Earl, as I have told you many times in the past, the 3000 is a real workhorse of a keyboard, has a huge number of features and really sounds great. It served me so very well for many, many years.

All the best,

Gary

Yes Gary the 3000 is everything you have said it is. I really am having no regrets. I just temporally got caught up in the new gear lust. I will move up eventually if I stay healthy enough. I'm still working in a book of tunes to play out of. I've got 27 in it now. I need lyric and chord sheets large enough for me to see. So I print them out in large fonts and put in notebook for use on the stand. Really no need for a new kb when I can't perform out with what I have because I haven't been able to spend the time necessary to get myself ready. I hope to dedicate more time to this in the future. I am also convinced that seeing as most people don't use 80% of the kb's capabilities I have a lot of area left to discover. I aim on pursuing using vst's with the MIDI functions. I have a couple of super vst's that would add a great deal of sound to the 3000 if I can set it up to play them. I also have a couple of ongoing projects I want to get to. If I use a DAW the are more then enough sounds on the unit to create great pieces. Just need to sit down & work with it. Will eventually upgrade. No doubt but I really can wait for the next great unit for now.

Hi Earl,
I also have a PSR-3000, and like you, I thought of moving on up to a s670. But now you got me wondering...

Keep in mind, guys, the PSR-3000 was well ahead of it's time when it was released, then the OS was updated to 1.8, which improved several features. It took me several years to discover all the features, and though I'm fairly proficient with the 3000, I'm equally confident there are things I did not discover about the inner workings of the keyboard.

As for as the overall sound, some are superior to the newer voices, such as the Growl Sax, some of the guitars, and the vibes. I ended up modifying the Grand Piano voice, posted it on the various forums and it has been downloaded several thousand times by users who claim it is their Go To piano voice for all Yamaha arranger keyboards they have owned, including the Tyros and Genos.

That said, there has been significant improvements in some of the voices, such as the newer SA voices and of course, the audio styles, which are superb by every stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately, the vast majority of our audiences never seen to hear these things, therefore, the only person that usually hears these things are the musician/entertainer.

Of course, playing skills and technique has a lot to do with what comes out of the the PA system, hence, players like DonM could use just about any arranger keyboard, or a comb with wax paper stretched over it, and entertain an audience just about anywhere. Keep in mind, though, that he was born with an arranger keyboard at his fingertips, he spent lots of time working with the various Operating Systems and get the most out of each and every aspect or feature he has delved into. And, that, my friends, is what it takes.

Good luck on whatever you decide upon,

Gary

I've been looking hard at the new Bontempi.

Laugh and make fun all you want but I learned how to play the 3 octave keyboard on a Magness chord organ. I voiced all of my left hand chords to fit into the one octave on left leaving two octaves to play the melody. That's all I had for over a year. Then
I purchased a Story & Clark 76R organ for $1200.00 Small loan of 62.50 @month. I figured just a couple of gigs a month and it was paid for.

All in fun Earl. The PSR 3000 was one of the very few Yamahas I didn't have.
I had a 2000, and used it for several years. Then I got the 2100, which had a few improvements, and I think was the first Yammy to have software OS.
I didn't get another Yamaha until S900, then S910, then S950, then S970. Each had just enough improvements to make you want to move up, but none were really significant until the S970.
Before the 2000, I had just about every Yamaha model from PSR6100 forward.
Before that were organs.
Also over the years I have had five Ketrons, five Rolands and five Korgs, some of them more than once.
I've now reached the point where I will NEVER buy another arranger. Unless they make something new.

I think my list could be a bit longer by a few lol

DonM, you sound like a happy man. And with a PA4x under your fingers you've got the best.

They will be making something new, Don. I hear the new one still on the drawing boards will be able to read your thoughts and react on demand! LOL! I'm still amazed at the 970 I was able to steal from you! Hope your aches and pains and all those other discomforts associated with geezers of our description are subsiding. I actually think I'm going to live! LOL!