Didn't play the Korg on jobs - just tried it out for a couple weeks. A good friend bought it, said he couldn't make it sound right, and neither could I. To me, the pianos were thin, tinny sounding and no matter how hard I worked with them, they still sounded awful, though DonM says there's a huge difference between them on the 600 and the 1000. Same with the guitars - just didn't provide me with those incredible Yamaha effects that came standard with my S-950.

My friend took it back to GC, got a refund and ordered a S970 from Frank. Says it's the best sounding keyboard right out of the box that he ever owned. I agree that it really sounded much better than the PA600, at least to MY ears. Am I a bit Yamaha prejudiced? Yep, most likely true, though I have sure owned a lot of other arranger keyboards in my 30 years on stage, including a couple Rolands, a Korg I-3, and even some lesser known brands. Like DNJ, I kept coming back to the Yamaha - I just liked the way they sounded better than the other brands.

As for the PA systems, well, I've sure went through a lot of them in my career. Started off with an old Crate 100-watt guitar amp, then graduated to a bunch of Peavey's, mostly the ungodly heavy KB series, but also had a 600-watt stereo system with a couple big poles to hold up some 78-pound, 15-inch speakers and a big sub on the floor. Lord I never wish to go back to those days. Also had a pair of Barbetta Sona 32SC, which were lighter and punched out 450-watts each. I then went with the Bose L1 PAS and later to the Bose L1 Compacts, which were what I was using when I retired. The PA 600 was used both on the Barbettas and the Bose L1 Compact. Just never got the quality out of the PA600 that I got with the Yamaha systems. Yes, the PA600 had some punch, when properly tuned, but it lacked in so many other areas, IMO.

Whatever floats your boat!

Gary

Thanks , it sounds like you have it a good try. Like you, I generally prefer Yamaha, but I’ve heard some great stuff on the Korg too, especially from Don M, Tony, UD, to name a few. I truly believe great music can be made on any of the current choices of keyboards.

And without an arranger keyboard also.

This is how I made a part time living when I was much younger.

Gary

Gary, That kid is young enough to now be your grandson

So you are a lefty?
Eric

Paul, thank you for the nice compliment ...
For a long time I've said " the beauty of sound is in the ear of the beholder" ...
As Gary himself said, he is a bit Yamaha biased ... Sometimes I think if they put a KORG skin over a Yamaha he wouldn't be happy with the sound ...
Personally, I couldn't get past the key feel of the yammies I tried ...

Eric, no I am right handed, always chorded the guitar with my left hand, though. I think the photo got reversed when it was copied from a print by by my daughter.

Steve, that was 1962, the year I married to Carol. I was 21 year old when that photo was taken. That photo was taken during a private party and before I had a mic, though I was still singing at the time. I purchased a Sure mic just a few weeks later because I felt the audiences could not hear me as well as they should have. Ironically, I was a skinny kid of just 145 pounds back then, but my voice was quite a bit lower than it was when I retired. Usually, the voice goes a bit lower as we age.

As for the Yamaha key feel, I never had a problem with any arranger keyboard feel, and I played a piano when I was just 10 years old. It's just one of those things that never seemed to make a difference to me.

Just another fun day in Paradise,

Gary

Donny, this is the best I can do.
What would a movie be without music? Music adds a dimension to our emotion. As a home player my needs have changed. When I switched from Technics to a Korg Pa800 I was excited, the bass and drums were right up front, the sound of my music went from good to fantastic, but here in my music studeo there are no dancers, no need for push and drive.

My opinion;
Yamaha has a quality delicate sound. Like many have said, “it sounds like a fine CD”. If I play a waltz, classical music, or some of the old standards they sound better on Yamaha. Yes, there is an EQ and changing of instruments on Korg, but then I am trying to make the keyboard into something it is not. It simply comes down to what am I used to listening to.

Strong point; As I age my push and drive are slowing down. I am now ready for something different to satisfy my needs.
John C.

John, I think you nailed it. I feel the same about my S970 compared to my Pa4X. The only difference is that I am still performing and prefer my Korg, unless I am in small intimate surroundings where my Yamaha is a refreshing change.

Bernie