YAMAHA CE20 FM Combo Ensemble

via this auction

"EXTREMELY RARE VINTAGE 1982 YAMAHA CE20 "COMBO ENSEMBLE" SYNTHESIZER (SERIAL #3642) WITH IT'S ORIGINAL CARRYING CASE, FULLY TESTED, IN GREAT WORKING CONDITION, AND NEARLY FLAWLESS COSMETICALLY! PURCHASED FROM A REPUTABLE TOKYO, JAPAN VINTAGE SYNTHESIZER DEALER AND HAND-CARRIED BACK TO THE U.S.A. (NOT CHECKED AS BAGGAGE).

ONLY PRODUCED FOR ONE YEAR, THIS KEYBOARD HOLDS A HISTORIC PLACE IN SYNTHESIZER HISTORY, AS IT IS THE PIVOTAL STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FM SYNTHESIS BETWEEN YAMAHA'S GS-1 AND THEIR LEGENDARY DX 7.

ONE PARTICULARLY UNUSUAL FEATURE OF THIS SYNTHESIZER IS THE "SLIDE CONTROL" TO THE LEFT OF THE KEYBOARD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR EVEN READ ABOUT A CONTROLLER LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER SYNTHESIZER. WHEN PLAYING A MONO SOUND, THE "SLIDE CONTROL" BUTTON FUNCTIONS BOTH AS A "LEGATO" SWITCH (SO ATTACK ENVELOPES DO NOT RE-TRIGGER) AND ALSO ENABLES THE WHEEL, WHICH CONTROLS THE LENGTH OF THE "SLIDE". LIKE A "PORTAMENTO", THE CE20'S "SLIDE CONTROL" FEATURE ALLOWS THE PLAYER TO HOLD DOWN A NOTE AND ADJUST THE RATE OF GLIDE TO SUBSEQUENT NOTES IN "REAL TIME". IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO APPLY A CONSTANTLY CHANGING PORTAMENTO EFFECT, TO ONLY THOSE NOTES YOU CHOOSE, AS YOU PLAY!

ANOTHER GREAT FEATURE OF THIS SYNTHESIZER IS THE "SYMPHONIC" SWITCH WHICH ADDS A BEAUTIFUL EFFECT TO ANY OF THE VOICES THAT IS A CROSS BETWEEN A CHORUS, A PHASE SHIFTER, AND A LESLIE SPEAKER!

THE CE20 HAS TWENTY CLASSIC YAMAHA PRESET VOICES - FOURTEEN OF WHICH ARE MONOPHONIC: PICCOLO, FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET, SAXOPHONE, TRUMPET 1, TRUMPET 2, TROMBONE, VIOLIN, CONTRABASS 1, CONTRABASS 2, ELECTRIC BASS 1 & ELECTRIC BASS 2. THE SIX POLYPHONIC PRESET ARE: BRASS, HORN, ORGAN, ELECTRIC PIANO, HARPSICHORD & STRINGS. ALTHOUGH NOT PROGRAMMABLE, THE CE20 OFFERS SOUND EDITING OF ANY OF IT'S PRESET VOICES WITH A "BRILLIANCE" SLIDER FOR TONE ADJUSTMENT, VIBRATO DEPTH, SPEED & DELAY SLIDERS, AND THREE "SENSITIVITY" SLIDERS - "TONE INITIAL", "TONE AFTER" & "VIBRATO AFTER" FOR INCREASING VELOCITY SENSITIVITY.

THE ORIGINAL VINYL/TOLEX COVERED CASE FASTENS WITH GOLD "GUITAR-CASE-STYLE" LATCHES AND BEARS A GOLD YAMAHA LOGO. THE CASE'S COPPER-COLORED FELT INTERIOR OFFERS TWO SIDE COMPARTMENTS OF IDENTICAL SIZE - ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE KEYBOARD COMPARTMENT. ONE OF THESE SIDE COMPARTMENTS WAS PRESUMABLY DESIGNED FOR A SUSTAIN PEDAL (WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION) AND THE OTHER COULD HOLD CABLES, ETC. WHILE THE CASE IS STURDIER THAN A "SOFT CASE" OR "GIG BAG", IT WOULD BE BEST CHARACTERIZED AS A CARRYING CASE."