Leigh Wilbraham

[guitpic1]

If Yamaha isn't paying him to promote Genos 2...

They should be 😊

[Bill]

Hi

I have to agree.  However what I like is his independence, he would not be the same if he was gagged.

The best one for me is.  https://youtu.be/ZIGvkO1KMok?si=BHNSeVoztmyz2wec

I have to say that after watching the Peter Baartman's video from Holland I had my doubts about the G2.

Bill

[alans]

Yes ,fully agree,but he did admit he had some help from Yamaha to get a Genos 2 rapidly,I much prefer Leigh's videos now than some of Yamaha's product promoters.Leigh sits at the keyboard and sees it through eyes of the buying public.Well done Leigh

Alan

[Danny1972]

Yep been watching his superb videos. One after the other !! Sometimes I don't always agree with his opinions but that's fine and healthy to have different opinions, but most of the time I do agree with him. There's no doubt he's a great performer. He's reviewed a great range of keyboards as well.

[whitey]

 It was only:Leigh Wilbraham videos that sold it to me. I thought martin harris did nothing at all to promote Genos 2.

[Bill]

Yes ,fully agree,but he did admit he had some help from Yamaha to get a Genos 2 rapidly,

Alan

Hi Alan

It was Scan Computers that helped Leigh get the revise keyboard quickly NOT Yamaha.

Regards

Bill

[alans]

I still enjoy watching Michel Voncken' videos from the days of the Tyros 2,3 and 4 and some of the earlier PSR models,he always seemed so enthusiastic  about the products he was demonstrating

[alans]

Hi Alan

It was Scan Computers that helped Leigh get the revise keyboard quickly NOT Yamaha.

Regards

Bill

Hi Bill

I might have heard it wrong but I seem to think he said he had some  help after a phone call to Yamaha,or maybe he said  someone from Scan Computers had called Yamaha,he even mentioned a name of someone at Yamaha

Alan

[andyg]

No doubt about it, Leigh's videos have shown us a lot of styles and sounds that the official demos haven't done - they've been concentrating on the new features. Fair enough, they're important, but the proverbial 'main in the street', the home player who will buy a Genos 2, wants to hear what kind of music they might make on it. Well done Leigh!

I remember making a similar, but much shorter, video for Bonners when the Genos came out, showcasing the sounds that most of their customers would want to hear.

[Danny1972]

No doubt about it, Leigh's videos have shown us a lot of styles and sounds that the official demos haven't done - they've been concentrating on the new features. Fair enough, they're important, but the proverbial 'main in the street', the home player who will buy a Genos 2, wants to hear what kind of music they might make on it. Well done Leigh!

I remember making a similar, but much shorter, video for Bonners when the Genos came out, showcasing the sounds that most of their customers would want to hear.

It was actually his videos that made me decide to go for a Genos2. I will admit, I was quite critical of the G2 after seeing the official Yamaha stuff, and even worse the travesty of a certain unofficial video that came before the Yamaha event, with even some other established companies from the well known French company that did a Genos1vsGenos2 which somehow made the Genos1 sound better!!!!

So I do thank Leigh for showing the what the Genos2 can actually do. Very impressive and I think Yamaha should thank him.

[rodrigo.b]

I still enjoy watching Michel Voncken' videos from the days of the Tyros 2,3 and 4 and some of the earlier PSR models,he always seemed so enthusiastic  about the products he was demonstrating

I miss Michael Voncken! 

[Danny1972]

I miss Michael Voncken! 

Indeed. I loved his demonstrations. Even back in the day when demonstrating the Tyros2, even watching it now it's fantastic. 

[alans]

Indeed. I loved his demonstrations. Even back in the day when demonstrating the Tyros2, even watching it now it's fantastic.

Not sure what Michel is doing now,I understand Michel was released from the employ of Yamaha because of his health problems,I really hope Michel and his family are well and he is making a contribution somewhere in the music scene,he did lose a lot of weight but I understand he had other problems also.Rock on Michel

[alans]

quote from Danny1972


''So I do thank Leigh for showing the what the Genos2 can actually do. Very impressive and I think Yamaha should thank him.''

I hope Leigh gets his Genos 2 with a good discount,he certainly deserves it.Like others ,Leigh's videos have impressed me very much and without them I would have perhaps not bothered to upgrade from my G1.

Perhaps Yamaha could employ Leigh on a part time basis doing demos maybe in the northern  parts of the UK,I for one would certainly enjoy seeing one.But as has been said ,he would/could lose some his impartiality,as Leigh likes to make known his thoughts on keyboard products .Watching videos of Yamaha product specialists is also very good,and at the end of the day it is their job to highlight new features and improvements made since the last model was released.Whereas Leigh is showing how the features and styles/voices could work for the common buyer.

Best wishes

Alan

[AidanG]

As regards the video Andy mentioned, I remember thinking at the time that Bonners had clearly hastily rustled it up because of the negative reaction to the Genos 1 launch demos, which were dominated by 80s AOR and 90s techno. Indeed, I remember one dealer at the time telling me that he thought Yamaha had 'lost their minds', as the message was that they were 'going for the younger market'.

Leigh's videos have stood out this time because they cut through the stifling uniformity and relentless PR of the Genos 2 launch. Even Peter Baartmans begins his shop demos with that 'Desert Adventure' style (seriously, how often is anyone going to use that?), Martin Harris rolling out a steel drums patch had me checking the calendar to make sure we hadn't gone back to 1987 – and don't get me started on the Geordie guy doing the rounds of the dealer videos, with salesman patter that went out in the 70s and desperate forestalling of potential criticism ('we don't need the screen to move'). Though both the Bonners and Rimmers demos are unintentionally hilarious, respectively for Tony's thinly-disguised incredulity and Graham's mugging to camera between the sales pitches.

[Graham UK]

Remember until recently Leigh Wilbraham was heavy into KORG, but it appears there was a falling out.
I do like Leighs laid back style of playing.

[Whitecolin11]

 I agree Leigh video` s are professional and well made. Unfortunately he is a controversial character who likes to speak his mind, but does not like others doing the same, make no mistake  he is in the business of making money and is promoting the keyboard for a reason.
He openly admits that neither Korg or Yamaha give him the time of day.
I am interested to hearing the G2 live because I believe that`s when you will know if the sound quality has taken a leap forward or not.
In terms of price a target price without p/x should be £4399 and p/x of 2.4k to change
Also expect quick fire upgrades should sales expectations fall below what they want
Also some dealers are going all in in  and ordering huge quantities again if they don`t sell the price will drop.
Too many people are saying quotes of disappointing ,paying for colored lights, too expensive, so after the initial rush the consumer rather than dealer may hold the reigns. We shall see

[andyg]

As regards the video Andy mentioned, I remember thinking at the time that Bonners had clearly hastily rustled it up because of the negative reaction to the Genos 1 launch demos, which were dominated by 80s AOR and 90s techno. Indeed, I remember one dealer at the time telling me that he thought Yamaha had 'lost their minds', as the message was that they were 'going for the younger market'.

It was actually my idea, rather than Bonners, based on what was being said - and you're spot on there - and what people had said to me privately. The video could have been rather longer - maybe 45 minutes - as I'd prepared a lot of material, the stuff that you and I (and many others) would play. We just cherry picked what we thought would make a short, effective video. Having seen the length of Leigh's videos, I think we could have included everything and not bored anyone.

Bottom line was that the video sold quite a few Genoses for Bonners - and probably for other dealers too. So will Leigh's this time.

[alans]

Andy, thanks for the insight into the Bonners video.

I see Leigh has addressed a comment earlier in this thread in his latest video, btw. All I can say is that I approached Leigh directly recently, having watched a fair few of his videos, and found him extremely friendly and helpful.

For myself, the only problem I have with Leigh's videos is that, because they're arranger-centric and because of his accent, I have a hard time keeping a mental picture of John Shuttleworth out of my head while watching them.

Sorry, Leigh! Seriously, keep up the good work.

I enjoy Leigh's videos very much and I think he is doing as much,if not more ,to bring this keyboard to the attention of many people as the full time Yamaha demonstrators.Yes, I get what you're saying about his northern accent,Lancashire I think,as a northerner myself with similar accent I can't say a lot HA HA,except where Leigh says 'luke ' and we say the more usual 'look' ,but I did hear him acknowledge that.Not everyone has a southern accent,even youtube keyboard performers and demonstrators have regional accents,and long may they reign.

[Del]

Not only Leigh demonstrates the styles and sounds, he goes further on to show how to do and achieve things with the instrument so we can get the best out of them, some of these tips & tricks are
great and can be useful at times, so well done Leigh.

[rattley]

If you ask me you all sound funny!!!!   LOL  -charley

[Oxford1035]

Even Peter Baartmans begins his shop demos with that 'Desert Adventure' style (seriously, how often is anyone going to use that?), Martin Harris rolling out a steel drums patch had me checking the calendar to make sure we hadn't gone back to 1987

Genos was no different on the launch demos. l attended Peter Baartmans gig, as well as Ian House and Daniel Watt etc. Every one of them played Game of Thrones and Conquest of Paradise like it was going out of fashion 😂

Russ

[Des O]

Leigh tends to make the keyboard sing, he loves what he does. Im even thinking of Patreon him!

[Del]

Leigh tends to make the keyboard sing, he loves what he does. Im even thinking of Patreon him!

Well for about £9 a month you get tutorials registrations and styles that he creates so it might be worth it

[Duffy]

I also was not as impressed with Genos 2 until I watched Leigh Wilbraham playing it. Enjoyed it so much that, I watched the entire 90 minutes twice.
It is a much better board than I originally thought and I would definitely have bought it, were it not for the poor Hammond and the lack of SSS.
Thanks to Leigh,  I do at least think it's worth buying,  which I didn't before.