ultravox monument mkv

Published on Aug 21, 2013 jenner4265·8 videos

"fully remastered sound and picture"

I almost skipped this one as per the site guidelines all posts are supposed to be synth demos only, meaning the focus is on the individual synths themselves. Yes you can see a bit of synth spotting, but let's face it, what spotting there is is somewhat obscure unless you know what's going on here.  What I realized was that three classic bits of gear dominate the entire performance and much of the sound of Ultravox at the time. The Yamaha SS-30, the ARP Odyssey and classic Simmons synthetic drum sounds.  It's as if this thirty minute video is a tribute to them.  Enjoy.

Update: I originally noted Solinas were used. Turns out it was the Yamaha SS30. What threw me off was the custom stands they are using. Take a look at 4:23 in the video. That's the SS30 on top. Now look at these pics. Note the difference.

via Pete in the comments: "The string synths used by Ultravox were not Solinas. They were the much rarer Yamaha SS-30. They sound quite different to the Solina, but are very much 'the sound' of Ultravox, along with the ARP Odyssey, Yamaha CP-80, PPG Wave 2.2"

You can clearly see the SS-30 on top of Billy Currie's setup, and you can see Midge playing the SS-30 at 5:38.

And via Billy Currie on the GForce Software website: "It was amazing to hear the Elka Rhapsody again and the Yamaha SS-30 but it is also good to hear all the other ones that are in there. I always loved the Oberheim sound so I have utilised the Xpander sounds.

The Solina was an instrument I didn't really get on with in the seventies, too silky, but interesting to go back to now!

I do admit though that I did not have a great relationship with the Yamaha SS-30 initially. Yamaha gave the gear to Ultravox in 1979-80 so I didn't say "No thanks". I must admit it does sound flipping brilliant in the VSM though - Nice One!"

Mechana - A Lonely City - Yamaha SS-30 track laying...

Craig Sue Sound

"This is a quick snippet showing me laying up the Yamaha SS-30 part for a
track on my new Mechana ep entitled "A Lonely City"... The SS-30 is going
through a Electro Harmonix Small Stone, and, out of shot my Meris 500 series Mercury 7 Reverb... Enjoy..."

For the following release:

"A 3 track ep of lots of Synth textures and melodies inspired by walking around my city and seeing these buildings towering over us and thinking of the DNA & life that is in these amazing structures..."

Equipment used on the 3 track EP:

Roland JD-800
Roland JX-10 Super JX
Roland VP-330 mk1
Roland RS-09
Yamaha SS-30
Oberheim SEM patch unit
Korg Micro-X
Moog Liberation
Moog Source
Moog Prodigy
Moog Micromoog
Moog Voyager
Soma Lyra 8
Arturia Microfreak

Yamaha SS-30 analog string synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"If you want classic analog strings ,this is what the Yamaha SS-30 excels at.All this machine does is make superlative string sounds - there's no Brass or Organ settings here. If you won't take my word for it , just look at the following Youtube link of Ultravox's 1982 Monument tour where two Yamaha SS-30s were used by Billy Currie and Midge Ure. [video here] This synth is all over the first 3 post-Foxx albums - Vienna , Rage in Eden and Quartet.Opening chords on The Voice , Reap the Wild Wind, Vienna,Hymn Also used a lot by John Foxx on Metamatic

This synth totally blows away the Moog Opus 3 , Korg Delta , Roland RS-09 , RS-202 and it's only competitor is the Roland RS-505 Many people looking at this auction will also have Peter Forrest's excellent A to Z of analog synths book and i would urge you to read his review of the SS-30:- "played in a realistic manner,sounds very good.Even without the Orchestra modulation on,it sounds very good.And through a classy hall room reverb setting it sounds very,very good.It just goes to show that it's better to do one thing well,than three things to a so-so standard" i think this was a little dig at the Moog Opus and Korg Delta and some of Yamaha's own SK range. The real beauty of this machine is the phasey string sounds which come from Detuning the oscillators and swithching on the ensemble mode. The Decay is fully variable and the whole thing is built like a tank and weighs a ton.."

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Custom Rackmount Yamaha SS-30

Spotted this one on http://ss30m.blogspot.com

"When I started this project I had a simple aim. I have expanded on that scope now, but the basic idea was to put the whole SS-30 into a rack-mount case, with MIDI. I have had MIDI working since last year but the front-panel was temporary. It was a proof-of-concept and not something I wanted to really play. Not ready for the studio.

As of last night, I have achieved what I set out to do. An SS-30 I can play in my studio from a MIDI enabled rack mount."

You can find pics of the Yamaha SS-30 in the archives here.

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Yamaha SS 30 String Synthesizer

via this auction

"This baby is Ultravox in a box!!! Listen to "Reap The Wild Wind" or other tracks from Vienna or Rage in Eden to hear the SS 30 in all its glory; or check it out on Youtube as mentioned later.

I have several string synthesizers including the ARP String Ensemble, Korg Lambda and Delta, and Crumar Multiman (very underated btw!), and I've owned several more and I can truly say that the SS 30 is unique!!! It has a shimmering quality which the chorus and vibrato can emphasize like no other stringer I've played. I've also had a Yamaha SK30 and these strings are MUCH BETTER, so don't judge this lovely Yamaha on the quality of those SK models. These are more like the string presets built into the Yamaha home organ E50/70 series which also had the CS 50/60/80 voices on it... full of character and a top end that really cuts through a mix. Cleaner than the ARP String Ensemble, more like a Roland RS 505 but better ;-) Peter Forrest raved about it in The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers and it has many fans on the net. They are super rare in the USA, as they were not sold here when new.

Some of the best uses are applying chorus and or vibrato to the violins and not the cellos with the different keyboard splits and using the cellos as a bass synth sound. This is one of the only string synths where the sounds are just as good without chorus as with. EVERYTHING WORKS on this well-maintained unit which has been in my smoke free studio since 2006. The veneer has a cut or two and some scratches... this is probably a 7 out of 10 cosmetically but all the knobs and logos are complete and legible. These do not come up for sale often!!!

You can apply vibrato and chorus in weak and strong amounts with variable rates, delay etc to either cellos or violins independently; there are two "oscillators" or ranks so the vibrato comes from varying their pitch slightly. Attack and release for envelopes is also independent and each key has its own VCA like the Korg Lambda or the Moog Polymoog, you never get voice stealing on long sustains. Two cello voices, a viola voice and two violin voices.

The only negative I will admit to is that it's mono... if it were stereo it would rule the world, or most of the good parts. It has inputs for a volume pedal and sustain switch, these both work and the volume pedal helps with dynamics as it has no velocity.

Hear for yourself on Youtube, I'm not linking to any vids but they're easy to find. This board loves effects too... throw some phasing on it and you get stereo delight."

GForce Intros RE STRINGS for Reason w/ Billy Currie Interview & Freeman String Symphonizer Overview

Published on Apr 11, 2017 GForce Software

"RE-STRINGS is our Rack Extension version of the award winning VSM and contains a selection of its most popular and iconic String Ensembles including: ARP Quadra, Crumar Multiman, Elka Rhapsody, Eminent 310, Freeman String Symphonizer, Godwin String Orchestra, Hohner K4, Junost 21, Korg Lambda, Korg PE2000, Logan String Melody II, Mellotron Violins, Moog Opus III, Roland VP330, ARP Solina, Technics KN200, Yamaha CE-25 & Yamaha SS-30.

With it's dual layer capability, it's possible to load the classic string ensemble sounds from years gone by or create your own hybrid ensembles.

Legal Notice
All musical instrument manufacturer and product names are trademarks of their respective owners and in no way associated or affiliated with GForce Software Ltd. The trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose sounds and technical data were studied for this instrument. All names of instrument inventors have been included for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not suggest any affiliation or endorsement of GForce Software Ltd."

Billy Currie talks String Synths, VSM & RE-STRINGS

Published on Apr 11, 2017 GForce Software

"During the process of creating patches for RE-STRINGS Rack Extension, we talked with Billy Currie about his use of String Ensemble keyboards over the years and how the Elka Rhapsody and Yamaha SS-30 contributed to some of Ultravox's classic tracks.

Billy also talks about how valuable the VSM and RE-STRINGS libraries are to him and how they've been used in his latest album, Doppel."

Freeman String Symphonizer

Published on Apr 11, 2017 GForce Software

"A brief walkthrough of the Freeman String Symphonizer, invented by Ken Freeman, sounds from which are in both VSM and RE-STRINGS.

The Further Adventures of K.FREEMAN and his Incredible Machine of a Thousand Strings courtesy of I Monster - BRIGHT SPARKS album. www.imonstermusic.com

Ken Freeman footage courtesy of BRIGHT SPARKS Documentary
http://brightsparks.movie"

via Propellerhead

"50% OFF Release Offer! 2 weeks.

The modern, polyphonic string synthesiser was invented in 1970 by Ken Freeman, a British keyboard player and engineer who discovered that if you layered two notes then detuned and slightly modulated one a pleasant ‘chorused’ sound resulted. Over the next 10+ years Ken’s initial discovery spawned an industry that saw the manufacture of more than one hundred ‘string machines’ and multi-keyboards.

Although viewed by some as a one-trick-pony or a poor man’s polysynth, string machines had so much character they’ve graced tracks by artists as diverse as; Lonnie Liston Smith, Air, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Parliament, Herbie Hancock, Camel, Joy Division, Jean-Michel Jarre, Thomas Dolby, Tonto’s Expanding Head Band, Genesis, Toni Tone Tony and countless others.

Product details
Based on our award winning Virtual String Machine (VSM), RE-STRINGS comprises 67 individual sample sets from a plethora of classic analogue string ensembles including the ultra rare (and first) Freeman String Symphonizer, the highly coveted Solina, the eminently desirable Eminent 310, the highly-lauded Logan String Ensemble, plus several other classic (and not so classic) string machines.

Each sample set spans 49 notes (4 octaves), each individually sampled and looped, plus RE-STRINGS contains a 700+ patch library created by respected patch designers including legendary string machine user and keyboard maestro, Billy Currie.

With Dual Layer capabilities - each layer comprising of a Lowpass, Bandpass & Highpass Resonant Filter Section, Two Envelope Generators, Pitch or Filter LFO, Dynamic control including filter aftertouch - if you want to create your own hitherto unrealised hybrid combinations of classic and evocative string ensembles, it’s a cinch. Finally, global vintage style Ensemble & Phaser effects are provided, allowing you to hone your sound to evocative, retro, string ensemble perfection.

RE-STRINGS includes string tones from the following classic instruments ARP Quadra (1978) Crumar Multiman (1975) Elka Rhapsody (1975) Eminent 310 (1972) Freeman String Symphonizer (1973) Godwin Model 749 String Concert (1980) Hohner K4 (1977) Junost 21 (c 1986) Korg Lambda (1979) Korg PE2000 (1976) Logan String Melody II (1977) Mellotron (1963) Moog Opus III (1980) Roland VP330 (1979) Solina String Ensemble (1974) Technics KN200 (1982) Yamaha CE-25 (1983) Yamaha SS30 (1977)"

YAMAHA SS 30 rare vintage analog string synth

via this auction

SN 1381

"Very rare yamaha ss 30 vintage string synth , never released in the US
- often compared to the ARP Solina String Synth .

This one in near mint condition . There are a few small marks and scratches.

A chunky (its heavy, 20kg!!) wood veneered string synth from the 70's. Its a dedicated string synth with all the control needed to make those 70's string sounds. It really has a rich and lush sound , wonderfully simple and effective controls.
This example is 100% working and cosmetically in excellent condition except for some small chips to the veneer.

Control section running from left to right: pitch/ detune - The outer pot adjusts the overall tuning and the inner pot detunes the voices against the pitch which can produce a wonderful thickening effect ( some sources describe this synth as a duphonic/ multiphonic ,others describe it as a 4 voice polyphonic. It uses divide down chips enabling all keys to be played at once)

Orchestra -Depth ( Speed 1/2 ,cello ,violin ) A great ensemble effect with 2 different effect types (speed) and the ability to separate the effect between cello and violin ( so you can have ,for example cello effect and violins dry )

Vibrato ,Delay/Depth- Very nice vibrato effect.

Sustain, Cello /Violin - sustain 1 control each for cello and violin giving again the ability to have separate amount of sustain for cello and violin sections . Very short to very long .

Keyboard split 0/1/2/3 .0 setting is no split and just the violin sound over the whole range. 1 gives a split with the lowest octave for cellos the rest strings. 2 setting gives 1 and a half octaves to the cello . 3 gives 2 octaves to the cello. The splits are indicated by a white dot above the note on the control panel
Cello ,Volume, attack/slow ,cello1/cello2 - control section for cellos giving control over attack fast/slow. Choice of 2 cello sounds.

Violin Attack/Slow, Viola/violin1/Violin2 /Volume - Same as cello control section though the volume is at the far right.

Brilliance Cello/Violin Very usable low pass filter for cello and violin."

Yamaha SS-30 String Synthesiser

Published on Dec 2, 2019 JMPSynth

"Quick demo of the Yamaha SS-30 String Synthesiser, one of two stringers favoured by Ultravox in the 1980's due to its lush sound.

Please forgive the picture quality from phone, the audio has been over-dubbed which is the important thing."

YAMAHA SS 30

via this auction
"Very rare yamaha ss 30 vintage string synth , never released in the US
- often compared to the ARP Solina String Synth .

A chunky (its heavy, 20kg!!) wood veneered string synth from the 70's. Its a dedicated string synth with all the control needed to make those 70's string sounds. It really has a rich and lush sound , wonderfully simple and effective controls.
This example is 100% working and cosmetically in excellent condition except for some small chips to the veneer.

Control section running from left to right
pitch/ detune - The outer pot adjusts the overall tuning and the inner pot detunes the voices against the pitch which can produce a wonderful thickening effect ( some sources describe this synth as a duphonic/ multiphonic ,others describe it as a 4 voice polyphonic. It uses divide down chips enabling all keys to be played at once)

Orchestra -Depth ( Speed 1/2 ,cello ,violin ) A great ensemble effect with 2 different effect types (speed) and the ability to separate the effect between cello and violin ( so you can have ,for example cello effect and violins dry )

Vibrato ,Delay/Depth- Very nice vibrato effect.

Sustain, Cello /Violin - sustain 1 control each for cello and violin giving again the ability to have separate amount of sustain for cello and violin sections . Very short to very long .

Keyboard split 0/1/2/3 .0 setting is no split and just the violin sound over the whole range. 1 gives a split with the lowest octave for cellos the rest strings. 2 setting gives 1 and a half octaves to the cello . 3 gives 2 octaves to the cello. The splits are indicated by a white dot above the note on the control panel
Cello ,Volume, attack/slow ,cello1/cello2 - control section for cellos giving control over attack fast/slow. Choice of 2 cello sounds.

Violin Attack/Slow, Viola/violin1/Violin2 /Volume - Same as cello control section though the volume is at the far right.

Brilliance Cello/Violin Very usable low pass filter for cello and violin."

YAMAHA SS-30 Analog String Synth SN 1555

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Very rare yamaha ss 30 vintage string synth , never released in the US. Probably one of the lushest sounding string synths around. It uses divide down for its tone generation but there are two tones for each note so you can detune one against the other for a wide sound. Add in the ensemble and vibrato and it all adds up to some very lush sounds..."

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YAMAHA SS-30 rare vintage analog string synth

via this auction
"Very rare yamaha ss 30 vintage string synth , never released in the US
- often compared to the ARP Solina String Synth .

A chunky (its heavy, 20kg!!) wood veneered string synth from the 70's. Its a dedicated string synth with all the control needed to make those 70's string sounds. It really has a rich and lush sound , wonderfully simple and effective controls.

Control section running from left to right
pitch/ detune - The outer pot adjusts the overall tuning and the inner pot detunes the voices against the pitch which can produce a wonderful thickening effect ( some sources describe this synth as a duphonic/ multiphonic ,others describe it as a 4 voice polyphonic. It uses divide down chips enabling all keys to be played at once)

Orchestra -Depth ( Speed 1/2 ,cello ,violin ) A great ensemble effect with 2 different effect types (speed) and the ability to separate the effect between cello and violin ( so you can have ,for example cello effect and violins dry )

Vibrato ,Delay/Depth- Very nice vibrato effect.

Sustain, Cello /Violin - sustain 1 control each for cello and violin giving again the ability to have separate amount of sustain for cello and violin sections . Very short to very long .

Keyboard split 0/1/2/3 .0 setting is no split and just the violin sound over the whole range. 1 gives a split with the lowest octave for cellos the rest strings. 2 setting gives 1 and a half octaves to the cello . 3 gives 2 octaves to the cello. The splits are indicated by a white dot above the note on the control panel

Cello ,Volume, attack/slow ,cello1/cello2 - control section for cellos giving control over attack fast/slow. Choice of 2 cello sounds.

Violin Attack/Slow, Viola/violin1/Violin2 /Volume - Same as cello control section though the volume is at the far right.

Brilliance Cello/Violin Very usable low pass filter for cello and violin."

Yamaha SS-30 Rare 70's Analogue String Synthesiser SN 1318

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This Yamaha SS-30 sounds great. It is a string synth, released in 1977 and it gets a really good write up, many people seem to love it! There are two tones for each note and it can create some really lush timbres. If you are after a stringer, this would definitely be a great option."

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Sekiwa Synthesizer Study Synth Album

via this auction

List of gear on the back cover. Note all the typos.

Synthesizer
ARP 2600 - ES
ARP 2800 ES Odessey
ARP-2701 (with Degital Sequencer)
ARP 1701 ES Pro Soloist
MOOG 55 System
Mini Moog
Yamaha CS-10
Yamaha CS-10
Yamaha CS080 Polyphonic Synthesizer
Korg 800DV

Synthesizer Model
ES-0111 Dual VCO + Digital Ring Modulator
ES-0211 VCLF
ES-0221 VCLF + VCHF
ES-0311 VCA
ES-0411 Dual Envelope Geuerator
ES-0511 Dual Ring Modulator + Level Shifter
ES-0611 Multimode Filter
ES-0621 4 Variable Filter Bank
ES-0711 Dual DC Mixer
ES-0811 Scale Oscillator Driver
ES-5111S Dual LFO System
ES-5121S Ascending + Exponential Geuarator
ES-5131S AGC + Variable limiter

Tape Recorder
TEAC 80.8 8Track(1/2") Tape Speed 38cm/p 1
TEAC A3340S 4Track(1/4") Tape Sp 38cm/p 1
TEAC A7400 2Track(1/4") Tape Sp 38cm/p 1
TEAC A2300S 4Track(1/4") Tape Sp 38cm/p 1
Ampex MM-1000 16Track(2")
Ampex AG440b 2Track

Mixer
TEAC M-3 (8ch)

Accessory
DIC EM-1000 Echo Machine
ES ESA-20 Phase Machine
ES ESA-30 Streo Flauger
ES ESd-10 Computer Sequencer
ES ESd-16 Digital Sequencer
ES ESd-101 DA + Interfase

Other Instrument
Yamaha CP-70 Electric Grand
Yamaha SS-30
Solina String Ensewble
Clavinet D-6
HAMOND X-5

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70s Synth Strings from Italy - The Crumar Multiman-S

Alex Ball synth vids

0:00 - Opening demo
0:35 - The String Synthesizer
2:44 - Paraphony
4:11 - The Crumar Multiman-S
4:32 - Basic Strings Demo
5:42 - Low Strings Ensemble Demo
6:07 - Phased Strings Demo
6:34 - Brass
7:46 - Piano
8:17 - Clavichord
8:31 - Bass
9:01 - The Multiman
10:11 - Outro Disco Bonanza

"Today we take a look at the Crumar Multiman-S, an Italian string synthesizer from 1977.

We also look at the concept of a string synthesizer in general; an instrument that served as a stop gap, but that forged its own identity due the distinctive sound and the records they were used in.

Originally conceived by Ken Freeman, others saw the impending gold rush and got their instruments out. When I say there was a 'string synth heyday', I'm not exaggerating. Here's a list of just some of them:

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Vintage analog Synth Session

Published on Mar 1, 2020 heckenschreck

"A session with: Yamaha SS-30, ARP Explorer I, ARP Odyssey III, Sequential Circuits Prophet T-8, Oberheim OB-8 and the Bass monster Roland MKS-80. Drums: SCI Drumtraks and Korg Monotribe. Midi clock Master: Garfield Master Beat. MKS-80 Sequencer: SEQ-12. T-8 Arpeggiator: Arpie. FX on Explorer I: Eventide Eclipse, FX on SS-30 and OB-8: T.C. Electronics M-3000."

Ultravox Synths Take 2

Title link takes you to a previous post I put up on Ultravox Synths. Micke just posted the following on this VSE thread.

Did you know:

1) that the fat bass line on Ultravox' song "Slow Motion" (off of Systems of romance, 1978) was actually played by Chris Cross on his EMS-Synthi?

2) that the EMS synthi, Arp Odyssey (and Elka Rhapsody) were the only synths used for U-Vox' 2nd album "Ha, Ha, Ha" (1977)?

3) that the Elka Rhapsody 610 was used for the string sounds on U-vox' first three albums?

4) that Brian Eno programmed the Minimoog (his own synth) on the early U-vox songs "My way" and "Slip Away"?

5) that the kick drum, snare and hi-hat on U'vox' cues "Dislocation" were done on Billy Currie's Arp Odyssey with lots of fx added?

6) that the Minimoog is responsible for the bassline on "Quite Man"

7) that the Oberheim OB-X was used mainly for solos on U-vox album "Rage in Eden"?

8) that Billy Currie bought a Yamaha CS-80 in late 1979 and used it on songs like "Mr.X" (Vienna), "Western promise" (Vienna") "I Remember" (Rage In Eden), "Hymn" (Quartet)?

9) that U-vox' main string-machine between 1980-1984 was the Yamaha SS-30?

10) that the Yamaha GS-1 FM synthesizer was used for the solo in "Mine for life"?

11) that the EMS-Synthi was U-vox's very first synth back in early '77 or thereabouts?
-----------

Also see Midge Ure on the Minimoog used for the bassline in Viena.

Yamaha SS-30 Vintage Analogue String Synthesiser SN 1731

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This fully wood-cased beast is a classic String-Synth of the seventies from Yamaha. It is "multi-phonic" as it uses a divide-down, electric organ type of architechture for its tone generation. There are two tones for each note so it's probably fair to say it's dual-oscillator, and it can create some really lush timbres. It's richer sounding than the ARP Solina String Synth. It has an individual VCA envelope for each key. The four-octave keyboard is not velocity sensitive, and the synth offers just a few controls above the keyboard for choosing preset sounds, and modest tweaking (no filters, LFOs, etc). It has been used by Utravox & Midge Ure."

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"Working for the weekend" Loverboy Oberheim OBXa Keyboard

Published on Mar 27, 2016 synthartist69

"Just a Loverboy jam...this song makes me happy.... I believe it was originally done on an OBXa but not 100% sure...."

Update: someone mentioned he used a Prophet 5 and a Yamaha CS-50 at the time. Below is a video from them performing it live in 1983. You can see the CS50 on top at 2:58. Can't tell what's under it. The left side panels by the left knob box don't match a Prophet-5 or OB-Xa.

Update2: Turns out that is a custom case for the Prophet-5 that the CS60 sits on. Via the same source:

"He had a custom wood case built to hold the P5 under the CS. It sat on top of the electric grand. I actually talked to him about it when he stopped by Sweetwater when I worked there. He also used a Yamaha SS-30 string synth and sometimes a second P5 on his left."

Loverboy Working For The Weekend Live In Vancouver 1983

Uploaded on Oct 12, 2011 ozgisch

Yamaha SS-30 String Synthesizer SN 1658

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Uncommon Yamaha string synth with a distinctive, rich sound."

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Yamaha SS-30 STRINGS Synth SN 2493

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This Polyphonic ensemble from Yamaha is in excellent condition, though it does show some tiny signs of age. It is fully working, have been cleaned and refurbished. All the knobs have been cleaned and lubricated. Thekeyboard has been rebuilt, every keys are working correctly without double triggering. The unit has been calibrated following the factory specifications."

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