.

Additionaly, you'll find more 3rd party styles for Yamha than any other keyboard on the planet. However, many of those styles will not load in the 8000 without doing some major midifications. They'll all load in the 3000 and you don't have to do anything to them other than press a button and being playing.

Save your money, buy the 3000, and don't look back at acient technology--you will not regret it.

Good Luck on whatever you decide upon,

Gary

great reply ,Gary.

So, how is the key feel for 3k & 8k ?

HI,
I just saw PSR-3000 demo on the net...
...what a machine!!!!It's so compact-very easy to transport,sounds are very,very good...why is there now aftertouch!!??Without speakers and with AT it'll be the greatest... hardly waitting to see new Tyros!!!

The 8000s keys are a bit heavier feeling than the 3000, but not significantly. Much of the key feel has to do with the mechanics of the rubber strips, and where they are positioned in relation to the key's pivot point. The closer they are to the pivot point, the lighter the touch. Some folks compar the 3000s key feeling to the Tyros, but IMO the 3000s keys have a slightly lighter touch.

Gary

The keys from 3k are solid not like a toy (like psr280) ? Is somebody who knows Yamaha W7 ? How do you compare the key contruction and key feel from 3000 and W7 ?

[This message has been edited by El Shaddai (edited 04-21-2005).]