Originally posted by Tom Cavanaugh:

"It's the "Same old S***) just a different day."

You're right Tom. Same old 'Suit' just a different model number i.e. "3" instead of 2 or 1.

Now to be honest, having listened to the T3 demos again in a real quiet environment, I have re-evaluated my opinion of the Guitar and AC Piano demos and give them a general (not an enthusiastic, just a general) thumbs up. We have to remember though that these demos, as member "Ensnareyou" previously pointed out, were done most likely on Cubase 4 by Yamaha sequence programming experts, thus providing nuances and realism quite possibly NOT attainable by a real live person actually playing the keyboard. OTOH I could be wrong and the 'quality' i.e. (every nuance and tonal reproduction) on the demos might be able to be replicated on the keys themselves. Time will tell all but the 'general' rule of thumb is the factory demos apply methods of sound reproduction that are generally NOT fully available to the person playing the keyboard live i.e. "apart from a computer and a sophisticated Sequencer like e.g. - Cubase 4, Sonar, etc. Plus the ultra expensive and pristine recording hardware Yamaha has at its disposal used to record the demos."

Regarding the Drums, even though Yamaha is claiming the Drums are all "new", nowhere have they stated that they are "much improved" or even "improved" at all, over the Tyros2. Given the fact that the four demos we have so far on the T3 don't showcase these supposedly "new" Drums in a demonstrable way seems to suggest that Yamaha is trying to keep them "out of sight out of mind" of the public, perhaps because of their less than stellar nature?

PS: When I said a while back that I would be the first in line to buy a T3 if it indeed had 76 keys, I should have predicated my statement with "all things considered". In other words, = IF it had 'excellent' drum kits, IF it had a 'real' Sampler, IF it had a 'decent' Vocalizer, IF the majority of sounds were indeed up to snuff, etc., etc., etc. >> But since we know for certain that the T3 will only be made in the 61 key variety it will unfortunately not make it on to my next arranger short list anyway. And we can all thank Yamaha for that obvious missed opportunity and, in my opinion, error in judgement - to the roughly 50% of arranger players out there who would rather have a 76 key (or better) solution available to them and will have to look elsewhere for their totl arranger keyboard playing needs. I'm sure Yamaha is tickled pink about that prospect too, since they obviously showed no willingness to meet that viable market segment with a 76 key option.

Best,
Mike