analogman1 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Hail all keyboard experts! is anybody aware of a controller available that has the feel of the Yamaha CS-80? Everything from the weight and feel of the action; to the actual polyphonic aftertouch? this is for a friend of mine who sold his CS-80 a few years ago and now wishes he had it. thanks in advance! Tom Tom Nord Electro 5D, Modal Cobalt 8, Yamaha upright piano, numerous plug-ins... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 this is for a friend of mine who sold his CS-80 a few years ago and now wishes he had it. How could anyone part with such a beautiful instrument? http://www.vintagesynth.com/yamaha/yamaha_cs80.jpg When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnchop Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Down-payment on a house? As for the poly AT features, precious few new controllers exist. The VAX77 is one. Can't comment on the actual CS80 action, because I have not even been in the same zip code as one. I make software noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 It's several decades since I played one. I loved it then. Today? I fancy it might not be as good as I remember... Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 It's heavy. Correction, It is ******* heavy. "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 It's heavy. Correction, It is ******* heavy. So you mean it is really heavy? "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane hugo Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 They weighed something like 200 pounds. http://blip.fm/invite/WorkRelease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyS Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Yo. Has anyone ever played a GX1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernMeister Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I played a CS80 years ago. I remember the touch on it being very heavy, and notoriously spongy. Other than the monstrous tones it offered (the good kind!), playing it for more than a few minutes hurt my wrists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midinut Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I had a CS-60 for a few years (and kick myself in the ass for ever selling it - I sold it to fund a PolySix). I played a CS-80 and agree with BernMeister, I remember it being spongy and heavy. The CS-60 I had wasn't weighted so it was a lighter synth touch. Loved the ribbon above the keyboard and the Ring Mod. I've got Arturia's CS-80V and it's good, but there was a physical connection when you played those instruments. Hard to describe ... other than WoW Kronos 88 | MODX7 | Wavestate | Crave | KeyLab 61 | CPS SSv3 | MacBook Pro | MainStage | Komplete 13U | V Collection 9 Behringer Poly-D | ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe | Roli Seaboard Rise 49 | Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2, Trillian, & Keyscape | AAS Collection More VSTs than I'll ever figure out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzzz Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 How could anyone part with such a beautiful instrument? Ever try tuning or maintaining one? I owned a CS-80 about ten years ago, it completely cured me of any desire to own a vintage analog instrument. Oh and btw, Arturia's CS-80V doesn't even come close. As far as the action, it was a bit heavy, and spongy- which worked great for the PolyAT. It wasn't far off from a Kurz MIDIBoard, except the Kurz was a bit quicker. I own a VAX77 and it is nearly perfect for PolyAT, I just wish it was a bit more adjustable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 During the late 80's I played in 2 keyboard player prog band - our stage rig was a CS80, CP70 and Prophet 10 - all in anvil cases....argh. I remember the CS80's action being heavy, spongy at the bottom...but also with a springy return I wasn't expecting at first. Made for playing fast repeating figures easier than the initial heaviness would have suggested. But that was my recollection from 30 years ago. Probably not entirely accurate. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegerardi Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Yeah, but at least the P-10's case had wheels on it. Thank God, too, because I hauled one of those suckers around for 4 years. ..Joe Setup: Korg Kronos 61, Roland XV-88, Korg Triton-Rack, Motif-Rack, Korg N1r, Alesis QSR, Roland M-GS64 Yamaha KX-88, KX76, Roland Super-JX, E-Mu Longboard 61, Kawai K1II, Kawai K4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I wouldn't mind picking up a old E-70 for my studio if it didn't need a rebuild. I would have to get rid of something. "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamanczarek Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I have a CS-70M which came out in 1981 as a somewhat scaled down $6000 successor to the CS-80. The Synth architecture and panel layout is pretty much identical except there is only one set of controls that toggles between the two separate Synth sections. It has 6 voices, Mono Aftertouch, and plastic keys. Unlike the CS-80 the 70M has patch storage and a 4-2, 2-4 splittable keyboard. Also an onboard 600-note Sequencer and only weighs about 75 lbs. The CS-70M has a pre-MIDI interface which allows it to be played from the weighted velocity keyboard of the Yamaha CP-35 Electronic Piano and layer the Synth with the CP's sounds if desired. Unfortunately the Synth does not respond to velocity from the CP keyboard. The 70M also interfaces with the Yamaha SK50D and possibly the SK30. C3/122, M102A, Vox V301H, Farfisa Compact, Gibson G101, GEM P, RMI 300A, Piano Bass, Pianet , Prophet 5 rev. 2, Pro-One, Matrix 12, OB8, Korg MS20, Jupiter 6, Juno 60, PX-5S, Nord Stage 3 Compact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 How could anyone part with such a beautiful instrument? Ever try tuning or maintaining one? I owned a CS-80 about ten years ago, it completely cured me of any desire to own a vintage analog instrument. Like many others here, I've never even played a CS-80. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernMeister Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I have a CS-70M which came out in 1981 as a somewhat scaled down $6000 successor to the CS-80. The Synth architecture and panel layout is pretty much identical except there is only one set of controls that toggles between the two separate Synth sections. It has 6 voices, Mono Aftertouch, and plastic keys. Unlike the CS-80 the 70M has patch storage and a 4-2, 2-4 splittable keyboard. Also an onboard 600-note Sequencer and only weighs about 75 lbs... I was a music store salesman in the 80's when these synths were around. So I was lucky enough to play them all. While the CS-70m had some interesting qualities, it's sound pales in comparison to that of the CS-80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analogman1 Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 Thanks, everyone! Will pass the info on to him. Tom Nord Electro 5D, Modal Cobalt 8, Yamaha upright piano, numerous plug-ins... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnchop Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 I'll say it again: if Yamaha jumped back into the fray with a pure synth product, be it real analog or virtual, it could kick butt. I suppose if they're already printing money with their repackaged Motifs and stage pianos, they don't need to risk it. Perhaps the magic rocket sauce that made the CS80 special just can't be put on a chip. I make software noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Like many others here, I've never even played a CS-80. Back in 1982 we opened for this group that had a CS-80. The keyboard player offered it for me to use during our show, I didn't know what it was and didn't have time to play around with it so I passed. Closest I came to actually playing one was a CS-60 at one of the AHMW gatherings. How could anyone part with such a beautiful instrument? Ever try tuning or maintaining one? I saw the inside of one back in 2000. Loads of trimpots and point-to-point wiring?!? My Memorymoog is maintenance enough, thank you very much. I'll say it again: if Yamaha jumped back into the fray with a pure synth product, be it real analog or virtual, it could kick butt. Yamaha hasn't made a real analog since they introduced FM in 1982, I don't see them ever getting back into real analog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingstonCrim Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 During the late 80's I played in 2 keyboard player prog band - our stage rig was a CS80, CP70 and Prophet 10 - all in anvil cases....argh. I remember the CS80's action being heavy, spongy at the bottom...but also with a springy return I wasn't expecting at first. Made for playing fast repeating figures easier than the initial heaviness would have suggested. But that was my recollection from 30 years ago. Probably not entirely accurate. That sounds pretty accurate. I like the springy-ness of the action which, as you said, is good for quick repeated notes. And it is a heavier feel, feels solid with the weights on there. Like you, I traveled with both the CS-80 and the CP-70, all in Anvil ATA cases. (Finally sold the CP-70 rig about eight years ago, thankfully.) They'll probably have to bury me in the CS80 case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.