Well! By an amazing co-inky-dence, I stumbled on a keyboard with ALL the features I listed somewheres else (cept it's a little heavy) for $200 under my stated goal of $1K! It's the Suzuki SS-100, and you can get it from 8th Street Music ( http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=21307&Category=Digital_Pianos ) for $799 including stand and bench. Here are the specs:
http://www.suzukimusic.com/education/pages/portable_keyboards.html
88 Keys, New Natural Balanced Advanced Hammer Action
3D and Stereo Instrument Samples, 64 Note polyphony, 128 GM Instrument Sampled presets, Tuning, Transpose, Metronome, MIDI, Demos (10), Layer, Split, Digital Reverb, Digital Chorus, Song
Controls: Master Volume, Accompaniment Volume, Pitch Bend, Modulation Wheel
Touch Controls: Soft, Normal, Hard
Master Tune: +/- 50 Cents
Metronome/Rhythm: 40 to 240 BPM / 100 Plus Accompaniment Patterns
Accompaniment: Sync Stop, Start/Stop, Intro, End, Fill-in, Variation
Recorder: 3 Track, 4 Song Memory
Pedals: Sustain (Vol. Optional)
Speakers: 5" x 2
Power Output: 15W x 2
Connectors: Headphone Jack (2), Audio Out Stereo, Pedal Connector, DC In, MIDI In/Out, Sustain Pedal, Volume Pedal
Finish: Light Walnut with Silver Accents
Dimensions: 54 1/2"W x 12 3/4"D x 5 1/2"H
Weight: 65 lbs (piano only)
Included Hardware: Sustain Pedal, Music Rack, A/C Adapter, Owner's Manual

Here's my misgivings: 1) there seems to be some confusion about the polyphony. Specs on the site say 64, but I found a copy of the manual on the internet, and it says "Polyphony: 32". With 64 poly this looks like a great deal. With 32, it's just fair.

After much further digging, I unearthed their EX-100 "sound expander" which appears to give any MIDI controller the same sounds and effects as the SS-100. It also seems to have the same polyconfusury. Most ads (eg. 8th Street, for $149) mention 32, but it says 64 on the site: http://www.suzukimusic.com/keyboards/accessories_dp700.html . Misgiving #2) Is it even possible they did a decent job on the 128 GM voices with only 2MB of sample ROM?

Has anyone seen or heard this thing? I even found a place in Chicago that might have it on display, but man that's half a day shot driving plus about $30 just to park downtown.

"I'mmmmm always chasing rainnnnn bowwwwws ..." ;-)

Rickideemumble

It sounds horrible..... and I'm an authorized dealer.....

I would weight for the new Yamaha boards to come out.... very , very soon...

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Ketron, Yamaha, Casio,Korg
http://www.baltimoremusiccenter.com
1-866-348-8876

suzuki..manuki...panuki...shanuki.....blah blah...blah.....Roland is the heart of the musical industry.

1.Roland
2.Korg
3.Yamaha

Thanks, Dan01. That's pretty much what I'm doing probly. But in the mean time I'm gonna drive everyone crazy with stupid questions.

Somebody on another board said it was on a par with Casio two or three generations ago.

My suspicion on the polyphony is the 64 voices is equal to 32 on a Yamaha. You get 64 wav forms, but 32 stereo notes.

Now if Roland is the heart, is Korg the soul and Yamaha the brains?

Thx,
Rick

I would not waste my money on the SS-100. It is horrible sounding and the arrangement section does not even recognize the simplest chords. It may look like the Yamaha, but don't be fooled by the cover.

Have you heard about an upgrade for the PSR3000?
Starkeeper