"the only reviews I have any confidence in at all are first-hand experience reviews, from people that have ACTUALLY touched the played the machine - not reviews from people who claim to know everything there is about arranger keyboards because they slept in a Holiday Inn Express that was within 20 miles of the nearest dealer."

Diki, did you happen to notice I never mentioned your name in that sentence? Oh well!

Gary

The 76 note version will weigh a few pounds more than the Tyros5-61 (14 kg or 30 lbs.), basically due to the weight of the extra keys and the additional cabinet material.

Still, it could be a good bit lighter than a Yamaha 9000 Pro ( 20.5 kg or 45.2 lb.), and a G-70 (20.5 kg or 45 lbs. 4 oz.), and might be closer to the Korg PA3Xpro 76 (17.5 kg or 38.58lbs).

It's good to see the Pitch/Modulation wheels in the same place as the Tyros5-61.

I don't think the size of the instrument will be a big problem, but it may not suit some people with small cars, unless they are hatchbacks (the cars, not the people).

My Tyros4's weight is 14.5 kg (approx 32 lbs.) and in it's well padded carrying case, isn't much of a chore to transport.

Just another week or so, and we'll know a lot more about it.

Ian

G70 not much wider than the T5-61, Donny...

BK-9... 20lbs, with a good solid action. It CAN be done!

Sure, it can be done with an MOTL unit.

I think packaging in all those cool TOTL features, along with a great solid semi-weighted action (with aftertouch), must still necessarily be in the weight realm of mid 30's lbs. or so.

But, kudos to Roland all the same in keeping the weight so low (at more than half the weight of the G-70)...the BK-9 is a fine instrument and a good bang for the buck.

Ian

Maybe Yamaha is targeting the T5-76 as more of a home unit buyers KB. And the new S-950 replacement soon to follow for gigging players..

Be careful to not assume that everyone wants semi weighted action. Heavy action is only better if you are a piano player. Lighter and faster the better for me.
DonM

Ditto!

DITTO !!

Korg's semi-weighted action, as well as Yamaha's and Roland's, versions, are all still pretty light and fast...much around the same feel as the old M1's,DX7's and D-50's.

I only like weighted (piano style) for doing/recording solo piano pieces, so I midi up a Yamaha P-95 (88-note weighted hammer action) to the Tyros4 for that kind of playing.

For arranger play, however, 61 semi-weighted, as in your PA3x and my Tyros4, is the magic number.

Ian