Well, although the frustration factor is higher for some than others (as I said, I EXPECT to tweak anything, as most of the power users of any arranger admit to doing), Always have, always will. If I didn't want to tweak, I would have stayed with what I already had!

But the frustration I may feel wouldn't improve by a move to Tyros2, unfortunately. I HAVE to have 76 keys, and really am not satisfied with any of the 76 note workstations's key-feel either. The G70 is just THAT good.......

While many criticize the G70 for it's OOTB sound and styles (myself included) it IS fixable, something that no amount of tweaking is going to do for the Tyros's key-feel. The OS navigation on the G70 is also something of paramount importance to me - I am in a lot of different musical situations all the time, and ease of setting things up on the fly makes or breaks a keyboard's usefulness - and once again, no amount of tweaking is going to turn two buttons into a slider.

There are many things that, IMHO, ARE superior on the G70 to any other arranger. OOTB perfection is not one of them, but is not my most important consideration. A punchy, in your face sound, as close to a live rhythm section as possible is probably my first consideration, something I've yet to hear from the Tyros2. It's just a little too polite and polished for me. The SA sounds are to die for, but the rhythm section is where your power comes from.

As I said, I usually play with others, rather than solo, so drums that don't need anyone else to 'back off' a bit makes it easier on my guitarists. Few are capable of the compressed dynamic that most arrangers have, and there's nothing worse than having a guitar solo swamp your rhythm section! It's usually better to have them struggle to keep up with your drums, something they are more used to from live playing!!

The piano and Hammond sounds are also of paramount importance to me (as they should be for ANY serious player) and once again (IMHO), game, set and match to the G70. Nothing beats being able to grab a real slider and tweak your registration while you play, something I'm familiar with from my B3 days. Buttons just don't cut it, one reason I've never got a Nord, no matter how good they sound.

To my ears, probably the most unbalanced section of the G70's sound-set comes in the basses, which offer few that match each other for low end content. It's possible to set up one at a time to work well (I do 80% of my playing LH bass with the Wild Ac Bass upright sound, which to my ears balances the drums the best without tweaking) but if you want to switch around quickly, there's work to be done. I think that a lot of the 'boomy' comments come from styles that use some of the 'fatter' bass sounds, exacerbated by having the Mastering section already set to fatten thinner styles.

Rule #1....... Turn OFF the Mastering Tools EQ and Multi-band compressor if you have a decent PA. It just doesn't need it, and creates more problems than it solves. Your board's EQ is probably better, and at least visible all the time, something that a hidden page of EQ isn't. It's all too easy to forget you have 6db of 200Hz boost if you can't see it, and then find yourself going 'why is everything so tubby?'.

The basses CAN be tweaked by inserting an EQ on them and balancing against others that you use (it's a waste of the insert, but if it makes everything gel.....) or sometimes just a simple adjustment of the filter cutoff and resonance will do. So...... ultimately fixable.

It is a little sad that, while many have posted positively on the 76 key-feel, basic 'live' sound quality, ease of navigation of the OS, outstanding piano and Hammond sound, and many other things that the G70 excels at, many bail on it due to stuff that CAN be fixed, something that can't be done to improve other arrangers' weak points, unless their manufacturers come out with better models.

I find it better to think of the G70 as a workstation with arranger capabilities, rather than the other way around. Despite it's high work factor, something at least I'M prepared to do, I have yet to see anything that comes close to it's overall usefulness and ease of operation, at least for the way I work.


BTW, kbrkr, why on earth are you interested in hearing what the users and reviewers here at SZ got to say about the G70? A bigger hotbed of uncritical reportage is hard to find! Those who love their Tyros2 generally haven't got a positive thing to say about G70 and vice versa (although, if you actually read my posts, you'll see I'm NOT one of those!). The only opinion you should trust is your own. Play them all, make up your own mind, and then come back here and laugh at statements like 'Tyros2 crushes the competition' or 'the G70 is the superior arranger' and try to post a balanced review (and be prepared to be flamed!)........