Just wondering whats your favourite keyboards in these cattegories and why?

I decided to make several sub polls, in cattegories based on price. i tried to add every instrument with an arranger on board.. so there are some organs and pianos with arranger on the list...

High end arrangers (above 3000 euro)
a)Yamaha Tyros5
b)yamaha CVP 709
b)Korg Pa4x
c)Ketron Audya
d)Ketron Audya5
e)Wersi Sonic
f)Bohm Silverbird
g)Bohm Ouverture

prosumer arrangers (1500 - 3000 euro´s)
a)Yamaha PSR S970
b)Korg PA900
c)Ketron SD7
d)Roland BK9
e)Korg PA3xLE
f)Used tyros 4
g)Used PA3x
h)Used Ketron Audya
i)Used Wersi Abacus
j)Korg Havian30

Basic arrangers (around 800 - 1500 euro)
a)yamaha PSR S770
b)Yamaha DGX-660
c)Korg PA600
d)Roland EA7
e)Casio Mz-x500
f)Casio PX560
g)Used Yamaha PSR S950
h)Used Yamaha tyros 3
h)Used Wersi Ikarus
i)Used Korg PA2x

entree level arrangers (under 800 euro)
a)Yamaha PSR S670
b)Used yamaha PSR S750
c)Korg pa300
d)Casio MZ-X300
e)Casio PX 360
f)used Korg PA800
g)Used yamaha DGX 650
h)Used Yamaha Tyros
i)Used Roland G70
j)Used Roland e80
k)Roland BK5

Arranger modules
a) Ketron SD40
b) ketron MidJpro
c) Roland BK7
d) Bohm silverbird module
e) Varranger
f) Used Wersi OAS expander
g) Ketron Audya4

I hope this opens up some nice discussions and some insight on peoples preferences in the different price ranges...

My favorites are: Ketron SD7, Tyros 5, Korg Pa4X. Lloyd

and if someone asked you what keyboard to buy on a $1200 budget?

offcourse this keyboards are all top knotch, but they are also all in the upper price ranges...

I go only for the high end end keys,this is my top 3
1.Audya 5
2 Korg pax4 muzikant
3.Tyros 5.

I play now with Audya 76 from my friend(i wait for the Ketron SD9) and Tyros 5.

No doubt for me.

1. Ketron SD7
2. Yamaha Tyros 4
3. Korg PA4X

Deane

here is my own opinion :

high End : Tyros5/pa4x
tyros is bloody nice for sit down and play, pa4x is even better for live use and

Prosumer : Used Audya
Its a high end keyboard available for the midrange price, used under 2000 euro. Its well above the other midrange options.. If i needed to choose a new keyboard, would probably be the SD7... but i am convinced used keyboards often times are a wiser chocie..

Basic : Roland EA7/Korg PA600
these 2 keyboards have it all.. lots of direct controll.. witouth the high end Tyros 5 features, Yamaha falls behind Korg and Roland when it comes to soundquallity.. both however have lower keybed quallity, which makes me doubt myc choice...

Entre level : Roland G70
Incredible good sounds even at this age... combined with the best 76 keys ever made, the best starter keyboard for your kids. at an acceptable price..

Module : Varranger/Audya4
Soon Varranger will support Audya audio styles, thats when i will bite for Varranger... but right now, i would choose the audya4 its way ahead of the other hardware modules, even the SD40

Some choices are quite hard to make...

S970

My prime requirement for any instrument is realism & control.

Top of the list has to be the Wersi Sonic, as it is constantly evolving and with VST can do pretty much anything you want, it also has many combinations of keyboards/pedals, with the only exception being the lack of a Hammer Action Key Bed Option.

2nd is the Yamaha STAGEA ELS-02 which also has various keyboard/pedal options, (Only available via import though) as well as great sounds, styles & price.

Both of the above also allow you play without easy play features if you so wish, and still sound real. (It also looks like you are really playing)

3rd is a no brainer, it’s the Korg PA4x, as it is a complete instrument with great control and screen. (The competition while having some features that the PA4x doesn’t, feel and sound like old instruments that have had bits tacked on to try and keep them current)

Midrange has got to be the Ketron SD7, as it has all the features needed with great sounds, styles, control & screen.

2nd is the Wersi Pegasus Wing, as while getting on a bit now, its software based so could be easily updated in the future, plus it has a great screen and real time drawbar controls, not forgetting the VB3 Hammond Emulator as standard. (It is also the only midrange arranger with genuine synth engines on board)

3rd is used Yamaha T4 or new S970, as while there not the most realistic, (Particularly the Styles) it is a complete instrument that any home user would be happy to show off to the neighbours. (Not forgetting the great Yamaha Family feel)

Budget would be a used Korg PA800 or a new PA600, with a used Roland G70 also giving you a 76 note keyboard option.

Module would be a Wersi OAS expander, or a 2 in 1 laptop with vArranger software and Steinberg’s Halion + Halion sonic VST for sounds, combined with a matching audio/midi interface.

For a simple plug & play unit, then it has to be the Roland BK7.

I always find these threads interesting, as there is just so much diversity out there.

Bill

Don't forget to factor in reliability, cost, availability, etc., and ask is it appropriate for MY needs.
PA4X pretty much stands alone for me when you consider these criteria.

This is only till the NEXT NEW Arranger is released..... just sayin...

All of the ones I've owned in the past were my favorites.

Gary

(1) PA 4X - My current favorite....gig with it about 3 times a week since I got it early July. I'm still learning.

(2) Tyros 4 - Sold to a friend

(3) S970 - excellent keyboard...currently gathering dust in my closet.

I'm still in the beginning phase with the PA 4X. I'm pretty sure I'll be gigging with it exclusively this year.

By the way Bachus,

The Tyros 4 should be listed in your TOTL arrangers group.

I do think the PA 4X is more of a performance arranger...that said the Tyros 4 is a great arranger, anyway you cut it...as I'm guessing is the Tyros 5.

Its not based on options... Sure its a totl arranger the tyros4... But used you can buy them for just over 2000 euro's....

The instruments are categorised in price range.. Because i would guess even the Roland G70 is still a ToTl arranger...


It struck me tough, not many people are prepared to buy used instruments, while often they have stll a lot to offer compared to new instruments... A good example would be tyros4 vs psr S970.. I think i would prefer the Tyros4

let's be honest...
TOTL/MOTL means nothing it's the players talent that makes all the difference...

Ditto!

This.

Thats very much true...

But then, isnt making music also about having fun?
And arent there any other people that choose the instrument they can have the most fun with?

For example Don M, who is incredibly happy with the PA4X because it offers everything he ever needs... where he can make all cheaper boards sound almost as good, would he be as happy playing them as the pa4x?

99.9% of Arranger players are home players, (Pro players hardly register) who because of a day job or other interests cannot devote enough time to achieve 12 hours a day practice, so like having the instrument do some of the work for them to give them inspiration and happiness. (Also everybody is different in what they want from a keyboard, and the resources available to them)

If you look at the poll, it is about the instruments, not the player.

Bill

The dwindling choices thru the years in arrangers says it all..

Yes, everyone is different, and we have different priorities in life. I always wanted to be connected to music in every way I could. However, I couldn't always do what I wanted and provide for my family, so I had to settle for being a weekend warrior with limited money available for instruments. I remember having a D-20 with a Casio 101 fitted with tongue depressors for a bass pedal.

Nowadays, with limited time left, I will not accept anything less than the best for my needs. For me, my PA4x, Audya 76, and S970 covers all the bases nicely.

Bernie

My favorite high end Arranger is the Yamaha Tyros4 which I've owned for a few years and purchased prior to retirement. I still get a contact high when playing it. Rock solid Operating System and super easy intuitive navigation while playing and/or recording. The FSX keyboard action is just about perfect for all around play...I sometimes MIDI a digital piano with 88 weighted keys for the occasional solo piano piece.

I have no plans for getting anything else as my needs are very well met with this instrument.

Best investment in a keyboard instrument I have ever made.


Ian

Good to see you posting again, Ian.

Bernie

my top 3

Tyros 5
tyros 5
tyros 5

Oh boy... not touching THIS one!

ditto it never ends well....lol

Cant go wrong, choice is a personall thing isnt it?

Not on THIS board .

chas

Hi Bachus
I think for me, it's more to follow with favourite brand, rather than favourite keyboard.
Late 80's to 2004, I luved the Technics range, had about 8 of them over that period including the synth ,arranger module and arranger piano.
Also had a couple of Roland's a Yamaha and and the korg i2 ( there first arranger) during that period.

Post Technics, tried PSR, Ketron and thankfully rediscovered korg ( pa800) .
I think korg for me has taken over where technics left off.

Sure glad I only do what the voices in my head tell me to do! Yesterday, they said "go sailing you old fart - the weather is beautiful." Just got home a few minutes ago, fixed a tall margaretta and read through many of the forum posts that have appeared since I left. The entire time I have been gone, two songs got into my head and would not go away. Tomorrow, I think I'll fire up the keyboard and record them. Senility is a lot more fun than you can imagine!

Play the keyboard you love,

Gary

Thanks Bernie, and a special thanks for your emails.

A friend of mine said to me..."People who wait for retirement to start living, sometimes find out that they have waited much too long."

I've been lucky having jobs that weren't work...I guess that why they call what we do, "playing".

Retirement is when time is no longer money...I’m as free as the wind...with about the same income.

I remember our old buddy, Scott Yee asked me a few years ago, "How will you know when you are a senior?" I said, "With a little bit of luck, I don't think I'll ever know."

Ian

Ian, great post; lots of good wisdom. Don’t go away again I enjoy reading what you post.

Maybe your posts have something to do with the cold air. (grin)

John C.