This listing has been temporarily suspended as the items is now featured in the Autumn VEMIA Auction, that runs from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 9th November.

To see the live listing on the VEMIA Auction Rooms then please click the following link: https://spheremusic.com/

This listing has been temporarily suspended as the items is now featured in the Autumn VEMIA Auction, that runs from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 9th November.

To see the live listing on the VEMIA Auction Rooms then please click the following link: https://spheremusic.com/

This listing has been temporarily suspended as the items is now featured in the Autumn VEMIA Auction, that runs from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 9th November.

To see the live listing on the VEMIA Auction Rooms then please click the following link: https://spheremusic.com/

This listing has been temporarily suspended as the items is now featured in the Autumn VEMIA Auction, that runs from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 9th November.

To see the live listing on the VEMIA Auction Rooms then please click the following link: https://spheremusic.com/

This listing has been temporarily suspended as the items is now featured in the Autumn VEMIA Auction, that runs from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 9th November.

To see the live listing on the VEMIA Auction Rooms then please click the following link: https://spheremusic.com/

This listing has been temporarily suspended as the items is now featured in the Autumn VEMIA Auction, that runs from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 9th November.

To see the live listing on the VEMIA Auction Rooms then please click the following link: https://spheremusic.com/

Vintage Analogue Synthesizer Module – 1986

Condition

This Roland MKS-70 is in excellent cosmetic condition with only some light signs of rack rash to the mounting points. The main user-interface, controls, and buttons all work perfectly, and the display is bright and clear — as indeed it should be, as it has a new OLED display fitted.

Servicing & Restoration

Our trusted partner KSR carried out a full service in December 2024, during which a brand-new OLED display was fitted. The instrument has been fully tested, calibrated, and is 100% operational to factory specification.

Background

The MKS-70 and its companion PG-800 Programmer have been in our client’s possession for at least 15 years, to the best of their recollection. It has been one of those dependable go-to instruments — supremely reliable and effortlessly capable of producing those lush, wide analogue pads and piano tones for which the Roland Super JX series is celebrated.

The MKS-70 has featured on countless recordings over the years and remains a highly relevant and inspiring sound source, perfectly suited for anyone seeking that unmistakable late-1980s synth character in a modern studio environment.

Roland MKS-70 Super JX — Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Roland Corporation, Japan
Model: MKS-70 (Super JX)
Type: Analogue polyphonic synthesizer module (rack-mount)
Year of Release: 1986

Synthesis Architecture

• Synthesis Type: Analogue subtractive synthesis
• Tone Generation: Dual voice boards (same as JX-8P), each containing one complete 6-voice synthesizer
• Voices: 12-voice polyphony (2 × 6-voice)
• Timbrality: Bi-timbral (Upper/Lower tones)
• Oscillators: 2 × Digitally Controlled Oscillators (DCOs) per voice
  • Waveforms: Sawtooth, Square, Pulse (variable width)
  • Cross-modulation and oscillator sync
• Sub-Oscillator: Available per voice
• Filter: 1 × Resonant Low-Pass Filter (VCF) per voice + Non-resonant High-Pass Filter
• Envelopes: 2 × ADSR (for VCF and VCA)
• LFO: 1 per tone (waveforms: triangle, square, saw up/down, random)
• Keyboard Tracking: Adjustable for filter and envelopes
• Chorus: Dual-mode analogue chorus (same design as Juno series)

Performance & Control

• Tone Memory: 50 factory presets + 50 user tones per tone bank (2 tone banks total)
• Patch Memory: 64 user patches (combinations of two tones)
• Split/Dual Modes: Yes (Upper/Lower tone layering and keyboard split functionality)
• External Control: MIDI In, Out, Thru
• Programmer Port: Proprietary DIN interface for PG-800 programmer
• Tuning: Master tuning ±50 cents

Connectivity

• Audio Outputs:
  • 2 × Mono outputs (Upper / Lower)
  • 1 × Stereo mixed output
• Headphone Output: 1 × ¼” stereo jack
• MIDI: In, Out, Thru (5-pin DIN)
• Programmer Interface: 6-pin DIN (for PG-800)
• Footswitch Inputs: Hold, Patch Shift

Hardware

• Display: Backlit 16-character LCD
• Front Panel Controls: Increment/decrement buttons, value slider, parameter select buttons
• Power: Internal PSU, 240V AC (UK model)
• Dimensions: 480 mm (W) × 132 mm (H) × 330 mm (D)
• Weight: Approx. 8.5 kg (approximately 17.8 lbs)

Roland PG-800 Programmer — Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Roland Corporation, Japan
Model: PG-800
Type: Hardware programmer for MKS-70, JX-8P, and JX-10
Year of Release: 1986

Overview

The PG-800 is a dedicated hardware controller providing real-time, hands-on access to all major synthesis parameters of compatible Roland JX-series instruments. It connects directly to the MKS-70 via the dedicated 6-pin DIN programmer port.

Controls

• Sliders: 29 (assignable to DCO, VCF, VCA, and ENV parameters)
• Switches: 2 (for Tone selection: Upper/Lower)
• Indicator LEDs: 2 (Tone select indicators)
• Parameter Coverage:
  • DCO 1 & 2 tuning, waveform, PWM, sync
  • VCF cutoff, resonance, envelope modulation, key follow
  • VCA level, ENV depth, chorus on/off
  • Envelope attack, decay, sustain, release
  • LFO rate, delay, and modulation depth

Connectivity

• Interface: 6-pin DIN proprietary cable (supplied)
• Power: Supplied via MKS-70 or JX-8P (no separate PSU required)

Hardware

• Dimensions: 370 mm (W) × 240 mm (D) × 35 mm (H)
• Weight: Approx. 0.9 kg (approximately 2 lbs)

Handy Links

• Roland MKS-70 YouTube Review (11:38)
• RL Music Archive – Roland MKS-70 Owner’s Manual (PDF Download)

Inclusions

This sale includes:

• Roland MKS-70 Synthesizer Module
• Roland PG-800 Programmer
• Original Interconnect DIN-Cable (for programmer connection to front panel)
• Standard IEC Mains Cable for the MKS-70

Price & Availability

£2,200 GBP – Available for sale now

As this is a brokered sale, no VAT is applicable to UK buyers. International buyers are responsible for any import duties or taxes levied in their respective countries.

The instrument will be supplied fully tested, carefully packaged, and prepared to RL Music standards — meaning it has been professionally inspected, fully quality-controlled, and presented to the highest collector-grade specification to ensure authenticity, reliability, and buyer confidence.

Payment

Due to the high value of this instrument, we accept bank transfer only (UK Faster Payments / CHAPS or international wire).
Full payment details will be provided on the invoice.

Packing & Shipping

We ship worldwide. Packing, shipping, and insurance are not included in the sale price and are quoted upon request.
Our standard practice is professional, export-grade packaging tailored to the instrument and fully insured for its sale value.

UK buyers are welcome to collect from Reading, Berkshire, or we can arrange a dedicated personal delivery within the UK (subject to quotation).
We are happy to tailor a logistics solution to your requirements.

Warranty

RL Music provides a full 3-month warranty on this instrument, covering all labour and parts. Our warranty guarantees that the synth will arrive in excellent working order and perform exactly as described.

Conclusion

The Roland MKS-70, paired with its essential PG-800 Programmer, represents one of the last great analogue instruments from Roland’s classic era — a true bridge between the warmth of voltage-controlled synthesis and the precision of digital control. Its unmistakable sonic character, reliability, and elegant design have ensured its enduring status among musicians, producers, and collectors alike.

This particular example, having been fully serviced and expertly presented to RL Music’s exacting standards, offers an exceptional opportunity to own a definitive piece of 1980s analogue heritage — ready to inspire in any modern studio or collection.

Pictures coming shortly!

We are currently preparing a full set of high-quality photographs, which will be added to this listing shortly. Should you wish to request any specific images — for example, detailed panel views, internal assemblies, or serial identification plates — please contact us, and we will be pleased to arrange these for you.

Following on from our facebook post on 9th December 2019:

Facebook Post Link

Did you know that more than a lot of what we sell doesn’t even make it to the sales page(s) on our website? This is because we have an ‘advanced notice’ book, a VIP list if you will, gathered for people who have made specific enquiries for makes and models ahead of time.

We’d like to open this process up to be more proactive, so have created a simple ‘sign-up’ form below that will enter you into an advanced mailing list that will ensure you are immediately notified of any exciting new (vintage) instruments coming through our business.

Click the VIP box below to get signed up. You’ll get a confirmation email once accepted, which is all done in accordance with very stringent GPDR rules.

The Yamaha CS15 has been hailed by many as one of the best monosynths ever made and we’re delighted to offer you the near-mint condition example for sale.

Like is bigger brothers (the CS30 & CS30L) the CS15 has an excellent and beautifully designed front-panel layout giving the synth an astounding and vast array of features. This complexity delivers a diversity of sound that is deeply satisfying to explore. Cleverly, Yamaha produced this smaller version of their flagship CS30 range so that people could access the power of this classic design without the higher price tag.

This is a professional grade analogue synthesizer and is as relevant today as any contemporary analogue synth and offers more in pure synthesis terms than just about any other synth in this category.

This CS15 has only just been fully serviced and is sold with a 3 month warranty from RL Music. like most ‘CS’ synths we have seen in the UK over the years, this CS15 runs on 110V voltage and works very happily on a small step-down transformer due to its minimal 15W power requirements.

We have purchased a brand new (UK spec/plug) step-down transformer – rated to 45W which is supplied free of charge with this synth.

As you can see from the picture, the synth also comes with its original and very smart blue fur-lined Yamaha flight-case, which a really nice touch.

Like the CS30 we are also selling on our website, the condition of this CS15 is without doubt the best we have ever seen. This would represent a fine investment but is also an everyday useable instrument for anyone looking to own a hard-core and powerful vintage analogue system.

Price = 790 UK Pounds

Availability = This instrument is now sold – at 8th August 2012

Click the thumbnail for higher resolution photos.