Alex,

Thanks for a thoughtful response. I don't need the CD burner either, and I'm not sold on the idea of a touchscreen either. Really, I'm not certain at all that I will consider replacing my PA80 with the PA1X anyway, mainly because I don't feel a need to replace the PA80 at all. I'm still happy with it. I tried the Tyros out too and I really like a lot of it, but not enough that it would be more comfortable for me to use live than the PA80 is. I'd have to trade the 2k or the PA80 to get one, and I really don't want to let either go.

The joystick is a big deal to me. I emulate a lot of guitar, and I just get a better feel with it. Which moves me to sounds. Both the Yamaha stuff and PA80 have great sounds for me, and in some areas ( for me ) the Tyros / 2k / Motif shine over the Korg stuff, especially those flutes, and sax / horn sounds. I just think overall that I like some of the "basic" rock sounds a little better overall on the PA80 than on the Yamaha arrangers. That is, drums, bass, lead guitars, organs.. especially the the harder edge guitar sounds. Now on the Motif.. the bass sounds and drums kick @&&... lol. So do the electric pianos and synth sounds.

In fairness though, I've done a lot of editing on the PA80 and have edited and combined a lot of the panel voices into performances. Perhaps I could go as far on the Tyros and customize to what I like, but the 2000 just doesn't have the same capability. Still, the 2000 has some excellent qualities that make me wanna keep it as a very nice companion to the PA80,.

Really, I'm set with arrangers for now. the real question for me is whether the Motif ES and the additonal polyphony and features make it worth the upgrade. My preliminary guess is ..yes, but I want one in my hands first. I'll give the PA1x a look for sure, but I don't know that I'm really interested in it.

AJ

[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 08-08-2003).]