YAMAHA

[Muad’Dib]

So, after i conducted my poll on favorite synth brands for playing. YAMAHA came out on top as the winner. What exactly is it about Yamaha in general that most of you like, about them?

[AnotherScott]

Although I didn't vote Yamaha, since early this century, the vast majority of my 2-board gigs have consisted of an 88-key Casio under a lightweight non-hammer Yamaha. It always seemed the best choice for the bread and butter sounds I needed, decent action, and features I needed (including being able to pan left hand bass to its own output, and easily change the RH sound while keeping the LH line going). It's not impossible that my MODX7 could be reaplces by the forthcoming Kurzweil PC4-7, though.

[Song80s]

MODX is a brilliant keyboard

 

And I am a 9 year Kronos owner.

 

MODX is just 1 example.

 

Plus Yamaha talks to its customers. And is open to improvement from users/owners.

[timwat]

I've gigged a fair amount of Yamaha, including a CS80, CP70B, Motifs (and their derivatives), DX7, CS01, CS70m, DXR speakers, C-series grand pianos - in my experience, Yamaha makes high quality gear, typically designed with live use in mind.

 

It's well-designed, well-built, and often accompanied with generous warranties. So for the gigging musician, it stands up to a good amount of normal gig wear and tear. And most of it sounds great, and provides real musical utility and value. I think they genuinely think of musicians first - in ways that in some ways, other brands don't always. They may not have as much flexibility as some other brands, or as wide a palette of options as some others, but what they do, they do well.

 

And yes, Yamaha has had some misses, some difficult UIs, some unintelligible user manuals and the like - like the other Japanese manufacturers from time to time.

 

But for me, when I think of Yamaha, I think of "road worthy" and "gig worthy sounds".

 

Just my personal opinion.

 

Tim

[AnotherScott]

Oh yes, another point in their favor, better customer support than Korg or Roland. Also, if you move up in their line or to a newer model, there is a better chance you'll find your old favorites sounds still in there compared to those other brands as well. Also, since it is the biggest brand, there are some advantages to that... e.g. you'll find many commonly used sounds in them, and backline suppliers always have their gear.

[ElmerJFudd]

Many many years of building high quality instruments in every category and having US operations that handle support, warranty, certified repair with access to parts, etc.

[brenner13]

They"re not Roland.

[KuruPrionz]

As mentioned above a few times, Yamaha has a long history of serving the music community. They make guitars, amps, PA gear, basses, keyboards, acoustic and electronic drums, recording equipment AND motorcycles, jet skis and other items.

 

Imagine the R&D facilities and knowledge that is available across their facilities, they have access to a brain pool that few can boast of - in a Guitar Center "deathwatch" thread in the guitar forum I mentioned them as possibly the only vendor that could take over the Guitar Center retail outlets and successfully stock it with mostly their own products. Nobody disagreed with me.

 

They also seem to be mindful of quality control. A few years ago I bought a hybrid nylon string electric guitar, it was the signature model for Gabriela of Rodrigo y Gabriela. It had all the features I was looking for and none of the ones I wasn't, and it was not cheap but a return so a great price. Made in China, I was skeptical of buying a $700 (full retail was $1,200) Chinese made guitar to be honest. Solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard, premium pickup system, etc. It arrived and it was flawless, completely perfect. I'm a guitar tech and all my guitars get some attention and adjustment of some sort. All I've ever done to this one is put strings on it, play it and smile.

 

If I was worth on crap on keyboards I would certainly consider Yamaha. So I might of voted for them, despite my being the first to bring up the lack of Kurzweil. That's more because I used to have a K2000 and a K2000R so I knew the brand.

[dazzjazz]

I think playability is generally the best with Yamaha. They make great pianos, and that knowledge I believe, translates to good actions in most of their products. As I wrote on another thread, I think the Yamaha DX7 action is the best non-weighted action ever.

 

Over my 30+ years career, every time I"ve moved away from Yamaha, I"ve regretted it. Roland boards gave me RSI and Kurzweil didn"t float my boat.

 

Latest regret is my Kawai upright, which has a nasty bass resonance that the dampers don"t eliminate and the official Kawai tech (who was very professional I must say) said that"s the way that model is and that it wasn"t suitable for a professional like me. Too bad I couldn"t afford anything else!

 

That said, I learned my lesson. I"m hanging on to my CP4 and don"t feel any need to upgrade it.

[Muad’Dib]

They"re not Roland.

 

 

I take it your not a fan of Roland?

[lsj]

always went with yamaha. I have also had roland and korg and one kurzweil. not one keyboard ever broke except for the kurzweil. it happens.

[Joe Muscara]

As a person who is generally not a Yamaha keyboard fan, I think I can provide a generic albeit useful answer.

 

It's a matter of taste.

 

As important as features, quality, support, etc., are, for a musician, the most important thing about an instrument is connection. If it feels and sounds right when you play it, that's what matters. "I don't know, I just like it" is a sufficient answer.

 

That being said, there are lots of biases that could be influencing the feeling or decision, including liking their previous models, seeing your favorite artist use it, price*, the looks, what people said in this thread, etc. And price could go both ways. If it's affordable and you kind of like it, you can decide to go for it. If it's expensive, you might think it must be worth it. This applies more to acoustic instruments, however.

 

Their keyboards don't usually win me over, but I don't begrudge someone who says that's what they like or want. If they connect with it, I say go for it.

[brenner13]

They"re not Roland.

 

 

I take it your not a fan of Roland?

They lost a life long fan and customer when they refused to sell me a new pitch bend assembly for the one that failed in my VR09. They no longer sell parts to the general public. Every Roland I own has some piece or part that is broken and the only choice to fix them with new parts is to pay shipping for the whole synth, both ways to and from a 'certified' Roland repair shop and pay them half the worth of the unit or more to replace a simple $50 piece.

 

Admittedly Roland has some desirable instruments, but I"ve actively avoided all Roland purchases for the last seven years. I will likely NEVER buy another Roland unless they revert their policy so their customers can buy new parts for their products that arguably have defective design.

[felis]

.... What exactly is it about Yamaha in general that most of you like, about them?

 

Yamaha - so close yet so far

I generally really like most of the sounds I can get from them.

 

But I absolutely detest their lack of modulation and performance options.

Biggest example is that I won't buy anymore keyboards from them because they refuse to implement release velocity.

[Muad’Dib]

I have had a number of salesmen steer me towards Yamaha, even though I was never really enamored with them. It"s that since the DX-7 onwards. The design hasn"t changed much. From the SY line, the Motif, Montage MO. Then there was the S-Series of keyboards. Oh sure, they, had the AN1X the CS1x CS2X and CS6X, plus the VL-7. Plus a few that fell by the wayside. The V-50 and EX5 and 7. Although the released the Reface series similar to the Boutiques from Roland. But I haven"t really seen anything that made me go WOW! That"s a synth!

 

Then again, they are designed for the gigging musician.

[AnotherScott]

I haven"t really seen anything that made me go WOW! That"s a synth!

Yes, Yamaha hasn't been heavily into the "synth" market per se in quite some time. Hardly anything in the analog or VA category, compared to say, Roland or Korg (to say of the more synth-dedicated brands like Moog, Sequential/DSI, Novation, etc.), for example.

 

Then again, they are designed for the gigging musician.

Yes, and this site has a lot of gigging musicians. If you did the same survey on, say, gearslutz, you'd likely see different results.

[Muad’Dib]

Oh I know? They have had an ongoing poll on what synths Behringer should make next.

[CEB]

There is no best. Of the big three ...

 

Yamaha has the best built hardware. I don"t think of my Yamaha pieces as synths. (Exception were my two TX81Zs in tandem). For me they are slab pianos that generate lots of sounds. I use them for instrument emulations and FM.

 

Korg does the best operating system software and user interfaces. Their synth engines are the best to program and are laid out like 'real' synths.

 

Roland has the best saturated saw waves and does great sound generations. Roland has ridden the coat tails of Eric Persing"s work since 1987. Good reason though, Eric is a genius. Before I got the Kronos, Roland mostly filled my 'synth" role. I always had one Yamaha and one Roland piece in my rig. They work great together sonically. Even with Yamaha improvements in their saws they can"t do Jump as well as my old D50. It lacks heavy balls. But Yamaha does better pop horns, EPs, strings, bells, mallets, etc...

 

Like I said I have no favorites. That"s like asking which is your favorite between a wrench or a screwdriver. Maybe the PC4 will change my mind. I"ve never played Kurzweil.

 

Favorite 'synths" are Sequential, Moog, and Jupiters.

[Song80s]

As a person who is generally not a Yamaha keyboard fan, I think I can provide a generic albeit useful answer.

 

It's a matter of taste.

 

As important as features, quality, support, etc., are, for a musician, the most important thing about an instrument is connection. If it feels and sounds right when you play it, that's what matters. "I don't know, I just like it" is a sufficient answer.

 

.

 

yes, thats the subjective side.

 

Likely I am in the minority as a keyboard customer. The + $1500 keyboard has to fit my objective requirements - thats more important.

 

For me its 75% objective/requirements and 25% subjective/gut feel. For the expensive keyboard.

[Al Quinn]

I've strayed over the years but always come back to Yamaha. I think it's the action and finger to ear connection that draws me in. If I don't have that I'm sunk in terms of expressing myself through the instrument. I think I can safely say that I play better on Yamaha keyboards because of the excellent finger to ear connection they provide.

 

One the down side, I've struggled and been generally frustrated with their UI and user manuals.

[Bif_]

There is no best of the big three ...Maybe the PC4 will change my mind. I"ve never played Kurzweil.

 

I've said for many years that sitting down and playing the Kurzweil has always provided the most gratifying playing experience. I can pull up many of their orchestral sounds and just sit and play.....so responsive, it just draws you in. Same for many of their layered synth sounds. So much going on, so carefully crafted.

 

If I wanted to sequence a full blown song, I'd go to the Motif. Those sounds gel well together and they sound real if played and mixed judiciously.

 

The real power of each brands strengths shines when you mix them together, cherry picking the best if each brand. Like you said, different tools, different strengths.

 

I can't wait to hear your perspective after you play the PC4.

[Song80s]

I

 

One the down side, I've struggled and been generally frustrated with their UI and user manuals.

 

New MODX owner here, a Yamaha newbie. So, no practical experience with complex Yamaha boards.

 

Its been 90 days and I am finally able to construct complex Performances, using various ARPS, etc etc.

 

I spent 45 days, getting Cubase to work with MODX, updating OS, various basics.

 

In another week, I expect to have a smooth work flow going on the Pattern SEQ, using my Perf's etc.

Enough skill to complete/record a song.

 

For impatience I am an ' 8 ' [ [ 10 being most annoyed ]].

 

Fortunately, I have a MODX buddy who has coached me

thru the quirks.

[Moonglow]

The real power of each brands strengths shines when you mix them together, cherry picking the best if each brand. Like you said, different tools, different strengths.

+1

 

I also agree with what Joe said about having a 'connection' as a sort of baseline factor...certainly a subjective/individual difference variable that probably accounts for the largest proportion of variance when I purchase a keyboard. Unfortunately, that"s where Yamaha leaves me cold. Simply nothing there, which of course translates to my playing. The sounds are of exceptional high quality (albeit with some range restriction in the synth department) but I have considerably more connection with the Casio PX-360 that sits in my music/practice room.

 

I do love their acoustic pianos including the venerable G2 grand in my living room. I also enjoyed playing my CP-70B back in the day. And who didn"t have a DX-7....

 

Kudos to their consistent build quality, which IMO is best in class, although my Jupiter-80 gets high marks in this area.

[nursers]

I agree that no one manufacturer is the best, but I would put my previously owned S70xs and my current gigging board (MODX7) as two of the best I've ever owned....

[C.J. Lewis]

So those of you who know me (likely not many anymore since I don't post very often), know that I'm one of maybe the 'original Kurzvangelists'. Pretty sure I actually coined that term in the mid '90's when worked in a retail mall store. (in the background, a young millennial voice 'What's a mall?) We sold a ridiculous quantity of Mark 5, 10 and 150 digital pianos, and I pushed the store owner to get farther into the pro market. Enter Ken Byers (our Kurzweil rep) and Tim Gilpin (Kurzweil Product Specialist) with a PC88 and K2000. Holy crap...my life was changed. I've owned PC88's, SP88X, PC1x and se, PC2X, all variants of the K-series since 2000 (including a rainbow unicorn K2600AES), PC3X & PC38K and now a Forte 7. Incredible all around instruments. Virtually nothing they can't do.

 

About 6 months after Yamaha released the Montage, I found one at my local Music Go Round market at $3499 with the plastic still on the screen. I was shocked, as MGRs usually don't go for keys over $2500 unless they're really special. Well, anyway...fast forward another 6 months, and the Montage 8 had been through a few price drops...it was now $2499. 'Surely', I thought, 'there's something wrong here...' Still had the plastic on the screen...only this time, it wasn't even plugged into power and had no audio cables. I was on my way to or from a gig, so I went to my Yukon, grabbed my custom IEMs out of my keyboard rig, plugged her in and spent the better part of the next hour giggling. SO good! I bought it. I'm getting to the point of this story, I promise.

 

I had similar hour-ish long experiences at a few of my dealers (my day job is Western RSM for Mackie) with CP73/88, so I thought I'd give one a whirl. At some point, I realized that (cue the 'Get off my lawn' sample) the Montage was just more than I needed as a pro / worship keyboard player (gasp!) - especially already owning a Forte 7 and a Kronos - so I sold the Montage 8 to a bass player that I've known for 20+ years who's bought every version of the Motif that Yamaha made. It was a match made in Heaven.

 

Tonight: I cannot tell you how much I love this CP88! The piano playability is (IMO: 'ahem') even better than my beloved Kurzweil boards, and they are definitely top notch in that department. The front panel controls are exquisitely simple, yet add incredible color and make just playing so much fun. It would be a stretch to think that the CP platform has the power to control everything I need to in my live Mac VI rig (like the Forte does) or inspire new songs like the Kronos, but MAN, this CP88 is the closest experience I've personally had (save Ivory) to sitting down in front of a real piano, closing my eyes and letting it all out.

 

My ¢.02.

[Fleer]

Although I didn't vote Yamaha, since early this century, the vast majority of my 2-board gigs have consisted of an 88-key Casio under a lightweight non-hammer Yamaha. It always seemed the best choice for the bread and butter sounds I needed, decent action, and features I needed (including being able to pan left hand bass to its own output, and easily change the RH sound while keeping the LH line going). It's not impossible that my MODX7 could be reaplces by the forthcoming Kurzweil PC4-7, though.

Does this mean you"d be relinquishing your 88-key PC4, A/Scott?

[AnotherScott]

It's not impossible that my MODX7 could be reaplces by the forthcoming Kurzweil PC4-7, though.

Does this mean you"d be relinquishing your 88-key PC4, A/Scott?

Yes, that's what I'm thinking. I think the 76 would be useful to me in more scenarios. Hard to be sure without knowing what the 7's action will feel like, though.

[ksoper]

There is no best. Of the big three ...

 

Yamaha has the best built hardware. I don"t think of my Yamaha pieces as synths. (Exception were my two TX81Zs in tandem). For me they are slab pianos that generate lots of sounds. I use them for instrument emulations and FM.

 

Korg does the best operating system software and user interfaces. Their synth engines are the best to program and are laid out like 'real' synths.

 

Roland has the best saturated saw waves and does great sound generations. Roland has ridden the coat tails of Eric Persing"s work since 1987. Good reason though, Eric is a genius. Before I got the Kronos, Roland mostly filled my 'synth" role. I always had one Yamaha and one Roland piece in my rig. They work great together sonically. Even with Yamaha improvements in their saws they can"t do Jump as well as my old D50. It lacks heavy balls. But Yamaha does better pop horns, EPs, strings, bells, mallets, etc...

 

Like I said I have no favorites. That"s like asking which is your favorite between a wrench or a screwdriver. Maybe the PC4 will change my mind. I"ve never played Kurzweil.

 

Favorite 'synths" are Sequential, Moog, and Jupiters.

 

Ditto.

 

I toured extensively with Roland but I agree with CEB's post whole heartedly. The Yamaha gear of the day didn't light me up. It was just personal preference. Can't take away anything from any the big three, though. Solid, road and radio ready gear.

[Mr. Nightime]

While I don't always think of Yamaha as the absolute top of the line, I agree, it is right up there.

 

I played a CP70B and a YC30 for years on the road. I just retired my MM8. But, the MOX8 that my church has, I prefer not to play. It takes too much effort just to get the AP sounds after you turn it on. It comes up with some new age disco crap. Plus, for some reason the AP sounds terrible on it.

 

I had thought about a MODX, but went with the Kurzweil PC4 instead.

 

What I really like of their line up is their inexpensive home keyboards, I have an almost 5 year old great nephew, and his dad wants me to teach him to play. So, for Christmas he's getting a Yamaha PSRE273 from his "Gruncle".

[AnotherScott]

But, the MOX8 that my church has, I prefer not to play. It takes too much effort just to get the AP sounds after you turn it on. It comes up with some new age disco crap.

 

There's a setting for that, you can change its startup setting. But yeah, I thought that was a really dumb decision on Yamaha's part. When I first got mine, I excitedly plugged it in, turned it on, hit a key... and this godawful sound comes out of it that keeps going and--being new to the board--I didn't even know how to stop. I unplugged the frikkin thing. So much for great first impressions. It was like meeting a blind date, having her open her mouth to speak for the first time, and instead, she belches.