Just wanted to add my opinion on the T2... For some users it offers some great features. I really wanted to be blown away and I don't wish to rain on anyone's purchase or start a flame war...To each their own. But after playing one for a week I have decided to return the Tyros 2 and buy another original Tyros. It is just too expensive... heck an ES7 is less and I think even the 88 key ES8 is too.

The 'semi-weighted' keys are better but are not that big an improvement. I miss the floppy drive and as old as that technology is I have loads of disks, etc. The Vocal Harmonizer and mic processor has not been touched. In some cases there are less instruments in the bank like in the drum section. I don't care for the new button layout and the T1 seems simpler to operate The SA voices are good but will take some time to master and from an overall audio standpoint I had my T1 and the T2 set up side by side and playing back SMFs they sound and I can tweak the T1 to sound nearly identical to the much more expensive T2. Unfortunately I was unable to use the T2 voices on the T1 in the user 'custom'' bank. It would be nice to be able to use any Yamaha voice interchangeably. On a real plus side the music stand brackets are much easier to install... the designer at Yamaha who created the screw in strand on the original Tyros should be SHOT! Ever done it in a hurry in a dark nightclub at 1 in the morning? The LCD screen was sharp and clear with no lines, etc. But I like the lyric/score as handled on the T1 better.

Further from a style /design standpoint its obvious to me the Euro folks had lots to do with it. From the design to the more heavy duty buttons it feels very German like to me. I also like my KBs in BLACK as it matches other gear and makes the stage look more uniform as well as easier to hide scratches, etc.

Further still a real case could be made that MANY of the improvements in the T2 _should_ have been or should be in a 2.0 Tyros OS upgrade which I feel should be free but would be willing to pay for. The bottom line for many is that users were promised some of these problems would be fixed and/or that new features would be added to the T1. One can only hope that Yamaha will follow thru and add/fix some stuff with the _original_ Tyros but I won't hold my breath. But failure to do so will affect future purchasing decisions by myself and others I'm sure. OEM can not expect folks to invest $2500+ in a KB that's dead-ended in 2-3 years. One of the advantages in having a s'ware OS is being able to fix and add features fairly easily.

I'm sure also that for some players, especially those from a piano background, might find the extra cost may be worth it but I really think for many it won't. The hype has been waaaaay overblown IMHO and some have approached a new level of Shilldom (ya know who ya are!) But notice how it has only been a relative few vocal users.... and power users who have to have the latest and greatest on the bleeding edge of technology type stuff.

I predict any new T1's still in the dealer pipeline to fly off shelves once more users have the chance to work with the T2 first hand AND look at the cost. I also think used T1's will hold their value well for some time to come. We now have 3 Tyros in our family and we love 'em. To each their own I guess but 4200 is a whole lot of money!

But for me the two main things this has really brought into focus for me is that, like Gary, I think that it's really the person who can 'entertain' and not just play music that will always get the lion's share of the gigs and dollars and also that technology alone no matter how good can not replace music chops.

To those able to afford a new T2... more power to ya and knock yourself out! To those considering an arranger in general... I say the original Tyros still provides mega-bang for the buck. I think Yamaha would do well to cut the price a bit on the original Tyros and continue to make, sell and service them as a high end entry level work station. In the meantime I may even buy a fourth one! Just thought I would add a different perspective and one that unfortunatly is perhaps not as positve as others here. Yet still I have multiple Yamaha products and think they offer max bang for the buck.

No flames please and
Thanks for listening!

Play on and Happy New Year to all

Tommy


[This message has been edited by TP123 (edited 01-07-2006).]

[This message has been edited by TP123 (edited 01-07-2006).]