Mustard, if you had a lot of disposable income, I would recommend getting the best board possible.

But you have been saving a long time. I think that for a beginner, you would get so much out of a PSR3000 or used Tyros or Technics, and you can save the change for something else.

I know it's off topic, but make sure you don't blow your whole wad and then not be sorry that you don't have $$ for

1. a car when yours breaks down
2. retirement
3. some other essential.

I have a wayward brother who is a beginning/intermediate guitarist. So I am looking through the lens of my experience of him. He has limited disposable income. He spent $3000 on a custom made guitar that sounds no better than my $1000 hand made Yamaha LL-400.

He makes a lot of purchases like this. Always wanting the best. But he's 47 and doesn't own a home - doesn't even have a car (He's an extreme case). Doesn't have a penny saved for retirement.

If I were a beginner and had limited disposable income, I would look at other income priorities before buying the best arranger keyboard that, with my limited skills, I will probably not enjoy any more than I would enjoy a PSR3000 or used high end arranger. I would save the rest of the money for something else. Perhaps it would be something essential that I would need. Or perhaps it would be the eventuality that my keyboard skills improve and I am ready to purchase a high end arranger keyboard. Perhaps when this time comes, there will be a model out that really blows the current models away.

Beakybird