Great review Bluezplayer. You're right, your post did vanish. I wrote one of my rare replys that took me hours to compose, but it must have been such a masterpiece it blew the whole damn topic including yours, mine and others off the forum. I'll try to recall it but of course I won't be able to duplicate the very creative original (tongue in cheek).

I also have a Yamaha PSR740 that I have had l0 months (but was gone 7 months of that time). I was a very poor organ player years ago and decided to try a portable keyboard, so I am just a beginner in this area. I had been reading about the Casio MZ2000 and was really intrigued with the organ drawbar sliders. Although there are dealers in this area that sell Casio, no one had the high end (for Casio) MZ2000. George Kaye, whom I bought the PSR 740 from, posted he had seen one at NAMM was very impressed. He is not presently a Casio dealer. Anyway, three weeks ago I ordered a MZ2000 from Music123.com ($1099.00 total) with a 30 day money back trial. Let me state that in no way am I dissatified with the 740, I want to be clear on that. But, the only way to try a MZ2000 was to order one. I still have 7 days to return it.

Bluezplayer, your review is much more detailed and complete than I could give. My eyes glaze over after page 20 of the owners manual of either manual. My report is through the eyes of a rookie hobby player, but I bet there are others reading this who can relate. I hope this helps.

I DO like the organ drawbar sliders on the MZ2000. The 740 has organ drawbars but they are onscreen and I don't find it easy to navigate. The MZ2000 has sliders I can actually put my hands on. I like that. That may not be important to most people, but it is to me. I do not know of another keyboard in this price range with that feature. It is NOT a Hammond B-3, but is not $8,000 either.

The voices and styles are comparable with either, it is a matter of choice. Neither is as good as a high end arranger. When hooked up to a home stereo or keyboard amp they bridge the gap however. If I had to make a choice, I would favor the 740 on both styles and voices, but again very close.


Ease of use. I love the keypad (like a push button telephone) of the PSR 740. For example if I want a banjo sound, I hit voice Rl then #130 on the keypad, if I want bluegrass I hit style then #097 on the keypad and before you know it I am blowing out a bad rendition of the Kingston Trio's 1950's "The MTA" ( yeah, I AM old). You can scroll to that with either keyboard but this is easier. I am surprised higher end keyboards do not have this feature (although I do seem to recall George Kaye mentioning the new Solton SDl does). Advantage 740.

Keyboard feel. The MZ2000 feels like a more expensive keyboard. The 740 does not.

Cosmetics. I could care less what keyboards look like (car styles yes, keyboards no)as mine will never leave my house unless I move. For those who do care, the MZ2000 IS sturdier, bigger, and more macho looking.

I have been considering using both keyboards as a two manual organ, left hand on one board, right on another. I even bought a Bespeco two-tiered stand. I haven't found the correct adjustment with the right amount of gap between the two to do this and still sit down on my adjustable bench. How do you pros do that? Yeah, I know, I know, you stand when you are performing, but I am never going to perform and I am too old and lazy to stand. I guess just get a taller adjustable bench-does it ever end? Then when I get drunk and want to dazzle my friends with my newfound musical ability, I can fall from a higher and wobblier bench and really knock myself out!

Ideally, if I could find a 76 key keyboard with the features of both these keyboards and not cost twice what these do combined, that would make my life a lot simpler and I am simple. I have 7 days, any suggestions?

Regards,
Jack

P.S. By the way, did you notice how I did not recommend one keyboard over the other? It is not because I am clever, rather I can't decide and am greedy and will probably keep both. Unless a 76 key comes along, then------------?