Owned a Tyros 5/76 for over a year... and still loving it!

[Will49]

Most people do a write-up within days or weeks of having their latest & greatest keyboards. And as this is still the 'honeymoon' period for them, during which they are so much in love with their latest pride & joy, such accounts often tend to get a bit OTT, e.g. "100% better than my previous model" etc. The following is an account of my experience with my current keyboard. However, the big difference is that it's now over 13 months since I acquired it. Please read on....

In December, 2017, after owning all Tyros models from the very first one up to Tyros 4, I finally decided to trade the latter in at Bonners of Eastbourne for a used Tyros 5/76 (now, here's the important bit) and I'm happy to say that I'm still as thrilled with it now as I was on the day I took it out of its box... yes, that was over a year ago! Up until the time of the exchange, I had neither seen nor heard a Genos live, but Yamaha's hefty price tag on the Genos meant that the amount of money I would have had to put on top of my mint condition T4 was (to me) just too ridiculous to even consider such a move! Meanwhile, however, I have since had the opportunity of seeing and playing a Genos, and am pleased to say that the experience has further convinced me that I have done the right thing! Yes, the Genos is a very nice-sounding instrument but (to my ears) it didn't strike me as being all that different to my T5/76 to be honest.

Coming from a background of electronic organs, I find myself making a lot of use of the T5's Organ World. And another feature that obviously wasn't on my T4 is the fascinating Ensemble Voices section. I love experimenting by re-voicing some of the parts and setting up different effects etc... not to mention the myriad of Harmony settings. And in terms of appearance (but again, this is purely my taste): when I entered the music store that had the Genos on display, there was also a used T5/76 right next to it and I immediately felt that the T5/76 (being slightly larger, with its tilt up screen etc.) looked the most impressive of the two... I just couldn't wait to get back home to my very own T5/76!

So to anyone out there who has a previous Tyros model, and thinking of upgrading to a T5/76, then go for it. And those coming from a T4 will find that a lot of their old keyboard is still in the T5/76 (not a bad thing really) but with now a much better effects/DSP system. Spend some time experimenting with the new effects and you will be truly amazed! There are also over 300 new voices, several new styles (incl. Audio)... and much, much more. And of course, you'll have 76 keys to play with - great if you like using a 3-way split keyboard occasionally.  All in all, if you're like me, you won't regret it!

Oh, and before I wind all this up, I'd just like to say that I am extremely finicky (to the point of being OCD, so my wife says!) with my keyboards! Therefore, being naturally a little concerned when exchanging my T4 for the (unseen) T5/76, I made it clear to the staff at Bonners that I wanted a mint condition specimen... and that is exactly what I got from them! When it arrived, it was like pulling a brand new T5/76 out of the box, complete with its protective film on the screen. I thoroughly scrutinized it from all angles and could find nothing at all that would tell it apart from a brand new one... and all for less than a third of what I would have had to put on top of my T4 in exchange for a Genos! So a huge thanks to all the people at Bonners!

Will 

[Toril S]

Hello Will. I bought a used T5/61 in December, and is still walking in  the air! I am SO happy with it! Mine is also in mint condition.
I have always had PSRs, but had been thinking of getting a Tyros also. I tried the Genos, but, being visually impaired I didn't care much for the touch screen. And, as you say, the Tyros looks much more impressive, it is magnificent in all its silver glory! Yes it is a little on the big side, even with only 61 keys, but i love it! I had to pay half the price of Genos, but it is worth it! My PSR had been on repair, and I just walked into the store one day to ask about it, and there stood the Tyros! I sat down to try it out, and an hour went by without me noticing it. That is when I decided I had to have it, and I went back the next day, afraid that it had been sold. I said to myself: Why, oh why didn't you just grab it yesterday, instead of "having to sleep on it!" But it was there! I am sure that after a year I will still be as happy with it as now! All the best, Toril

[beykock]

Welcome to the club !😀

I am also very happy with my T5/76.
The best arranger keyboard I ever had.
I want to keep it as long as possible.
No need to upgrade.

Babette

[sooty8]

I purchased my used Tyros 5 the same time as you did Will in December 2017 I remember we were exchanging e-mails about purchasing one. I cannot add any other comments, I agree with you a lovely sound good purchase the dealer gave me a 3 year warranty 
to date no problems yet. A bit heavy to take out for gigging so I use my S975 for that. I think we made a good choice.

Regards

Steve

[Milamber]

A very "Noob" 74 year old here.  I purchased my T5/76 in December 2018 - and I hope to admire it as much as the previous poster.  It's also in superb condition and I will do whatever is necessary to keep it that way. 

Maurice.

[DerekA]

I got my T5/76 last summer from Rimmers, also in excellent condition.

I'm not knocking the Genos in any way, but when I walked into the shop and tried the Genos and Tyros side by side, the Tyros just felt right. I suppose that compared to S770 they were both quite impressive, but I'll be honest and say this came as a  bit of a surprise because I expected to feel more strongly about Genos. And as you say Will, Tyros was an awful lot cheaper!

Perhaps at some point in the future I will trade up to Genos 2 but for now I am happy where I am.

[Rick D.]

I've had my Tyros 5/76 for three years now, I started with the 1 then the 2, skipped 3(not enough improvements), 4, and now the 5. I was going to upgrade to the Genos, but except for a little difference in sound quality and the touch screen, I feel it is not worth it. I'm hoping the next one will have everything the members  have been asking for, and more. Their technology is years ahead, but they put it out in dribs and drabs. So us, that have to be on the cutting edge put their kids through college. 

Rick D.

[Will49]

Hello Will.  I am sure that after a year I will still be as happy with it as now! All the best, Toril

Hi Toril, If you're like me, you certainly will be! In fact, when I exchanged my T4 for the T5/76, I sort of felt that I'd be holding on to it for about 12 to 18 month, then change up to a used Genos. Having since tried a Genos though, I doubt very much that it's a route that I'll ever want to pursue! I don't even like the look of Genos compared to my T5/76, so I sometimes dread to think what would I go for if something (serious/unrepairable) happened to it - other than go for another mint condition T5/76, of course. Sadly though, they're going to get pretty thin on the ground before long!

Regards,
Will

[Will49]

Welcome to the club !😀

Hi Babette, Thanks for the "welcome to the club". However, I am not a newbie I'm afraid, as I've been a member of the PSR Tutorial Forums for many years, just not having posted anything for well over a year... been far too busy enjoying my T5/76!  Thanks anyway, and glad to see that you are very happy with yours too!

Regards,
Will

[Will49]

I purchased my used Tyros 5 the same time as you did Will in December 2017 I remember we were exchanging e-mails about purchasing one. I cannot add any other comments, I agree with you a lovely sound good purchase the dealer gave me a 3 year warranty to date no problems yet. A bit heavy to take out for gigging so I use my S975 for that. I think we made a good choice.

Hi Steve, Yes, I remember our communication via e-mails very well. Glad to see that you also are enjoying your Tyros 5. You mention the weight. For me though, as a non-gigging player, it wouldn't bother me if it was the size and weight of the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer... as long as I had the room for it!

Regards,
Will

[Will49]

I'm not knocking the Genos in any way, but when I walked into the shop and tried the Genos and Tyros side by side, the Tyros just felt right.

Hello Derek A, Absolutely... my sentiments exactly!

Regards,
Will

[Toril S]

There are gig bags with wheels. I have ordered one from my store.

[Will49]

I'm hoping the next one [Genos] will have everything the members  have been asking for, and more.

Hi Rick D. Hmmm, I wouldn't hold my breath too much on that to be honest, as I reckon it'll take Yamaha up to about Genos 3 or even Genos 4 before we see any revolutionary improvements. Of course, I could be wrong though...... 

Regards,
Will

[beykock]

Hi Will,

Thank you for your reply.

The Tyros family will never be forgotten.

A jewel, a real legend, a golden brand name.😀
Tyros means high reliable quality and high value.👌
A real professional instrument.💐

Babette

[Rick D.]

Will,

I know I'm dreaming! LOL!

Rick D.

[Will49]

The Tyros family will never be forgotten.
A jewel, a real legend, a golden brand name.😀
Tyros means high reliable quality and high value.👌
A real professional instrument.💐

Hi Babette, Very well-said... couldn't have worded it better myself! It struck me as being something rather special the very first time I saw Tyros(1), quite by accident, when popping into a music shop in Wolverhampton for a bit of a browse many years ago. For some time prior to that, I had given up monitoring the technological advancements of the organ and keyboard world, so had no idea what it was that I was looking at... other than the fact that its appearence completely set it appart from all the other keyboards I had ever seen or owned! The sales guy came over, explained that it was the latest flagship arranger from Yamaha, then played it. I knew straightaway that I had to have one...  followed by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and now the 5th! I'm afraid it'll be some time before Yamaha (or any other brand, for that matter) bring out a new keyboard capable of having quite the same impact on me... afraid the Genos didn't come close!

Regards,
Will

[beykock]

Hi Will,

Owned all Tyros ( 1,2,3,4 & 5/76 ) models too and it is absolutely not my intention to give up my Tyros5/76 ever.

I hope I can keep " my baby " as long as possible, for many, many years to come.

I only use it in my home studio.
It offers me everything I need.
No gigging activities at all.

I have seen the Genos recently. Did not touch it.

There is no doubt in my mind the Genos has a great sound but it will never make me a better player though.😯
I do not like non tiltable touch screens either.

Last but not least ... The Tyros5 has always been " my #1 " !
That feeling will never change, I hope and guess.

There is no reason to shoot my best horse, my lovely Tyros5/76 !!!
No way 😀 !

Best regards, Babette

[Will49]

Owned all Tyros ( 1,2,3,4 & 5/76 ) models too and it is absolutely not my intention to give up my Tyros5/76 ever. I hope I can keep " my baby " as long as possible, for many, many years to come.

Hello again Babette. That's just how I feel about my T5/76 as well. And like I said in a reply to Toril above, if something unrepairable happened to it, there is nothing else new on the market at present that I would want as a replacement... so it would have to be another used T5/76. Sad thing is though, they're getting older and more used by the day, so finding a mint condition one will soon become quite a task! 

I do not like non tiltable touch screens either.

Me neither! Ok, I don't mind touch screens as such, having now become quite accustomed to them on phones and tablets, but the Tyros' tilt-up screen is one of its physical attributes that gives it that certain element of 'attention-grabbing' I think! 

Best regards,
Will

[beykock]

Hi Will,

Even Tyros1,2,...3 and 4 are available for sale.
Most of these " older " Tyros arranger kbs are in a good condition.
Tyros = high quality, remember ?😃

Most of the ( previous ) owners are " home players ".
That means these kbs are still nice instruments.

Babette

[Toril S]

My T5 was owned by a man who only used it at home. There was no gig bag with it, not even a stand, just the speakers. Not a scratch on it! I am considering getting a back up Tyros, but that will have to wait. However I have an S975 and my 2100, so I will not run out of keyboards with the good, old buttons. I am so in love with both instruments, but it gives a special feeling to sit down at the Tyros, fire it up and there come all those blue buttons on. I love those doo bee doo voices and the tiltable screen, the silver color, yes, everything! I will never part with it! Tyros forever

[Will49]

Most of the ( previous ) owners are " home players ". That means these kbs are still nice instruments.

Hi Babette, Yes, of course. I sometimes seem to think that I am the only non-gigging home player that is a bit OCD where keyboard care is concerned!

I am considering getting a back up Tyros

Hi Toril, A "back up" Tyros. Well now, that's a thought......... 

Best regards to you both,
Will

[beykock]

IMHO most Tyros and Genos arranger keyboard owners are  home players.

Maybe in the near future young musicians will buy the Genos more than the Tyros but their budget might be a problem yet ... I really do not know.

I know the Genos is lighter in weight than the Tyros but the future will tell if the Genos will be more used for gigging than the Tyros.

I have no idea how many Genos keyboards have been sold yet.
A lot, I guess and probably most of these buyers are ex Tyros  customers, a few ex Korg PA - and Ketron Audya players.

Maybe I am wrong but I believe the Ketron brand might have lost some popularity due to strong competition.

Nowadays giggers prefer lighter keyboards for their job like e.g the S950, S970 and S975, I guess.

As far as I am informed " band " keyboard players prefer synths.
Nowadays Yamaha and Korg synths are very popular.

Babette

[Will49]

Nowadays giggers prefer lighter keyboards for their job...
As far as I am informed " band " keyboard players prefer synths.

Absolutely correct, Babette. And that's probably one of the reasons why Yamaha dropped the Tyros range in favour of a slightly smaller and lighter arranger, i.e. the Genos. I believe they've also included in it a lot more modern stuff (EDM) etc., presumably in a bid to create a cross between an arranger and a synth - a trend that is definitely NOT for me, but one that will undoubtedly grow with the arrival of every latest edition of Genos! LONG LIVE THE TYROS!

Best regards,
Will

[Toril S]

Amen! Long live the Tyros!!

[EileenL]

The styles on Genos are great and i am sure will cater for most peoples taste. There are only ten DJ styles and like everything you do not have to use them if you don't want to. They are also on the 970.

[Will49]

The styles on Genos are great and i am sure will cater for most peoples taste.

Hello Eileen, hope you are keeping well. I agree with you on that point, as there is no doubt that Genos satisfies many people's tastes. However, as you can see from the posts in this thread (as well as elsewhere on PSR Tutorial), there are many people, myself included, who feel that Tyros 5 is the best and most impressive-looking arranger that has ever come from Yamaha. In fact, some of us feel that we've come to the end of the road, so to speak - that is, what would we go for as a replacement should the time come that our beloved T5s decide to give up the ghost completely!

Kind regards,
Will

[gilsilverbird]

When I slave the TYROS 5 to my Logic X all of the instruments will play independently when I turn them off on the channel switch but the drums are silent. They do not play independently when I start the Logic x program. I can trigger the bass & guitar and all of the other instruments but when I mute the other instruments & keep the drum buttons ON they don't play. The Tyros 5 is triggered & if I turn on the bass or other instruments while it is triggered they play except the drums.
Can you please help me out with the solution.
Thank you Gil

[chopoland]

I'm joining the acquisition of a Tyros 5.

The only problem I see from Yamaha is the lousy service of, as they say in video games (DLCs or honest updates) to improve excessively expensive keyboards...

That is to say, since you have spent more than 4000€ on a keyboard and its loudspeakers, that less than adding free voice expansions, styles or multipads or internal system improvements, such as changing the audiostyles, which have been nothing more and nothing less than a failed experiment.

I mean, there are the premium packs, but they are too expensive and not very careful, and you have to buy a very expensive memory too. (Euro Dance rhythms are horrible).

Apart from that, in the net there are few possibilities of expansion of affordable quality... only free rhythms (converted), voices (edited)... (and that's thanks to the people who take the trouble to do it)
In short, I think that the big yamaha workstations should have more support.

[beykock]

My T5 offers me everything : a great sound and a lot of fun.

Do I need more ? No.
🐭
Babette

[Toril S]

No. Tyros rules!