Yamaha CS80

neriks2003 wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm currently responsible for the service and maintenance work of Benny
> Anderssons (ABBA) GX-1 so I have had a lot of changes to actually play
> one ... It's a great synthesizer both physically and soundwise! ;-)
>

That sounds like a sweet gig! Are you also familiar with the CS80? I'd
like to know your opinions of one vs. the other. I've actually been
looking into this in the last few weeks and came up with the following:

Keyboard touch:
CS80 - 5-octave, semi-weighted with velocity (initial touch) and
polyphonic aftertouch
GX-1 - solo keyboard - 3-octave mini keys with velocity, aftertouch, and
side-to-side touch
upper/lower - 5-octave. Not sure of sensitivity/action
pedal - 2-octave
It looks like the GX-1 uses the knee lever where the CS80
uses aftertouch. True?
It looks like the GX-1 doesn't have poly-aftertouch, so you
can't add modulation to
just some notes. True?

Presets
CS80 - 14 presets * two. Eleven fixed (short of getting out a soldering
iron). Three changeable any time via front-panel knobs (two via
mini-knobs under flip-up panel).
GX-1 - 10 presets * two per keyboard. All changeable via trim-pots on
little, removable cards. Can't change settings while playing. Needs
special programmer box.

Ribbon
CS80 - relative pitch bend of notes being played. Can bend up one octave
max and down infinity!
GX-1 - never sure how this worked. Got the impression that it actually
triggered notes of the solo voice. Please clear this up!

Weight (had to put this in...)
CS80 - about 200lbs/100kg
GX-1 -600lbs / 250kg (does this include speakers, pedals, and bench?)

Number made
CS80 - about 1000
GX-1 - about 50.

I'd welcome anyone who knows this stuff to fill in any info or ask any
questions I haven't though of.

David