Schmidt 8-Voice

We are Brokering this limited production run and modern classic for and on behalf of our UK client.

Service Status: 

Full health-check to be carried out post-sale.

Remarks: 

We present a fabulous opportunity to own a mint condition 2018 production version Schmidt 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer – Serial number 057. There were only 100 Schmidt 8-Voice manufactured, in batches of 25 at a time, so this example came from the third production run, assembled and shipping from Schmidt during 2018.

About the Schmidt 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer:

Schmidt themselves have a website dedicated to this incredible instrument, so we would recommend you click the link below to find out all about what makes this already a classic and among one of the most highly desirable synthezisers ever made:

https://www.schmidt-synthesizer.com/en/

Background:

Our client purchased this Schmidt 8-Voice in December 2017, and as the instrument was built to order for them, they took delivery of it on 21st September 2018. It has resided in a home studio since then and kept under a dust cover when not in use, so is in as-new condition with actually very little use. Our client confessed that due to demands of running his own business, he has not had much time to actually play the Schmidt, and feels it should go to someone else who can get better use from it.

It was originally shipped from Schmidt securely contained within a custom flight-case, and our client had retailed that, so the instrument will be supplied with this case as part of the sale.

We have a copy of the original sale s receipt which might be available to the new owner, subject to our clients approval as it does contain personal details of course, but this forms part of the instruments provenance.

Health-Check:

As this is an almost new machine, we will not be needing to carry out any maintenance on the Schmidt, but it will be fully tested by us prior to handing it over to the new owner.

Condition:

As new – mint condition.

Packing & Shipping: 

We can ship this Schmidt 8-Voice worldwide, although the packing, shipping & insurance costs are not included in the sale price below, so are subject to quotation.  Due to the sheer size and weight of the flight-cased instrument, we would recommend having it custom crated and palleted for shipping overseas.  UK buyers would be able to collect it from us in Reading and/or we might be able to deliver it in person, depending on your location, and subject to quotation.

We are happy to discuss your requirements so please email us if you have any questions on the logistics and/or need a quote.

Sales Price: 

£19,990 GBP

As this is a brokered sale, VAT is not applicable on the sale of this Schmidt 8-Voice to UK buyers, however, packing & shipping/insurance is subject to VAT @ 20% should you need the goods shipped to you.

Availability: 

This Schmidt 8-Voice is no longer available for sale.  This listing was uodted on Wednesday 6th March at 13:07 GMT.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual Schmidt 8-Voice for sale – these were supplied to us by our client.  If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument then please contact us so we can try and accommodate your request but there may be a short delay in getting this done for you.

BUY THIS ARP SCHMIDT 8-VOICE

Yamaha CS-70M

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Servicing Status: KSR have carried out a full service this CS-70M in July 2023.

Remarks: 

This was one of those ‘time capsule’ moments when then owner of the CS-70M turns up with the instrument contained in its original retail packaging, and reveals the best condition example I have every seen in 22 years as a specialist vintage synth dealer. This CS-70M was purchased new by my Client on 25th February 1983. We have an image of the original sales invoice from 1983 (kept confidential but will be supplied to the new owner), along with all the original documentation, so Owners Manual, Service Manual and the colour printed Yamaha Sales Brochure for the CS070M (all pictured below).

The CS-70M has for many people been overlooked, overshadowed by its bigger brother – the CS80, but this instrument has ascended in popularity among aficionados, and we know this synth is highly sought after by those who truly appreciate it.

6 Voice, dual-channel (stereo), aftertouch, 30 memories, ring-mod, chorus & Leslie effects, lowpass, high-pass, and bandpass VCF, fully programmable and with a 4 channel polyphonic sequencer etc.

Those in the know will already tell you that this is one of the finest hybrid analogue polysynths ever made and a work of audio art in its own right.  It shares most of the same technology as the CS80 and many of the characteristics and tonal qualities as well. The big ‘plus’ over the CS-80 is the digital auto-tune facility that snaps the voice cards into tune upon powering up the synth.  These models do not suffer from any wayward tuning issues, so this was a step-change for Yamaha when this hybrid polysynth hit the market, of that over the CS-80 and its pure analogue foibles at least.

There are a few demos on YouTube of these but we like this rather ambient-noodling one from the Channel of MoreAnalog as it demonstrates nicely how the CS70M has that beautiful ambient CS80 vibe we love about this synth: 

https://youtu.be/1_jy9ERBTPs

Background:

As mentioned above, this is a remarkable single owner example that perfectly meets all the criteria to be a fine collectors item, as well as a usable music instrument. This is a completely factory stock survivor machine, so has not been retrofitted with MIDI, so no holes have been  drilled into its pristine case, so this lacks MIDI, but once you buy it then you can decide if that’s important to you to have implemented of if you prefer to retain its originality and collectable value by keeping it original.

The serial number for this CS-70M is: 1654

Condition:

The cosmetic condition of this example is exemplary with no perceivable ageing to the control surfaces. The faux wood laminate cabinet is in outstanding condition, unmarked, We would grade this as in Excellent condition – 10 out of 10 cosmetically…really.

All the original controls, slider-caps, knobs are intact and everything still looks sharp and clean.  We have all the original manuals and other documentation as mentioned above. There is even the small rubber cover for the Keycode port on the rear-panel still in place.

Operational Condition:

Operationally, our trusted and world-renowned ‘Yamaha CS Series’ restoration expert – Kent Spong of KSR, has already carried out a full service on the CS70M, so it’s 100% perfectly working and ready for its new owner now.  Servicing included re-capping the PSU, full system-wide test and calibrations and cleaning of sliders and pots where needed as the synth has been sat unused for some time so it did need some light attention, but we wanted a very light touch with this instrument. 

The only item that we need to report that is non-functional is the magnetic strip reader as there is a custom Yamaha IC that has failed on the reader and that part is no longer available. This is a very common problem on the CS-70M and we don’t currently have any workaround for this, so we are declaring it here so you have full knowledge when considering to to purchase the instrument.

The CS-70M operates from 100V to 240V as there is a switchable PSU switch(s) on the back panel, and this Yamaha is supplied with its original & proprietary 2-pin power cable. The unit has been fully tested under UK 240V conditions at the KSR workshop.

Packing, Shipping, Insurance and Warranty: 

We can ship this CS-70M worldwide, although the packing, shipping & insurance costs are not included in the sale price below, so are subject to quotation.  As this is supplied in its original retail box, then we would have to order a custom sized export-grade cardboard carton that encompasses the OE box as well, so it will be a large and heavy.

There may be some short delays in getting the packaging materials produced for shipping as they are custom ordered for the specific dimensions of each instrument.  We are happy to discuss your requirements so please email us if you have any questions on the logistics and/or need a quote, but you are also welcome to collect it from us in person in Reading, UK.

As the instrument is being Brokered through RL Music, it will be sold with a full 3-month (return-to-dealer) warranty, covering all parts and labour.

Sales Price: 

£10,990 GBP

VAT is not applicable to UK buyers, however, the packing & shipping costs are subject to VAT @ 20%, should you need the goods shipped to you.  

Availability: 

This CS-70M is now SOLD – this listing was updated on Saturday 17th February @ 06:59 GMT.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual CS-70M for sale.  If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument then please contact us so we can try and accommodate your request but there may be a short delay in getting this done for you as the instrument is currently in secure storage.

BUY THIS CS-70M

Yamaha DX1

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our EU customer

Servicing Status: KSR have carried out a full health-check on this DX-1 in June 2023.

Remarks: A good all original condition Yamaha DX-1, which we have previously sold to the current owner but they are now Brokering it back through us for re-sale.

What is there to say on this 1983 flagship synthesizer that has not already been written, but it’s a very rare machine with only 140 reported to have ever been manufactured, so a really unique find in 2023. I terms of some historic information, we have found a useful website that has a dedicated page to the DX-1, which also includes some videos.  If you would like to delve into the back-story on the DX-1 and understand more about it’s capabilities and sounds the please click the link below to find out more:

Classic Gear -The Yamaha DX1: Owning and Recreating the King of FM

We are not affiliated, nor have we contributed or edited any of the information provided in the link above, so this is an independent source for the DX-1 which we hope you find of interest.

Cosmetic Condition:

The overall condition of this example is very good, with the normal amount of wear we would expect to see on a synth this age, size and quality. We sold this DX-1 to our EU customer, so it was shipped out of the UK against the original sale and then was re-imported in May this year, having been sent straight to Kent Spong at KSR for some servicing, where the instrument currently resides. 

The photos below were taken at KSR, so are un-doctored and show the overall presentation.

Operational Condition:

The following declaration is made in good faith and is an honest account of the current operational condition of this example.  

All the controls, LEDs, functions of the control panel work as they should, so LED buttons are all operational.  However,  Bank A Voice 5 button feels slightly different to operate than the others which suggests the component is faulty, but it does function, although it can be intermittent. We are not aware of a replacement for this part as it would appear to be a DX-1 specific component but we are declaring this as a known issue.

The LDC display is fully working with all segments showing properly and brightness is perfectly readable.  The volume LED indicator on the right hand side, next to where to says ‘DX-1  ’ on the front panel has one of the tiny LED segments that is dimmer than all the rest (the 14db) and one that does not work (the 96 db) – I’ve attached a photo I took when we had it set up in the workshop .

The sliders top the right of the instrument all work correctly.

The modulation and pitch-wheel both operate correctly.

The DX- sound engine itself operates correctly.  There are some classic ‘DX’ patches loaded in the system, I did try to edit some sounds and all the edit functions were available are working, although I didn’t save those changes.

The professional weighted 73 note wood keyboard was fully working in terms of triggering notes, and the velocity was 100% working across all keys.

The Polyphonic After-Touch (Poly-AT) is not operating at more than 30% of the keyboard. Kent has gone though each key to check the after-touch sensors and there are many that simply are not working.  Kent at KSR does not currently have any supply for replacements, so this is not something Kent has a resolution for, but the owner is aware and this is factored into the sale price.

In consulting with Kent at KSR on the reality on getting the Poly-AT system fully restored, as I know this would be of interest to any potential buyer,  Kent told me that every DX-1 he had seen had similar issues as there are no replacement parts for the Poly-AT sensors at present.  He said that in the last 6 years he had serviced two DX-1 owned by MI professionals, and both those machines also had significant Poly-AT sensor failures, so it would seem to be consistent with the age of these machines.  I personally would be very suspicious of anyone selling a DX-1 stating that the Poly-AT system was 100% based on this reality.

Summary:

We have seen people advertising the Yamaha DX-1 from £60,000 to nearly £150,000 GBP in recent years, which is eye-watering, but with such a small production run plus is being such an historic instrument with A-list users like Dire Straits and Michael Jackson et al, it’s not hard to understand why people might value them this high.  With the declared operational condition of this particular DX-1 in mind, we have agreed with our Client, the owner, to price this example much more realistically. The price below is not subject to VAT in the UK as this is a commission sale but it might be subject to import duties in your own country, if you are purchasing outside the UK.

This DX-1 has multiple power settings so it’s able to operate in any country around the world without he need for any external power-supplies to step-up or down. We will also supply  a PDF copy of the owners manual.

As the instrument is being Brokered through RL Music, it will be sold with a full 3-month warranty and we can ship worldwide.  

Packing & Shipping: 

We can ship this DX-1 worldwide, although the packing, shipping & insurance costs are not included in the sale price below, so they are subject to quotation.  The synth is located with KSR in the UK, so you are welcome to collect it from then directly if you prefer.

There may be short delays in getting the packaging materials produced for shipping as they are custom ordered for the specific dimensions of each instrument, and for the DX-1, we would recommends having it custom crated and palletised.  We are happy to discuss your requirements, so please email us if you have any questions about the logistics and/or need a quote.

Price: £28.990 GBP

As this is a brokered sale, VAT does not apply to UK buyers. However, packing & shipping/insurance is subject to VAT @ 20% should you need the goods shipped.

Availability: 

This DX-1is available for sale now.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher-resolution photos of the actual DX-1 for sale.

BUY THIS YAMAHA DX-1

Yamaha CS-60

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: December 2022.

Servicing Status: Full service by KSR was already carried out in December 2022, so this Yamaha CS-60 is ready for sale now.

Remarks: We are delighted to offer this superb condition example Yamaha CS-60, which is supplied with its original lid, legs and expression & sustain pedals.

The CS-60 is an 8 x VCO – 8 note true polyphonic synth with essentially the same panel layout and identical sound engine as the flagship CS-80, including aftertouch (mono). Also, this model offers user-programmable sounds/storage, which might not sound much of a big deal in 2023, but in 1978 that was a key selling point and something the cheaper CS-50 didn’t offer.

As mentioned above, this CS-60 (serial #1237) was fully serviced by master CS Series technician; Kent Spong at KSR in December 2022, so it is 100% fully operational. The cosmetic condition of the front panel is excellent, and Tolex covering in very good shape overall with some light wear but no damage/tears, and the metal catches and hinges are all present, although the chrome does show patina. This CS-60 is complete as it comes with its original lid, legs, expression and sustain pedals and bag.

This example is factory stock in terms of specification, so no modifications have been implemented. Kenton is still producing a MIDI retrofit kit for this model.  If you would like to have MIDI fitted, please speak to us about your requirements when you enquire, and we will provide the costs for the supply of the kit and installation by Kent at KSR.

Quite remarkably, our client purchased this CS-60 new from the London Synth Centre in 1978, and it’s only ever been used at home.  This exceptional provenance can be documented as a signed letter should the buyer of this synth wish to have that as proof.  This does add intrinsic value as a single-owner machine is such a rare occurrence for a 45 year old instrument.

This CS-60 is sold through RL Music with a 3-month warranty. It operates on EU220~UK240V and is fitted with a UK type 3-pin plug. We can supply the user manual in PDF format.

Packing & Shipping: 

We can ship this CS-60 worldwide, although the packing, shipping & insurance costs are not included in the sale price below, so they are subject to quotation.

There may be short delays in getting the packaging materials produced for shipping as they are custom ordered for the specific dimensions of each instrument.  We are happy to discuss your requirements, so please email us if you have any questions about the logistics and/or need a quote.

Sales Price: 

£10,000 GBP

As this is a brokered sale, VAT is not applicable on the sale of this CS-60 to UK buyers. However, packing & shipping/insurance is subject to VAT @ 20% should you need the goods shipped.

Availability: 

This CS-60 is available for sale now.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher-resolution photo of the actual CS-60 for sale.  If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument, please get in touch with us so we can try and accommodate your request, but there may be a short delay in getting this done for you as the instrument is currently in secure storage.

BUY THIS CS-60

Yamaha CS-50

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: November 2022.

Servicing Status: Full service by KSR has already been carried out in November 2022, so this Yamaha CS-50 is ready for sale now.

Remarks: We are delighted to offer this excellent condition example Yamaha CS50, which is supplied with its original lid.

The Yamaha CS series polysynths have a beautifully characterful and distinctive sound that is unique. The CS50 has essentially the same panel layout and sound engine that CS-60 and CS-80 use, including aftertouch (mono). It’s a 4 x VCO – 4 note true polyphonic synth, and this synth produces some beautiful timbres whilst having a bright and very playful character, and is a wonderful instrument and a superb stepping stone to its more powerful siblings – the CS-60 and the incredible CS-80.

This CS-50 (serial #1916) has already had a full service by master CS Series technician; Kent Spong at KSR, so is 100% fully operational. The cosmetic condition of the front-panel is excellent, and tolex covering in good shape overall with the normal wear and tear that these have, and the metal catches and hinges are all present although the chrome on these are showing patina.

This CS-50 is sold through RL Music with a 3-month warranty. It operates on EU220~UK240V and is fitted with a UK type 3-pin plug. We can supply the user manual in PDF format.

Packing & Shipping: 

We can ship this CS-50 worldwide, although the packing, shipping & insurance costs are not included in the sale price below, so are subject to quotation.  There may be some short delays in getting the packaging materials produced for shipping as they are custom ordered for the specific dimensions of each instrument.  We are happy to discuss your requirements so please email us if you have any questions on the logistics and/or need a quote.

Sales Price: 

£8,000 GBP

As this is a brokered sale, VAT is not applicable on the sale of this CS-50 to UK buyers, however, packing & shipping/insurance is subject to VAT @ 20% should you need the goods shipped to you.

Availability: 

This CS-50 is available for sale now.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual CS-50 for sale.  If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument then please contact us so we can try and accommodate your request but there may be a short delay in getting this done for you as the instrument is currently in secure storage

BUY THIS CS-50

Yamaha CS-70M w/MIDI

Service Status: 

Full service by KSR was carried out in December 2021, so this CS-70M is ready for sale & shipping now!

Remarks: 

We’re excited to be able to get hold of this really super condition CS-70M as they really are quite magnificent synths for a whole number of reasons.  These were proper old-school designed hybrid digital/analogue systems made between 1981 and 1984, and it wasn’t long after these came out that the DX7 was introduced, which seems hard to believe really.

The CS-70M has for many people been overlooked, overshadowed by its bigger brother – the CS80, but this instrument has ascended in popularity among aficionados, and we know this synth is highly sought after by those who truly appreciate it.

6 Voice, dual-channel (stereo), aftertouch, 30 memories, ring-mod, chorus & Leslie effects, lowpass, high-pass, and bandpass VCF, fully programmable and with a 4 channel polyphonic sequencer etc.

Those in the know will already tell you that this is one of the finest analogue polys ever made and a work of audio art in its own right.  It shares most of the same technology as the CS80 and many of the characteristics and tonal qualities as well. The big ‘plus’ over the CS-80 is the digital auto-tune facility that snaps the voice cards into tune upon powering up the synth.  These models do not suffer from any wayward tuning issues, so this was a step-change for Yamaha when this hybrid polysynth hit the market, of that over the CS-80 and its pure analogue foibles at least.

There are a few demos on YT of these but we like this rather ambient-noodling one from ‘MoreAnalog’ because it demonstrates nicely how the CS70M has the CS80 vibe we are talking about: 

https://youtu.be/1_jy9ERBTPs

Background:

We purchased this CS-70M from a UK collector who had owned it for over 20 years at his home, where the synth has been in regular use. The Kenton MIDI was retro-fitted to this CS70M before the seller purchased it back in the 90s, but it’s a welcome addition and really helps integrate the Yamaha into a modern studio environment.  The synth is not supplied with the consumable magnetic storage strips eluded to in the user manual.

Condition:

The cosmetic condition of this example is extremely good overall with only light user wear & natural ageing to the control surfaces. The faux wood laminate cabinet is in very good order with only a couple of spots where this has been worn.  We would grade this as “very good original condition – 8.5 out of 10 cosmetically.’

All the original controls, slider-caps, knobs are intact and everything still looks sharp and clean.  We don’t have any accessories with this, or an original user manual, but we can supply one in PDF format for the new owner.

About Servicing:

Operationally, our trusted and world-renowned ‘Yamaha CS Series’ restoration expert – Kent Spong of KSR, has already carried out a full service on the CS70M, so it’s 100% perfectly working and ready for its new owner now.  Servicing included re-capping the PSU, full system-wide test and calibrations and cleaning of sliders and pots where needed.

The CS-70M operates from 100V to 240V as there is a switchable PSU switch(s) on the back panel, and this Yamaha is supplied with its original and very specific 2-pin power cable.  

Packing, Shipping, Insurance and Warranty: 

We can ship this CS-70M worldwide, although the packing, shipping & insurance costs are not included in the sale price below, so are subject to quotation.  There may be some short delays in getting the packaging materials produced for shipping as they are custom ordered for the specific dimensions of each instrument.  We are happy to discuss your requirements so please email us if you have any questions on the logistics and/or need a quote.

As the instrument is being Brokered through RL Music, it will be sold with a full 3-month (return-to-dealer) warranty, covering all parts and labour.

Sales Price: 

£9,000 GBP

VAT is not applicable to UK buyers, however, the packing & shipping costs are subject to VAT @ 20%, should you need the goods shipped to you.  The CS-70M can be available for collection from us directly in the South of England (Reading, Berkshire).

Availability: 

This CS-70M is now SOLD.  This listing was updated on 1st December 2022 @ 10:31 GMT.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual CS-70M for sale.  If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument then please contact us so we can try and accommodate your request but there may be a short delay in getting this done for you as the instrument is currently in secure storage.

BUY THIS CS-70M

Arp Quadra

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK Client.

Came into stock: Available from RL Music as at 21st November 2019.

Servicing Status: A full service by KSR will be carried post-sale.

Remarks: A really beautiful condition example of one of the best looking and sounding hybrid analogue polysynth of its generation – The Arp Quadra.

Produced between 1978 to 1981, the Quadra was adopted by many of the great bands of that era, probably the most notable being Tony Banks of Genesis – it’s beautiful and distinctive sounds can be heard in many of their albums of that period.

As the name suggests, the Quadra is 4 instruments in one, so a Bass synth, Polysynth, Lead synth, and String synth..all of which it does exquisitely well, and the built-in phase-shifter is to die for.  This all adds up to make this ‘must-have’ vintage keyboard for any serious fan. 

Here’s an excellent demo from a friend of ours – Marko Ettlich, otherwise known as RetroSound.  Marko delivers a beautiful demo of the Quadra in this short 3:50 piece:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksuG-f_HsRA

Here’s an operational demonstration video of this actual Quadra that Kent at KSR produced for us on 15th January 2020:

https://youtu.be/nQJss5Pxv58

Our client has owned this Quadra for over 10 years and very well cared for in his home. They commissioned James Walker to fully operationally overhaul the Quadra in 2009, so it’s had one of the worlds best synth-techs apply his skills to bringing the Quadra up to full spec with the required re-capping, new keyboard-bushes and calibrations etc.  As mentioned above, we will ask KSR to fully health-check and apply any service actions required post-sale.

Cosmetically, this 38+ year-old vintage analogue polysynth is in fantastic conditions you can see from the photos, with only some signs of wear to the metal panel in places. The main control surface is in remarkable condition with all the controls (slider/keys) intact and all mylar membrane switches working perfectly. The leather end-cheeks are in super condition throughout, with just some light wear as you would expect for a device this age.

This Arp Quadra operates on EU 220V.  We do have a user manual (in PDF format).  As the instrument is being Brokered through RL Music, it will be sold with a full 3-month warranty and can be shipped worldwide.  

Demos are available by appointment only.

<em>As with all Brokered Sales, the synth will be fully serviced post-sale before it’s sent to its new owner.  We do this to ensure that the instrument leaves us in perfect operational condition, and it is backed up by our full warranty to give the new owner complete peace of mind.  The servicing is carried out as a priority once the sale has been completed, and although it will delay shipping/delivery by a short time, we know from experience that customers are happy to wait.</em> 

Price: £8,300 GBP.

Availability: This Arp Quadra is now SOLD, as at 29th April 2020.

Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos of the actual Arp Quadra for sale.

BUY THIS QUADRA

Yamaha CS80

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our EU client.

Came into stock: Available from RL Music as at 20th December 2018, and this CS80 is currently located at our restoration partners – KSR in Surrey, UK.

Servicing Status: A full health-check by KSR has already been carried out (December 2018), so this CS80 is ready for sale now.

Remarks: This CS80 is good all original condition, with no modifications.

This CS80 we are offering for sale comes to us for Brokering from a private owner who had sent the instrument to KSR directly for a full check-up, to ensure it’s fully operational and ready for us to sell for them. The overall condition of this CS80 is good, but it does show signs of wear to the control surfaces and tolex, as we would expect from a 40+ year old instrument.

The pictures we have taken (see below), provide an honest appraisal, so we would rate this mid-production series CS80 (serial #13xx) to be a suitable studio example, that works flawlessly.

As mentioned, Kent at KSR has conducted a full health-check, and system-wide calibration of this CS80, but this is akin to a low-level service, so this is not a restoration. If a higher level of restoration work is something any potential buyer is interested in having done to ensure future longevity for this CS80 then please contact us for details of what is covered and the pricing etc.

Warranty provided on this CS80:

The CS80 is sold with a 3-month warranty as standard which covers all parts and labour and telephone/Skype technical support.

Upgrade Option Fitted -1:
If Midi is required on the CS80 then we are normally able to supply and install the Kenton Midi retrofit Kits for an additional £850 GBP.

Items of Note on this CS80 for sale:
Most CS80’s have lost their ‘Pedals, Music Stand and Legs’ over the years, so we are unable to supply these original accessories to the new owner, and this example for sale does not have any either. However, this CS80 does come with the original lid, and we will supply a copy of the owners manual on PDF.

This CS80 operates on EU220V but can be converted to US110V if required (subject to quotation).

We can have the CS80 professionally packed (custom crated) and shipped pretty much anywhere in the world (subject to quotation).

Price: £22,000 GBP.

Availability: This CS80 is now SOLD as at 4th February 2019.

Picture of the actual CS80 for sale below. We took these in-situ at the KSR workshop in December 2018, where the CS80 currently is available to demo (upon request).

Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

BUY THIS CS80

Yamaha CS70M

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our customer

Came into stock: September 2017.

Restoration Status: A full service by KSR has already been carried out (completed on 11th October 2017), so this CS70M is ready for sale now.

Remarks: We’re excited to be able to get hold of this really lovely condition CS70M as they really are quite magnificent synths for a whole number of reasons. These were proper old-school designed hybrid digital/analogue systems made between 1981 and 1984, and it wasn’t long after these came out that the DX7 was introduced, which seems hard to believe really.

The CS70M has for many people been overlooked, or perhaps overshadowed by it’s bigger brother – the CS80, but this instrument has ascended in popularity among aficionados, and we know this synth is highly sought after by those who truly appreciate it.

6 Voice, dual channel (stereo), aftertouch, 30 memories, ring-mod, chorus & Leslie effects, lowpass, highpass, and bandpass VCF, fully programmable and with a 4 channel polyphonic sequencer etc.

Those in the know will already tell you that this is one of the finest analogue polys ever made and a work of audio art in its own right. It shares most of the same technology as the CS80 and many of the characteristics and tonal qualities as well. The other big ‘Hello’ is also the fact you can get really close to the CS80 sound for a lot less money…this makes it even more appealing considering the price.

The UK owner we are selling this magnificent machine for has owned it for over a decade and the synth has been in regular use during that time, with periodic maintenance carried out to keep it in top workmen order. MIDI has already been retrofitted to this CS70M, which adds a lot of value when integrating into a modern studio setup.

The cosmetic condition of this example is extremely good overall with only light user wear & natural ageing to the control surfaces. The faux wood laminate cabinet it in very good order with only a couple of spots where this has been worn. We would grade this is “very good original condition – 8.5 out of 10 cosmetically.’

Operationally, our trusted ‘Yamaha CS Series’ restoration experts – KSR have already carried out a full service on the CS70M, so it’s 100% perfectly working and ready for its new owner.

There are a few demos on YT of these but we like this rather ambient-noodling one from ‘MoreAnalog’ because it demonstrates nicely how the CS70M has the CS80 vibe we are talking about: https://youtu.be/1_jy9ERBTPs

This CS70M is sold through RL Music with a 3-month warranty and can operate on US 110V or EU 220V. Also, we can supply a PDF photocopy of the user manual, and of course, the proprietary Yamaha power-cable.

Price: £6990 GBP

Availability: This CS70M is NO LONGER available for sale – updated on 25th June 2019.

Pictures below of actual Yamaha CS70M for sale. Click on the thumbnails for high-resolution images.

 


BUY THIS CS70M

Yamaha CS80

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our EU client.

Came into stock: Available from RL Music as at 28th June 2018, and this CS80 is currently located at our restoration partners – KSR in Surrey, UK.

Servicing Status: A full health-check by KSR has already been carried out (June 2018), so this CS80 is ready for sale now.

Remarks: This CS80 is an exemplary condition example that we sold to our client, the owner, in 2015 when the instrument was subjected to what we term a ‘Total Restoration.’

This CS80 we are offering for sale can be considered among the very finest examples in the world. It is still a 40-year-old instrument with its original keys & buttons etc., but the restoration work invested into it, plus the modifications listed below, mean this is a very special machine, and we have produced only a small number of these very high-level restored examples in the last 16 years for discerning customers around the world.

The CS80 has already been fully cosmetically and operationally restored (Level 2) by KSR. Only RL Music get the ‘’Level 2’ restoration as this includes a much higher level of detailed restoration by KSR, including a full key-bed restoration and point-to-point cabling/solder-contacts integrity checking for the entire loom etc. The Level 2 operational restoration normally costs £4000 GBP (in 2018). We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already had this work applied of course and is included in the sale price.

The following work has been implemented:

The restoration comprises (not limited to) the total replacement of all the old CMOS Logic IC’s, all of the dual op-amps, voice card, and power supply capacitors & transistors. In addition to this the TKC circuit board, which controls the polyphonic aftertouch of the CS80, is fitted with a set of bypass/decoupling capacitors for each IC to greatly reduce the chance of failure of the touch response circuit. To cap this off, a full calibration is then performed (voltages to within 3 decimal places). The actual list of work is huge, and changes out several hundred components,  and includes a 7 day burn-in test period/stress testing.
All the RL Music supplied CS80s are serviced/restored by the world renown CS80 expert Kent Spong of KSR (Kent Spong Restorations) in London. Sound on Sound magazine (SOS) did an interview article on Kent, which you can find here:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun13/articles/kent-spong.htm

Warranty provided on this CS80:
The CS80 is sold with a 6-month warranty as standard which covers all parts and labour and telephone/Skype technical support. KSR also provide full 12-month after-sales technical support for the CS80 by phone, email and Skype post-warranty. KSR is world renown CS80 experts and currently, support several hundred CS80 around the world for professional musicians/studios and enthusiasts etc.

Upgrade Option Fitted -1:
If Midi is required on the CS80 then we are normally able to supply and install the Kenton Midi retrofit Kits for an additional £850 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a new Kenton MIDI kit fitted (in 2015), so is included in the sale price below.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 2:
Total-Restoration Upgrade
Most of the major aspects of the CS80 cosmetic presentation are addressed including re-tolexing all the exterior (and lid), re-painting and screen printing all control surfaces. This work normally takes up to 12 weeks to complete.  For more information on what is included in this ultimate upgrade option then please call or email us for details. The Total-Restoration Cosmetic Upgrade Option costs £3500 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already had the Total-Restoration Cosmetic Upgrade applied, and is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 3:
Solid wood surround (in Walnut) beautifully handcrafted by Lamond Design, is normally supplied for an additional £850 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a solid Walnut surround fitted, and is included in the sale price.

Items of Note on this CS80 for sale:
Most CS80’s have lost their ‘Pedals, Music Stand and Legs’ over the years, so we are unable to supply these original accessories to the new owner, and this example for sale does not have any either. However, this CS80 does come with the original lid, which has been re tolexed of course. We will supply a copy of the owners manual on PDF.

This CS80 operates on EU220V but can be converted to US110V if required (subject to quotation).

We can have the CS80 professionally packed (custom crated) and shipped pretty much anywhere in the world (subject to quotation).

Price: With ‘average to tatty’ cosmetic condition, and fault-ridden examples of CS80 selling privately for £17,000+ GBP these days (if you can find one), we are inviting offers for this superlative & upgraded example in excess of £22,000 GBP.

Availability: This CS80 is now SOLD as at 9th August 2018.

Picture of the actual CS80 for sale below. We took these in-situ at the KSR Studio on 26th June 2018, where the CS80 currently is available to demo (upon request).

Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

BUY THIS CS80

2 Voice Pro

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: Available from RL Music from 10th November 2017

Restoration/Servicing Status: KSR to service once sold, and prior to shipping to the new owner.

Remarks: Not a vintage synth but it’s a hand-built analogue synth that comes from a strong vintage heritage and masterfully reissued by the original designer – Tom Oberheim. The 2 Voice Pro is a beautiful and faithful recreation of Tom’s classic SEM based synth, but with a modern twist to deliver a cracking little analogue synth.

This Tom Oberheim 2 Voice Pro was purchased new by our client in July 2015 (imported in from the USA from the retailer Analog Haven) and has sat in his smoke-free home studio in the UK since with very little use, hence the decision to sell it to fund new projects.

The synth is in perfect operational condition and is in near mint cosmetic condition, as you would expect for something 2 years old, but it has been in use so it’s not brand new. We will have the synth fully checked over post-sale for prudence, but this is a fully working and immaculate instrument. It will be supplied with the original owners manual and retail box (as pictured), plus IEC power cable and some 3.5mm jacks that came with the synth.

These are a limited production run model and set to rise in value once all production has ceased, so this is a good opportunity to save a considerable sum against the cost of buying a brand new one today.

Sound On Sound magazine featured an in-depth review of the 2 Voice Pro, written by one of the most knowledgeable & experienced synth reviewers on the planet – Gordon Reid. Please click the link below to read the article:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/tom-oberheim-two-voice-pro

There’s also another fantastic review by greatsynthesizers.com which is also worth a read, plus they include some sound samples at the end of the article, so please click the link below to read this article:

http://greatsynthesizers.com/en/test/oberheim-two-voice-pro-the-analog-dream-synth/

As with all Brokered Sales, the synth will be fully serviced post-sale before it’s sent to its new owner. We do this to ensure that the instrument leaves us in perfect operational condition, and it is backed up by our full warranty to give the new owner complete peace of mind. The servicing is carried out as a priority once the sale has been completed, and although it will delay shipping/delivery by a short time, we know from experience that customers are happy to wait.

This Tom Oberheim 2 Voice Pro is sold with a 3 month RL Music warranty and runs on either 110V or 220V (adaptive PSU).

Price: £3300 GBP.

Availability: This 2 Voice Pro is no longer available for sale – last updated on 8th April 2018.

Pictures of the actual 2 Voice Pro for sale (customer supplied) are below.

BUY THIS 2 VOICE PRO

Oberheim Matrix 12

We are Brokering this Matrix 12 for and on their behalf of a UK client

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music in September 2017.

Restoration Status: KSR have already fully undertaken a full service of the synth in September 2017.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): Available for sale now!

Remarks: These wonderful vintage synths are so hard to find these days in really nice cosmetic condition, so when an customer contacted us about selling their much loved (home use only) example, we jumped at the chance. This particular Matrix 12 is a US manufactured version which has the (factory option) ’12-individual outs’ fitted, and has the keyboard Aftertouch system installed (velocity was standard on all versions).

The Oberheim Matrix 12 offers a deep programmable architecture for those of you into tweaking but can also be a very user friendly hands-on preset machine with quick access for live use. This means they sit between that digital and analogue medium perfectly and are arguably the best of the hybrid technology of the mid 1980’s.

Once you’re familiar with the comprehensive programming interface of the Matrix 12 you have one of the most powerful analogue systems ever made. The M12 was the last of the old Oberheim analogue synth technology, was beautifully designed and a powerhouse of thick analogue goodness that was tragically lost from just about every synth made after, when we all decided that the DX7 was the future!

This Matrix 12 operates on EU 220V & US 110V, and is supplied with a bound photo-copy of the user manual…very handy. As with all our synths, the Oberheim is sold with a 3 month warranty.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £4990 UK Pounds

Availability: This Matrix 12 is now SOLD as at 5th October 2017.

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

BUY THIS MATRIX 12

Yamaha CS80

This CS80 is currently located at our restoration partners – KSR in Surrey, UK.

This CS80 is one of two exemplary condition examples that we own on in our private vintage synth collection. We are looking to fund some exciting new projects going forward, so have decided to release one of these CS80 to public sale.

The CS80 we are offering for sale could be considered among of the finest examples in the world. It is still a 40 year old instrument with its original keys & buttons etc., but the restoration work invested into it, plus the modifications listed below, mean this is a very special machine, and we have produced only a small number of these very high-level restored examples in the last 15 years for discerning customers around the world.

The CS80 has already been fully cosmetically and operationally restored (Level 2) by KSR. Only RL Music get the ‘’Level 2’ restoration as this includes a much higher level of detailed restoration by KSR, including a full key-bed restoration and point-to-point cabling/solder-contacts integrity checking for the entire loom etc. The Level 2 operational restoration normally costs £3000 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already had this work applied of course, and is included in the sale price.

The following work has been implemented:

The restoration comprises (not limited to) the total replacement of all the old CMOS Logic IC’s, all of the dual op-amps, voice card, and power supply capacitors & transistors. In addition to this the TKC circuit board, which controls the polyphonic after touch of the CS80, is fitted with a set of bypass/decoupling capacitors for each IC to greatly reduce the chance of failure of the touch response circuit. To cap this off, a full calibration is then performed (voltages to within within 3 decimal places). The actual list of work is huge, and changes out several hundred components,  and includes a 7 day burn-in test period/stress testing.

In addition, RL Music purchased a matched set of VCO for the CS80 about 5 years ago, so the synth has a beautiful set of late production version IG-series VCO ICs. The full set would cost around £2500 to £3000 to source these days, that’s if you could even find them (unlikely), but we’re pleased to confirm this is included in the sale price. The original earlier production version IG-IC’s from this CS80 (production serial #12xx) were rotated into our spares during the restoration (not for sale).

All the RL Music supplied CS80s are serviced/restored by the world renown CS80 expert Kent Spong of KSR (Kent Spong Restorations) in London. Sound on Sound magazine (SOS) did an interview article on Kent, which you can find here:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun13/articles/kent-spong.htm

Warranty provided on this CS80:
The CS80 is sold with a 6 month warranty as standard which covers all parts and labour and telephone/Skype technical support. KSR also provide full 12 month after-sales technical support for the CS80 by phone, email and Skype post-warranty. KSR are world renown CS80 experts and currently support several hundred CS80 around the world for professional musicians/studios and enthusiasts etc.

Upgrade Option Fitted -1:
If Midi is required on the CS80 then we are normally able to supply and install the Kenton Midi retrofit Kits for an additional £850 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a brand new MIDI kit fitted, and the supply and installation is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 2:
Total-Restoration Upgrade
All aspects of the CS80 cosmetic presentation are addressed including re-tolexing all the exterior (and lid), re-painting and screen printing all control surfaces. This work normally takes up to 12 weeks to complete.  For more information on what is included in this ultimate upgrade option then please call or email us for details. The Total-Restoration Cosmetic Upgrade Option costs £3000 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already had the Total-Restoration Cosmetic Upgrade applied, and is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 3:
Solid wood surround (in Oak) beautifully hand crafted by Lamond Design, is normally supplied for an additional £750 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a solid Oak surround fitted, and is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 4:
KSR have designed the special modification for the CS80 (The Cascade Unison Mod ) so that if you press a single note then you get all 16 VCOs but if you press 2 notes together then it’s 8 voices per note..then 4 notes its 4 VCO’s per note etc etc. Thus meaning that it’s a kind of polyphonic unison, and offers new creative control of the powerful sound the CS80 delivers. Nearly all CS80’s we have sold in the last few years have had these fitted and it definitely adds great sonic value with no impact on the systems reliability or longevity. The Cascade Unison Mod costs £850 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a Cascade Unison Mod fitted, and is included in the sale price.

Items of Note on this CS80 for sale:
Most CS80’s have lost their ‘Pedals, Music Stand and Legs’ over the years, so we are unable to supply these original accessories to the new owner, and this example for sale does not have any either. However, this CS80 does come with the original lid, which has been re telexed of course. We will supply a copy of the owners manual on PDF.

The CS80 has been safely kept in our secure storage for a while, so well be asking KSR to go over the instrument in detail once it has been sold & secured on deposit. The service/health-check will only take a short time, but included in this pre-shipping preparation will be a system-wide calibration & test.

This CS80 operates on EU220V, but can be converted to US110V if required (subject to quotation).

We can have the CS80 professionally packed (custom crated) and shipped pretty much anywhere in the world (subject to quotation).

Price: With ‘average to tatty’ cosmetic condition, and fault ridden examples of CS80 selling on eBay for £17,000+ GBP, we are inviting offers for this superlative example, so please email us with yours.

Availability: This CS80 is now SOLD as at 7th June 2017.

Picture of the actual CS80 for sale below. We took these in-situ at the KSR workshop on 31st May 2017, where the CS80 currently is available to demo (upon request). More pictures to follow shortly.

BUY THIS CS80

Yamaha CS50 w/MIDI

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: November 2016.

Restoration Status: KSR to service once sold, and prior to shipping to the new owner.

Remarks: We are delighted to offer this very good condition example Yamaha CS50, which is supplied with its original legs, and has a Kenton MIDI retrofit kit fitted.

The Yamaha CS series polysynths have a beautifully characterful and distinctive sound that we have not ever heard reproduced or replicated in any other vintage synth. The CS50 has essentially the same panel layout and sound engine of that of the CS60 and CS80, including aftertouch (mono). In the right hands, and with some good reverb, this synth can be coaxed to produce some beautiful timbres whilst having a bright and very playful character, and is a wonderful instrument & a superb stepping stone to it’s more powerful siblings – the CS60 and the mighty CS80.

The CS50 has already has a full ‘health-check’ by KSR, so we know the synth to be 100% fully working, but it will have a full service post-sale (see below). The cosmetic condition of the front-panel is excellent, and tolex covering in good shape also. The only item of note is that the power-cable compartment cover has lost its original retaining catch, so there is a non-original clasp fitted to stop the cover opening (see pictures once supplied).

The CS50 is currently with us in Reading, and available to demo. We can ship this world-wide, so please ask us for a packing & shipping quote, or you are welcome to collect in it person.

As with all Brokered Sales, the synth will be fully serviced post-sale before it’s sent to its new owner. We do this to ensure that the instrument leaves us in perfect operational condition, and it is backed up by our full warranty to give the new owner complete peace of mind. The servicing is carried out as a priority once the the sale has been completed, and although it will delay shipping/delivery by a short time, we know from experience that customers are happy to wait.

This CS50 is sold through RL Music with a 3 month warranty, and operates on EU220V. Also, a user manual (PDF) will be supplied with the synth, and also the original chrome legs.

Price Post-Servicing: £2350 GBP.

Availability: This CS50 with MIDI is now SOLD as at 7th February 2017.

Pictures supplied below are of the actual CS50 for sale.

 

RESERVE THIS CS50

Yamaha CS70M w/MIDI

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our customer

Came into stock: 7th October 2016.

Restoration Status: KSR to service once sold, and prior to shipping to the new owner.

Remarks: We’re excited to be able to get hold of this very nice condition CS70M (with Kenton MIDI) as they really are quite magnificent synths for a whole number of reasons. These were proper old-school designed hybrid digital/analogue systems made between 1981 and 1984, and it wasn’t long after these came out that the DX7 was introduced, which seems hard to believe really.

The CS70M has for many people been overlooked, or perhaps overshadowed by it’s bigger brother – the CS80, but this instrument has ascended in popularity among aficionados, and we know this synth is highly sought after by those who truly appreciate it.

6 Voice, dual channel (stereo), aftertouch, 30 memories, ring-mod, chorus & Leslie effects, lowpass, highpass, and bandpass VCF, fully programmable and with a 4 channel polyphonic sequencer etc.

Those in the know will already tell you that this is one of the finest analogue polys ever made, and a work of audio art in its own right. It shares most of the same technology as the CS80 and many of the characteristics and tonal qualities as well. The other big ‘Hello’ is also the fact you can get really close to the CS80 sound for a lot less money…this makes it even more appealing considering the price.

The owner we are selling this magnificent machine for has owned it since 1990 (original sales receipt supplied – bought from from a music dealer in Bath), and had only ever used it at home since. The owner had Kenton fit MIDI to it in 1992 (sales receipt also supplied)

The cosmetic condition of this example is very good overall but there are signs of user wear & natural ageing to the front panel paint, and along the rear-panel in places. The faux wood laminate cabinet it in very good order with only a couple of spots where this has been worn. The pictures we have taken are honest and represent the condition well, so we grade this is ‘good original condition – 7.5 out of 10 cosmetically.’ It’s not a museum piece for sure, but if it’s the sound that’s important to you then it will deliver this beautifully.

Operationally, our trusted ‘Yamaha CS Series’ restoration experts – KSR will be carrying out a full service on the CS70M, which will ensure 100% perfect operation for its new owner.

There are a few demos on YT of these but we like this rather ambient-noodling one from ‘MoreAnalog’ because it demonstrates nicely how the CS70M has the CS80 vibe we are talking about: https://youtu.be/1_jy9ERBTPs

As with all Brokered Sales, the synth will be fully serviced post-sale before it’s sent to its new owner. We do this to ensure that the instrument leaves us in perfect operational condition, and it is backed up by our full warranty to give the new owner complete peace of mind. The servicing is carried out as a priority once the the sale has been completed, and although it will delay shipping/delivery by a short time, we know from experience that customers are happy to wait.

This CS70M is sold through RL Music with a 3 month warranty, and can operate on US 110V or EU 220V. Also, a photocopy of the user manual in a binder is supplied with the synth, plus the service receipts from Kenton for the MIDI install, and the original shop receipt from the current owner (as mentioned above). Also the Kenton MIDI user manual is included, and of course, the proprietary Yamaha Power-cable.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £tbc GBP

Availability: This CS70M is now SOLD as at 21st October 2016.

Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

 

RESERVE THIS CS70M

Prophet T8

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: May 2016

Restoration Status: KSR to fully service once sold, and prior to shipping to the new owner.

Remarks: The Prophet T8 represents the pinnacle of the Sequential product line and with MIDI implementation and built in facilities like the wooden weighted keyboard and polyphonic after-touch. This Curtis chipset based system is is a joy to use and a high-grade professional instrument.

Our restorers, KSR, are experts at preparing these models, and the example that we are Brokering here has come from a ‘home use only’ UK customer, so it’s in great shape. The synth will go though a full and extensive service post-sale, but the base-line cosmetic and operational condition is very good.

As with all Brokered Sales, the synth will be fully restored post-sale before it’s sent to its new owner. We do this to ensure that the instrument leaves us in perfect operational condition, and it is backed up by our full warranty to give the new owner complete peace of mind. The servicing is carried out as a priority once the the sale has been completed, and although it will delay shipping/delivery by a short time, we know from experience that customers are happy to wait.

This T8 is sold with a 3 month warranty and runs on either 110V or 220V.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £4200 GBP.

Availability: This T8 is now SOLD as at 19th September 2016.

Pictures of the actual T8 below.

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

RESERVE THIS T8