Well my first impressions are :

- Keybed = horrible (for $2200 I expected better)
- OS = not very logical
- Styles = Awesome
- Sounds = Fantastic ( all the editing options are amazing )
- Does not seem very practical for live playing.
- Miss more FILL's
- Miss arranger control through aftertouch
- Miss Upper, Lower buttons ( mute )

- Drums and Bass are punchy but far from Roland's Powerful!

So far that's all I got ( in 12 hrs that I have spent with it).

I will keep it for a few weeks just to give it a chance. More than likely I will be looking for a G70!

Congrats on your new Pa800. Try to get your hands on the Tutorial DVDS, it might speed up your progress. Keep us posted & good luck.

Only Roland (Heavy) and Yamaha (Light) make their own arranger keybeds, the rest use OEM versions of Fatar keybeds and will all feel pretty much the same. (The more expensive the arranger, the more expensive the Fatar keybed that is used)
Personally I find them a nice balance between heavy and light.
Good luck with your further investigations, and make sure you have the latest update.

Bill

Bill,

From what I understand, Korg make their own keyboards/actions, light, semi-weighted, and heavy...they also used to employ Yamaha keybeds at one time.

I didn't know that Roland made heavy action arrangers(unless you are referring to the KR-series)...the G70 is a semi-weighted action.

The T2 uses a semi-weighted action as well....AND Yamaha also make heavy(weighted hammer) action arrangers in their CVP line.

I was under the impression, at least from what other PA-800 owners report, that the keybed was very satisfactory....but to each their own.

Ian

Hi Ian
I am talking about the feel of the keyboard, the Yamaha has a very light touch whereas the Roland has a heavier touch, (Go back through various posts and you will find some players prefer the heavier touch of Roland whereas others prefer the lighter touch of Yamaha) the Korg is in the middle.
Manufactures swap and change the parts they use with different models, and the last time I checked (Which was about a year ago) Korg were using Fatar keybeds. (As do most European designed and manufactured keyboards)
Regards

Bill

Bill, I played the T2 and the G70...they were pretty close...I found both too light for piano, but workable for arranger stuff.

I did think the Tyros2 had the edge in playability, but that's a subjective thing.

Personally I prefer the S900's keyboard...very light and fast.

As far as Korg using Fatar? Maybe you're right...anything is possible these days.

Ian

IMO :

The Yamaha FSX key-bed is one of the best out there.

It should be on the S900 , O__well

Take care

Gary 

[This message has been edited by jedi (edited 03-29-2008).]

I would reply to one of Hitman's points that the PA800 does not seem suitable for live playing.. I have only been to one concert in the UK where this keyboard was being played.. The artist was Rod Pooley and he had no difficulty whatever in putting on a brilliant performance.

Trevor

Probably easier to put rubber buttons on the Tyros.

Ian

My biggest problem with the PA800 is the master volumne control & style volumne use the same lever.