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.