PREEMPTIVE CAVEAT : I have NOT tried a GENOS, nor do I have any desire to, and I really have no opinion about it ...
Nor am I directing this post towards any particular individual(s) ...
I just find it very interesting how when a new KB comes out, we pretty much know what side of the fence SOME people - not ALL - are going to be on, as chas said earlier ... I also find interesting the way people will base their opinion on the videos posted on line - if it is a 'professionally' produced video, folks will most likely say 'wow, that KB sounds great", but if it is a video 'produced' by an Average Joe, where the KB sounds are not great, there is criticism that the video was not properly recorded ... Most likely, the sounds that Average Joe produced are probably closer to the sounds that most KB players are going to produce as many of us don't have the skill level or equipment to duplicate what the professionals create ...
How many players here can HONESTLY say that their KB sounds as good as the manufacturers videos, or even as good as the demo sounds resident on our keyboards? ... I would venture to guess very few ...
Now, I don't know if Gary has had 'hands on' experience with a GENOS, or not - I don't remember him saying one way or the other - but if he has and he thinks it is the greatest KB ever, then good for him ...
I'm not 'picking on' Deane, but I am using part of his quote because he has recently owned and played a number of different keyboards:
(with emphasis added by me)... The voices are pretty good and the styles are suitable for most music. The old styles that have been re-voiced are also nice. It would have been nice if Yamaha had replaced them but that is the way it goes. I upgraded from a Tyros 4 and find a very big improvement in sound overall.
Yamaha did add some nice features to the Genos that will make gigging easier and song set organization easier. ...
Deane
To ME, that is not a ringing endorsement for a 'Standard Bearer' KB priced in the $4000 to $5000 range, but Deane seems happy with his choice and good for him - although he did also say that the GENOS would not be used for ALL gigs, but would be used for 'special gigs' because of certain styles that it has ...
As for ME, I have a keyboard for every day of the week, and every gig I play - the KORG PA900 - Is it the 'best ever'? I doubt it, but it IS the best for me right now because it is PAID FOR, and as long as someone isn't playing a Pa4x or a GENOS right next to me, neither I nor my audience will know the difference ...