Spot The Difference
Ok, this one baffles me.
Here is an auction on eBay for a Yamaha DX100…
This currently (26/11/06 08:57) sits at £91 with the reserve still not met and has seen 7 bids and still has over 5 days to go.
Now, the puzzling thing is that the Yamaha DX27 is identical in every way except it has a full size 61 not keyboard and comes in a heavy and sturdy metal case. Internally these synths are identical. If you open one up, the PCB’s all carry the DX27/DX100 logo. The DX100 has a 49 note mini keyboard, is able to be battery powered and has a couple of guitar strap lugs. I’m not sure about the size of the jacks at the rear.
So, why do DX27’s always sell for a lot less ??
Here’s and example on eBay of a DX27, currently sitting at 99p with no bids and just a little longer left to go….
Am I alone in thinking that there is something amiss here ?
Now, I’m not motivated by the fact I own a DX27. I don’t want to sell it, but I can’t understand the allure of a toy version of a synth over it’s easier to use big brother. Given, the DX27/100 were hardly the pinnacle of Yamaha’s DX range, but it amazes me that the DX100 can command similar prices to a fullblown DX7 !!
My theory is that the DX100 has the “cute” factor and it also appears in many artists gear list, therefore giving it a certain desirability to fanboys and hero worshippers. Most of those artists probably got given a DX100 by mummy or daddy as a Xmas present when they were kids, or they picked one up at a car boot sale, sampled the Solid Bass preset and then tossed it aside.
The DX27/DX100 is a great little 4 Operator FM synth. It’s no DX7, but it has a character and can add an edge to a track. And right now, you can get the DX27 very cheap, so it seems ;o)
If you have one of these keyboards, check out the Yamaha 4 Op Factory Patches Archive.
Oh, and while we’re here, here’s a TV commercial for the DX100 I found at Shepitology….
:o)
While these synths sound great and I bought my dx100 before the plugin era (so it was an affordable way to expand my arsenal of sounds), I think their sound doesn’t justify the space they are taking, especially when it’s a full size keyboard.
The dx100 gives you the sound and will look cool next to a laptop.
Also you can use it as a velocity sensitive module that does not take as much space as the dx27.
Just like you, I’m not saying it because I own one, but because this is the reason why I found it attractive in the first place.
Fair comment :o)
You answered your question yourself: “DX100 has the “cute” factor”
http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2006/10/cool-little-synths-that-run-on.html
I know, I know, I’m the proud owner of a Yamaha SU-10, a Roland PMA5 and the latest battery powered icon, an Akai MPC500, so it’s not lost on me. Maybe it’s because the DX100 looks more like a Portatone ?? And I have fat fuckin’ fingers, so mini keyboards just aren’t nice !! ;o)
Speaking of which… still waiting for the MPC500 video…;o)
DX100’s are highly sought after by DJ’s who use talkboxes. Supposedly it is “the” synth for use with a talkbox. The size does matter because it takes up less space. Personally speaking I’d take the ’27 over the ‘100 any day of the week and twice on Sunday, however, if you do a YouTube.com search for “talkbox” and see what shows up, guys are always talking about the ‘100 – hence the price jump in the skyward direction.
Ah, now that explains it. Makes sense, I guess. I’ll investigate further.