Seems the update comes in the timeframe expected.

Underwhelming for those really wanting some improvement to the rotary speaker simulation - but not altogether surprising given the recent history on that front.

Here's the release notes:

The setting method of vibrato (CC # 1: Modulation) has been changed.
Operability has been improved.
New Live Set Sounds have been added.
New Voices have been added.

Oddly the waterfall organ keys didn't translate over to the 73 model. They are calling the 73 a "for keyboardist" model.

The whole point to the YC series is the organ. Many much, much, much better keyboard type boards for keyboard players are on the market.

So YC73 without organ keys makes no sense to me. Don't waste your time buying a $2,500 lackluster YC73 keyboard with a micro screen.

It really makes no sense at all. The 88 might make even less sense than the 73. Yamaha is obsolete.

Oddly the waterfall organ keys didn't translate over to the 73 model. They are calling the 73 a "for keyboardist" model.

The whole point to the YC series is the organ. Many much, much, much better keyboard type boards for keyboard players are on the market.

So YC73 without organ keys makes no sense to me. Don't waste your time buying a $2,500 lackluster YC73 keyboard with a micro screen.

It really makes no sense at all. The 88 might make even less sense than the 73. Yamaha is obsolete.

I actually couldn't disagree more. I love playing organ, but since I do not live in the US, I never got to play a real Hammond until a few years ago and I've never seen one again since.

I personally HATE waterfall keybeds from Fatar, they're spongy and springy and are in my opinion completely useless for everything that has velocity sensitivity. That´s why I got rid of my Nord Stage 2 SW. I know many B3 purists swear by the waterfall, but in my experience you can do the same techniques in semiweighted or fully weighted keybeds. I know because I do it. I have not tried out a YC61 in person but if it is at all similar to the waterfall action on Fatar, I'd never consider a YC61.

I do agree that the 73 is weird though, neither here nor there, but I think it is more to compete directly with the Nord Stage lineup and this 73 is like a middle ground between more than 61 keys and being very light. For many cover bands, you need more than 61 keys and you need them very light. That's why the Nord Stage has been very popular, and Yamaha has definitely taken note and improved on that in my opinion. (I used to own both a Nord Stage 1 and a Nord Stage 2, sold them when I got my MODX)

Personally though I would most probably go for the 88 keybed, since a great keybed helps with piano playing and in my experience a heavy keybed barely affects organ playing.I have tried out the CP88 (same keybed) and found it delightful to play, the second best I've tried in a digital piano, just below Kawai's excellent one.

Blake compares the 73 with the Montage 8's keybed (... without aftertouch). I'm not sure "very light" (action) applies. It would deserve "very light" if the action was the top-tier synth action like the Montage 6/7.

I haven't ever been a huge fan of Fatar keybeds in general. I'm not sure how the YC61 compares in feel to the Nord's waterfall considering I haven't played on the YC61 and haven't played long on any Nord with waterfall keys. It'd be worth checking out the YC61 to see how it fares.

.. I have not tried out a YC61 in person but if it is at all similar to the waterfall action on Fatar, I'd never consider a YC61.

It's not! ... The YC61 waterfall keyboard feels very different to the Fatar.
It's more 'nuanced' in the feel, and makes playing velocity sensitive voices - like piano - a much more pleasant experience.

I pre-ordered the SKPRO 73. Now that's what the YC could have been and it's only a few hundred more. Fully editable like a synth, tons of storage for every function, with onboard mono-synth & a real screen plus too much else to list. I'll compare them side by side when it arrives but on paper the SKPRO destroys the YC for the same price point. I will admit the YC61 is fun but probably a solid $500 over priced for what little you get in the box. Still no FM editor, probably never will be. Now that the SKPRO is out of the sack Yamaha is likely scrambling to add something to it except that it appears they've boxed themselves in as usual, no pun intended. Why bring out 3 different key options in this line if all it does is play 3 voices at a time and nothing much else? I like it but it doesn't make sense to this extent and at this price point.

Memory & storage comparison.

YC has 8 buttons x 20 pages for a total of 160 slots with no way of arrangement or method of organization.

SKPro has 100=favorites, combinations=300, organs=300, A/B voices=800, synth=300, custom tone wheel=24, custom pedal=6, custom pipe=6 & custom cabinet=16.

Can't wait to compare them side by side.

Why don't you post on a hammond forum? My idea of ​​this forum is that you can help each other, share something you have discovered on the device with others, express your wishes and hopes for updates. I don't think anyone here in the forum is interested in your posts and reviews. Buy what you want, but let's have fun. I am also of the opinion that the Leslie simulation can be improved a lot, that the three engines (Organ, A and B) should be addressed via three different MIDI channels. But just doing everything badly here is not expedient.

I have also Keyboards from Nord, Hammond, Uhl, an original Hammond with Leslie and so on. But I owned a CP73 and a YC61 for me, others will do also so.

I agree 100% with Paul.

David, I too am among those frustrated with Yamaha over the long overdue fixes to the rotary SIM, and I would very much like to see more “content” from Yamaha for my boards.

That said, this is the gear I own. I am here in this forum to receive and provide ideas and assistance, not to hear about the Hammond board I should be looking at as a replacement for my YC61 or the Roland workstation I should replace my CP4, YC61 (and Waldorf Blofeld for that matter) with.

I dig through every issue of Sound in Sound and Keyboard Magazine just like so many here. I have as much “gearitis” as any other player.

I think you are right to blast Yamaha for not maximizing the potential of their products, and to push them on their real failures (such as the rotary SIM). But, here in this forum, I prefer to talk about how to make the most of the Yamaha gear that I own, and not about what other products I should replace them with.

Thanks,
Dov

Still no FM editor, probably never will be.

Same with the AWM2. Why differentiate? Anyway, Yamaha makes boards with editing, and boards without. These are the latter.

Why bring out 3 different key options in this line if all it does is play 3 voices at a time and nothing much else?

Pianos and EPs had more than 61 keys, and they only played one sound at a time! If you want keys that feel more like a piano or Rhodes, or want to be able to play the full range of those instruments, then these options make sense.

I know many B3 purists swear by the waterfall, but in my experience you can do the same techniques in semiweighted or fully weighted keybeds. I know because I do it.

Waterfall (curved front) per se is not something I find essential (even some Hammonds sin't have them). But there are some techniques that really don't work well on hammer action boards. If you "know because you do it," it may be that you don't use much of those particular techniques.

So YC73 without organ keys makes no sense to me. Don't waste your time buying a $2,500 lackluster YC73 keyboard with a micro screen.

It really makes no sense at all. The 88 might make even less sense than the 73.

Nord has proven there is a market for 7x and 88 key hammer action boards that also include drawbar-style organ engines. If people want to buy them, there's no reason Yamaha shouldn't make them! Some people are just more piano focussed than organ focussed, but still want quality organ sounds at their disposal without having to bring a second board. This kind of board is for them.