Hi Excellent video. My father was Tulio Enrique Leon. He used to play this organ during his public presentations and LP recordings. My father died in 1982 and since then no one else has played the organ. Currently the organ is not working and is in relatively bad shape. Even thought the organ is not in working condition we keep it as a memory of our father. I will try to populate a video of one of his TV presentations using the Yamaha EX-42. Thanks for the video. Best Wishes. Cristopher.
My father had one of the first ones in America early 70's , he was a studio musician and it was used on many TV and movie scores... H also did an entire album with the EX-42 entitled, Clare Fischer on the multi keyboards ! It is on youtube for the curious !
Thanks Miguel for sharing your cool keyboards and great Demo skills! I had a friend (sadly,he passed a few years back) who competed in the International Electone Grand Prix on the EX-42 in 1972. Winner in the US, finalist in Japan.He used an Electone E-5 when playing out, along with the rotating Yamaha speaker cabinets,great sounds and memories....
You have a GREAT collection there my friend. BTW, that detuning demo you did at 4:00 is what's known as "celestes" on pipe organs. Some very large pipe organs have multitudes of celestes on them. Two Celeste ranks on a pipe organ = one pipe rank on pitch and the other rank tuned slightly higher. Three ranks = one on pitch, one higher and one lower. Celeste ranks are mostly used on string ranks but are also on Voxes, flutes and horn ranks too depending on the size of the organ.
The development from the EX-42 and of course GX-1 are pretty significant. That was a period of ... uncertainty but also euphoria in engineering. The dawn of the computer micro-chip - and how that could be applied to music. Digital control of analogue circuits ... and so on. Impressive history right there.
I have a client who owns this model. I thought he had the GX 1. He used to to take this Yamaha with his family when they moved from place to place except to Africa. I was so go smacked when I saw this Electone, I would love this unit . Thanks for a great intro on this model.
As far as I know, that particular type of mechanically induced touch modulation on the keyboard has been a unique feature of the top tier Electones. Yes, the EX-42 sounds fantastic! Thanks for the comment.
Hi Miguel, thanks for the great demonstration of the good old Electones. I love your Electones you have in your room. All the best of their time. I am also happy with my Electones I have at home: D-85, FX-20, HX-1, ELS-01C. Never will change to another supplier. Yamaha had and has the best organs ever. regards Herbert
@phlattgetit Yamaha's keyboard touch sensitivity was present on most upper tier Electones (EX-42, EX-1, EX-2, E-5AR, E-70, etc.) It is indeed an amazing feature. The CS-80 synth also had pressure sensitivity -- so, velocity, touch, and pressure expressivity on the keyboard... truly fantastic. The system can require some maintenance, and recent keys favor modulation wheels, etc. Those could be reasons for touch mod not being around, but I'd be conjecturing... Thanks for the question, Cheers!
Thanks, Martin. The D-85 is fantastic! You can do a lot of sonic experimentation by combining the registers, pre-sets, and custom voices -- the solo keyboard is a pretty cool mono synth, and arpeggiator is fun... enjoy!
Hi there, thank you indeed for stopping by and your kind words! You may find this interesting: Search for a link about making the E-70 programmable. The vintage Electones go back a while and it may be tricky finding spare parts. I'd suggest checking out Yamaha's (Japanese) website and downloading the available literature on the older Electone boards. The D85 is a very nice instrument... take a look at the EX-42 vs Yc-45D, perhaps you could do something similar with the components...? Cheers
The EX-42 is indeed very amazing! I think the only thing that EX-42 can not offer satisfactorily is the drum sound. Any other sounds even for our present time are still absolutely uptodate. What I didn't know that it even has the initial touch sensitivity!!! Wow...!!! Amazing... really amazing particularly while keeping in mind that it was launched more than 40 years ago! Thank you for uploading this great video!
Very, very cool! I had no idea these Electones were so advanced. Velocity and aftertouch in early 70's is crazy!! I'm a big fan of Yamaha stuff. The build quality is as robust as you can get. My collection currently consists of an SY77, DX7 mk1, TX802 and some vintage Roland gear (System 100 synth, System 700 sequencer, SH09, Juno6, Juno106, JX3P-PG200 and a Hammond / Leslie. Those R60B's have me VERY intrigued though. I'd love to be sitting in the middle of TWO of them!! That must sound HUGE!
That is voltage controlled technology... they just did such an amazing job building those instruments. The PASS analog synthesis method came out later with the GX-1 as a prototype and then the EX-1 etc. The D85 inherited that technology but it still relies on good old analog VC based synthesis. Cheers and good luck with the project! :-)
@FlametopFred Thanks. Yes, those are fantastic instruments indeed... a golden age of electronic musica instrument design. We are trying to make it somehow possible to put the entire lot on the road...
Miguel Kertsman is one of the very few luckiest gentlemen in the world, not because he's filthy rich like certain computer industry moguls (which he surely isn't that rich at all to begin with!) but because he owns some of the BEST-EST and rarest electronic organs of the old times and he knows what he owns and he does a great job demoing and playing them too! kudos to you Miguel Kertsman!
What's going on with the big pipe organ sound around 12:50? I gather it's a lot of stops and the speakers, but I can't get anywhere close to reproducing it. Coupling?
The EX-42 has a wide variety of registers similarly to a pipe organ (its stops). The sound comprises those stops (flutes, reeds, "strings", etc.) however yes, with coupling some of the lower manual registers with those of the upper manual. The upper and lower manual voices are fed through the two cabinets creating a rich, cross-stereo sound in addition to rotary speaker modulation at different ratios emanating from them. Another awesome feature of the EX, you can detune some of the voices between the sound generators for each manual. That adds a slightly chorused effect ("celeste" in pipe organ terminology) which brings to sound up another notch. It would be difficult to reproduce something like this digitally. The combination of the EX-s tone generators, mechanical loudspeakers, filters, and detuning plus... the room... all add to it. Thanks for stopping by
@Audioquest56 The other Electone is a C-60. Synths are Yamaha CS-30, Korg Trident, Vocoder VC-10, Roland Juno 106, Oberheim OB3, and not seen Ensoniq, Yamaha TX-802, Mini Moog and Korg MS-20. Cheers!
Thanks. Yamaha was very clever trying to emulate the Celeste sound from pipe organs by having multiple sound generators included in the EX42. One could find a register called "String Celeste" or even a "Celeste" dedicated effect which you could assign to flutes or other registers on smaller vintage models such as the E5AR or E-70 -- that would emulate the chorused effect of the pipe organs. Cheers
Thank you for sharing this instrument with us. What a gorgeous piece of equipment. I would love to have gx1. I want yours that your playing on video. Not what you own, just exact same setup in my band that I would love to have
Thanks for stopping by. I've used many keyboards on a myriad of projects across decades and the EX-42 has got to be one of the most unique, beautiful sounding instruments I've ever encountered. If you find one, grab it... Sometimes one may show up here and there.
Dear Miguel, i took my time to find the most-informed on the Electone, you sir--take the cake;") -i had to move & sadly could not bring my D85 with me, i quickly thought i could take what i could carry & that I did. I spent a full-day slowly removing each board & module knowing one day it would come in handy. One year later I am deep into synthesis & building my own modular system. Miguel, sir.. how do i build the raw Electone boards into patchable modular units? Thank-you & Blessings :")
Gotye the fellow who sing s"Somebody that I use to know" posted on an interview on The Project 2012, he is looking for an ex 42....He is looking to buy one.....you might want to contact one if you have one to sell......
Electone player= Musician+recording engineer Damn, that instrument is so complicated and beautiful. It's complexity was the reason that drove them out of popularity i guess. No normal hobbyist musician can play that. Any ways thx for this wonderful vid on this excellent machines. It was very informative.
Miguel, I am fascinated with the touch modulation feature. As far as I know that feature is not available in any current keyboard (or even other keyboards of that era? Possibly the GX-1?) Do you know if it is and if not why hasn't it carried over it would offer so much more expressive opportunity for playing.
'Touch vibrato' is included in some of the Yamaha YC series combo organs of that period (or slightly later) too. I own a Yamaha YC-45D & this has it (on the upper keyboard only) & I've heard that it's included in the YC-30, YC-25D & YC-20 too.
Miguel how much do you thing the EX42 was at the time? and how much do you thing they are now? I wish i could have one. Great playing ! I wish you could up load bossanova classics with the EX42.Congratulations for having those jewells .
Gracias por su visita y su pregunta. Este instrumento data de 1973 y fue lanzado por primera vez por Yamaha en 1970. La única opción es buscar anuncios o publicaciones online. Es muy poco probable que esté disponible en las tiendas de música.
Hi Miguel I need some help; EX 42 has something like fuss box on the bottom back that contains 4 fusses, and on the side there is something like a detachable" key " with three pins that attaches it to some type of three hole outlet and this one has something like voltage indicators,which number of voltage should the key be inserted?
Many many years ago I used to sell electronic instruments including Yamaha organs, and I remember when the first digital instruments started appearing (I suppose the HX/FX series in the case of Yamaha Electone), no one wanted to buy the older analogue style instruments and you had to practically give them away - I kick myself these days for not squirreling a few of these beauties away for posterity. Same happened with synths, I remember trying to get rid of the old used Moogs for £99. If only we knew!
@UTubeIsTrackingYou Indeed! The GX was a great (and most cumbersome) synth prototype and a pre-CS-80 research project for Yamaha... We will be posting a three part demo on the EX-1 very soon. Cheers
@vaderabraham1 Hi Herbert, many thanks for the note. Yes indeed, the Yamaha Electones are unique and special instruments. I've played the D-80 and D-85 several times -- love those instruments. You've got a great collection, enjoy! Cheers
Claude Dupras. Raindrops keep falling on my head" performed on the EX42. His Yamaha Electone Comp winning performance in 1972? Does anyone have a recording of this?
More or less what i am asking is are the Electone generators/oscilators votlage-controlled.. i have mine apart here & the service manual & the boards all read VCO & VCF respectively, however is it truly as simply as i think to power-up the individual boards, mount jacks & presto! -- i sit here thinking it HAS to be more complex? i know they work all-together, but i am hoping it is easier than I am dreading :'D simply put, to make the generators/oscillators Voltage-controleld (if they are not)
Why the hell are we, even today, not able to get that sideways key bend? It would add so much expressiveness. I'd change normal aftertouch to that any day if it would be what it takes. :)
Simple but ingenious technology... a photoelectric sensor underneath the keys sensing changes and modifying voltage / sound parameters... too expensive of a construct for today's light plastic keyboard controllers or digital boxes...
Conn organs too had the "Celeste" feature in the attempt to emulate a theatre pipe organ. Nothing more than a simple chorus generator. If one were to take, say a Mini-Moog or other mono-synth with at least three oscillators keeping the main on pitch and adjusting osc. 2 slightly above and osc. slightly below will find a most lovely and sometimes powerful sound, depending on the waveform/s.
Could you tell us if this model is as heavy weight wise as a Hammond B3 or C3? That bell generator from 7:20 - 7:40 sounds like FM synthesis. I used to think that if I were a working musician in the early 70s, the YC30 or 40 would’ve been my tool. Not su sure now.
Yes, it is heavy, especially when adding the two large tone cabinets. Over 600 Lbs... The bells of course are not FM generated... pure analog. The EX42 preceded the GX1 which sprouted great Yamaha analog synths such as SY1/2, CS60/80, etc. The YC45D is pretty much a much smaller, portable combo version of the EX42 (not as many features and registers.) The Hammonds are always the Hammonds... B3s, C3s (basically the same intrument in different casings) you've gotta love them -- awesome, legendary instruments
I miss BIG EXPENSIVE PRE-DIGITAL ORGANS (I used to sell them)! Yamaha made some incredible instruments before everything went totally digital. I’ve probably got every plugin under the sun but nothing can come close to the big sound produced by those buggers!
Definitely... soft synths can give you an approximation of the sound but those simply won't sound like the real deal! Real acoustic waves transduced from electricity out of cool loudspeakers!!
+alexhippie2 no idea... the range can be wide depending on condition, and if the person really understands the amazingly rare and great instrument he or she may be getting
+Miguel Kertsman my uncle has one that someone gave him for free, most of it works, he has both rotating speakers, as far as I know the only thing that doesn't work is the knee thing
+alexhippie2 That's awesome, the knee lever can control certain features, for instance, reverb in and out, but is not a critical part of the instrument
It depends a lot on how the seller values it. One important thing to remember is that it is NOT - I repeat NOT - a GX-1. It is basically advanced home organ technology in a fancy case. But fancy cases can mean a lot when it comes to putting a value on things. I can't help thinking of the Wersi Delta DX-500T in acrylic case. It was sold for an enormous amount of money, and rumour has it that it now recides in Daft Punk's ivory tower.
The GX-1 was released about the same time as the EX-42. In fact they shared the brochure's cover. I don't get all the fuss about the GX -- a massive synthesizer prototype dressed as a stage Electone (same fiber glass case and metal coated pedals approach as with the EX-42) for R&D which would yield the SY and CS synth series. Bulky, unreliable, clumsy. I had one offered to me from Japan back in 2012 and frankly I took a pass. The price was actually reasonable and it was in excellent condition.The reason for the hype on the GX is the fact Led Zep, ELP, ABBA and a couple of other major 70's acts used it, but not for long given its impracticality. That is not to say the GX iisn't awesome, it is. The EX-42 is essentially an organ with some very basic synth features. Also bulky, massive and hard to take on stage. However, it provides for a more practical "rounder" playing experience. Also, more reliable. Both machines are fantastic and VERY different -- like comparing apples and oranges. Therefore, those comparisons do not make any sense. The synths released out of the GX-1's R&D especially the CS-80 were fantastic. Again, the EX is essentially an organ and not a poly synth. @@organfairy
You have all the cool toys don't you. Can I come over and play? Can you get all those great funky s organ sounds that the YC series had? The draw bars look similar I thought it might be indicative.
+Paul TheSkeptic The Yamaha YC45D had a lot in common with the EX42 -- essentially the same tone generator in a smaller scale. Thanks for checking out the video.
Hey Paul, thanks for stopping by. Actually, the YC combo organs, especially the YC-45D has a lot of the same features as the EX-42 -- like an Ex in the box... yes, same tone generator, "drawbar" keys, portamento strip, etc. awesome machine... have fun with it! Cheers
Merle Doughty The EX42 is a fantastic "Electone", Yamaha's legendary electronic organ line, including a couple of synth features such as broad-band noise generation, portamento, as well as a touch sensitive solo keyboard. It is an incredibly sophisticated, especially for its time! The EX42 was the top model in its time and remains hard to beat to this day when it comes to sound. And beautiful sounding machine. The GX1 was a bulky and rather impractical synthesizer prototype shaped like an electronic organ (Electone) featuring the early PASS synthesis technology which would migrate to legendary Yamaha synths such as the CS-80 and later Electone models: E70, etc. It has a couple of organ features as well, but mostly it is a very cool early analog polyphonic synthesizer shaped like a large Electone. Both are great. I have passed on a GX-1 which was available in Japan a coiple of years ago. Too cumbersome and hard to maintain. The EX42 is more manageable and the sound is just amazing. There is a portable derivative of the EX42 called the YC45D. However the 45D does not come with the two rotary speaker cabinets. Thanks for asking, cheers
Correction, I got my dates incorrectly... the GX1 still used Yamaha's original potted analog filters, and the PASS technology appeared in the market a bit later in around '77 / 78. Other than that, the evolution of those instruments is accurate as described in the previous reply
Following the EX42 release in 1970 Yamaha developed the GX707 (aka GX1) as a massively bulky test bed prototype for its analog synthesis technology. Out of that research came the small SY series synths, and in the late 70's the CS series synths: CS 5, 15, 30, 30L (monophonic) and CS 50,60, and 80 (polyphonic). So, you could say the EX42 was an older cousin of the GX1 --> (the EX 42 already included features such as touch sensitivity, the portamento felt strip, pre-set potted filters, etc which were part of the GX's DNA) --> which was the CS 80's Mom or Dad.
Yamaha in those days built a a great organ, but the technology has moved on with micro chips and computer technology, that allows you you to get a massive choice of organs, all in one instrument.
Thanks for stopping by. Indeed... vast amounts of sounds and possibilities on the more recent digital and soft instruments. Must say however, they don't feel nor sound quite the same. Which is totally fine! Very much depends on what one is looking for... I've used many digital and soft synths / keyboards on records and soundtracks throught he years. 1. going through endless menus got really tiresome, as 2. making music in front of a screen as well... then again, a matter of what one needs and wants. Nothing like tubes, circuits and drives projecting those sounds into actual space, with a little hum and all if need be :-) Thanks again. Cheers
Hi Excellent video. My father was Tulio Enrique Leon. He used to play this organ during his public presentations and LP recordings. My father died in 1982 and since then no one else has played the organ. Currently the organ is not working and is in relatively bad shape. Even thought the organ is not in working condition we keep it as a memory of our father. I will try to populate a video of one of his TV presentations using the Yamaha EX-42. Thanks for the video. Best Wishes. Cristopher.
carpa72 Thanks for sharing, Christopher. It would be great to watch your father's video and listen to his playing. Best wishes
Aquí en Chile es muy famoso tu padre y admiro su Yamaha electone
@@MiguelKertsman Here is the video:
ruclips.net/video/pO3cD1HI3S8/видео.html
My father had one of the first ones in America early 70's
, he was a studio musician and it was used on many TV and movie scores...
H also did an entire album with the EX-42 entitled, Clare Fischer on the multi keyboards ! It is on youtube for the curious !
Thanks for the info and stopping by!
Wow your dad was a fantastic composer and arranger too! I have some of his stuff with Cal Tjader! I’m a fan!
That album brought me here. Unbelievable sound and playing. Your father was a genius
Excellent album! I have it!
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
that is one of the most beautiful space organ. Awesome!
Very cool. Awesome collection. Simply amazing. Nice to see those all in one spot - and more importantly, played. Loudly.
Wow that is some serious technology in that synth/organ. Great video.
thanks
Thank you for stopping by, Scott and sharing your friend's story. Cheers
That is such an incredible setup and collection.
Thanks Miguel for sharing your cool keyboards and great Demo skills! I had a friend (sadly,he passed a few years back) who competed in the International Electone Grand Prix on the EX-42 in 1972. Winner in the US, finalist in Japan.He used an Electone E-5 when playing out, along with the rotating Yamaha speaker cabinets,great sounds and memories....
what an amazing instrument.
You have a GREAT collection there my friend. BTW, that detuning demo you did at 4:00 is what's known as "celestes" on pipe organs. Some very large pipe organs have multitudes of celestes on them. Two Celeste ranks on a pipe organ = one pipe rank on pitch and the other rank tuned slightly higher. Three ranks = one on pitch, one higher and one lower. Celeste ranks are mostly used on string ranks but are also on Voxes, flutes and horn ranks too depending on the size of the organ.
The development from the EX-42 and of course GX-1 are pretty significant. That was a period of ... uncertainty but also euphoria in engineering. The dawn of the computer micro-chip - and how that could be applied to music. Digital control of analogue circuits ... and so on. Impressive history right there.
I have a client who owns this model. I thought he had the GX 1. He used to to take this Yamaha with his family when they moved from place to place except to Africa. I was so go smacked when I saw this Electone, I would love this unit . Thanks for a great intro on this model.
It is indeed a fantastic instrument!
This was a fantastic demo - thank you!
I had an Electone E3 in the early 70s. A friend of mine still has, and plays, an EX42. Amazing toys for their time.
Those instruments, like the classic Hammonds remain fantastic and are timeless...
As far as I know, that particular type of mechanically induced touch modulation on the keyboard has been a unique feature of the top tier Electones. Yes, the EX-42 sounds fantastic! Thanks for the comment.
Hi Miguel,
thanks for the great demonstration of the good old Electones. I love your Electones you have in your room. All the best of their time.
I am also happy with my Electones I have at home: D-85, FX-20, HX-1, ELS-01C. Never will change to another supplier. Yamaha had and has the best organs ever.
regards
Herbert
@phlattgetit Yamaha's keyboard touch sensitivity was present on most upper tier Electones (EX-42, EX-1, EX-2, E-5AR, E-70, etc.) It is indeed an amazing feature. The CS-80 synth also had pressure sensitivity -- so, velocity, touch, and pressure expressivity on the keyboard... truly fantastic. The system can require some maintenance, and recent keys favor modulation wheels, etc. Those could be reasons for touch mod not being around, but I'd be conjecturing... Thanks for the question, Cheers!
Miguel, thank you for your excellent videos. I just got a Yamaha D-85 and am in heaven :-)
Thanks, Martin. The D-85 is fantastic! You can do a lot of sonic experimentation by combining the registers, pre-sets, and custom voices -- the solo keyboard is a pretty cool mono synth, and arpeggiator is fun... enjoy!
Hi there, thank you indeed for stopping by and your kind words! You may find this interesting: Search for a link about making the E-70 programmable. The vintage Electones go back a while and it may be tricky finding spare parts. I'd suggest checking out Yamaha's (Japanese) website and downloading the available literature on the older Electone boards. The D85 is a very nice instrument... take a look at the EX-42 vs Yc-45D, perhaps you could do something similar with the components...? Cheers
The EX-42 is indeed very amazing!
I think the only thing that EX-42 can not offer satisfactorily is the drum sound. Any other sounds even for our present time are still absolutely uptodate.
What I didn't know that it even has the initial touch sensitivity!!! Wow...!!!
Amazing... really amazing particularly while keeping in mind that it was launched more than 40 years ago!
Thank you for uploading this great video!
That pipe organ at 13:15... I didn't knew it could do it. Very nice!
Very, very cool! I had no idea these Electones were so advanced. Velocity and aftertouch in early 70's is crazy!! I'm a big fan of Yamaha stuff. The build quality is as robust as you can get. My collection currently consists of an SY77, DX7 mk1, TX802 and some vintage Roland gear (System 100 synth, System 700 sequencer, SH09, Juno6, Juno106, JX3P-PG200 and a Hammond / Leslie.
Those R60B's have me VERY intrigued though. I'd love to be sitting in the middle of TWO of them!! That must sound HUGE!
That is voltage controlled technology... they just did such an amazing job building those instruments. The PASS analog synthesis method came out later with the GX-1 as a prototype and then the EX-1 etc. The D85 inherited that technology but it still relies on good old analog VC based synthesis. Cheers and good luck with the project! :-)
That's one of the two R60-B loudspeaker cabinets connected to the EX-42. I go over them in detail during the video.
@FlametopFred Thanks. Yes, those are fantastic instruments indeed... a golden age of electronic musica instrument design. We are trying to make it somehow possible to put the entire lot on the road...
I think one of the best organs yamaha ever made (drwawbar sound is amazing) .
Indeed
Miguel Kertsman is one of the very few luckiest gentlemen in the world, not because he's filthy rich like certain computer industry moguls (which he surely isn't that rich at all to begin with!) but because he owns some of the BEST-EST and rarest electronic organs of the old times and he knows what he owns and he does a great job demoing and playing them too! kudos to you Miguel Kertsman!
where is Part 2 of this demo btw?
@@dadautube Thank you, Sir! It seems you have already found Part 2...
@@MiguelKertsman yes, did, thanks! :-)
What's going on with the big pipe organ sound around 12:50? I gather it's a lot of stops and the speakers, but I can't get anywhere close to reproducing it. Coupling?
The EX-42 has a wide variety of registers similarly to a pipe organ (its stops). The sound comprises those stops (flutes, reeds, "strings", etc.) however yes, with coupling some of the lower manual registers with those of the upper manual. The upper and lower manual voices are fed through the two cabinets creating a rich, cross-stereo sound in addition to rotary speaker modulation at different ratios emanating from them. Another awesome feature of the EX, you can detune some of the voices between the sound generators for each manual. That adds a slightly chorused effect ("celeste" in pipe organ terminology) which brings to sound up another notch. It would be difficult to reproduce something like this digitally. The combination of the EX-s tone generators, mechanical loudspeakers, filters, and detuning plus... the room... all add to it. Thanks for stopping by
@Audioquest56 The other Electone is a C-60. Synths are Yamaha CS-30, Korg Trident, Vocoder VC-10, Roland Juno 106, Oberheim OB3, and not seen Ensoniq, Yamaha TX-802, Mini Moog and Korg MS-20. Cheers!
Thanks. Yamaha was very clever trying to emulate the Celeste sound from pipe organs by having multiple sound generators included in the EX42. One could find a register called "String Celeste" or even a "Celeste" dedicated effect which you could assign to flutes or other registers on smaller vintage models such as the E5AR or E-70 -- that would emulate the chorused effect of the pipe organs. Cheers
Further to my post my customer said that there were a lot of these in Indonesia in the coffee shops and brothels, nice
Thank you for sharing this instrument with us. What a gorgeous piece of equipment. I would love to have gx1. I want yours that your playing on video. Not what you own, just exact same setup in my band that I would love to have
Thanks for stopping by. I've used many keyboards on a myriad of projects across decades and the EX-42 has got to be one of the most unique, beautiful sounding instruments I've ever encountered. If you find one, grab it... Sometimes one may show up here and there.
Wild. I can see an EX-1, EX-2 and the EX-42. Not sure what the other one was though...
Dear Miguel, i took my time to find the most-informed on the Electone, you sir--take the cake;") -i had to move & sadly could not bring my D85 with me, i quickly thought i could take what i could carry & that I did. I spent a full-day slowly removing each board & module knowing one day it would come in handy. One year later I am deep into synthesis & building my own modular system. Miguel, sir.. how do i build the raw Electone boards into patchable modular units? Thank-you & Blessings :")
I keep coming back to this video to see this great instrument and playing, wow! I'd love to own one if I have a big house (and budget lol)
Thank you! Cheers
Gotye the fellow who sing s"Somebody that I use to know" posted on an interview on
The Project 2012, he is looking for an ex 42....He is looking to buy one.....you might want to contact one if you have one to sell......
Electone player= Musician+recording engineer
Damn, that instrument is so complicated and beautiful. It's complexity was the reason that drove them out of popularity i guess. No normal hobbyist musician can play that. Any ways thx for this wonderful vid on this excellent machines. It was very informative.
Miguel, I am fascinated with the touch modulation feature. As far as I know that feature is not available in any current keyboard (or even other keyboards of that era? Possibly the GX-1?) Do you know if it is and if not why hasn't it carried over it would offer so much more expressive opportunity for playing.
'Touch vibrato' is included in some of the Yamaha YC series combo organs of that period (or slightly later) too. I own a Yamaha YC-45D & this has it (on the upper keyboard only) & I've heard that it's included in the YC-30, YC-25D & YC-20 too.
Yes, they sound fantastic! Three drives rotating cylindrically at different ratios per cabinet. Thanks for stopping by! Cheers
Wow that thing is beast
I have a Yamaha DK-40 from approx. 1972 which has many of the same features as the EX-42 including a solo keyboard with touch vibrato.
@MiguelKertsman - - count me in for your tour. Either tour support or front-row audience.
Miguel how much do you thing the EX42 was at the time? and how much do you thing they are now? I wish i could have one. Great playing ! I wish you could up load bossanova classics with the EX42.Congratulations for having those jewells .
Sometimes simple sound generation approaches can yield amazingly complex results! Cheers
Buenas noches sr profesor, dónde venden estos instrumentos musicales? Favor publicar la dirección del proveedor y el precio del organo musical
Gracias por su visita y su pregunta. Este instrumento data de 1973 y fue lanzado por primera vez por Yamaha en 1970. La única opción es buscar anuncios o publicaciones online. Es muy poco probable que esté disponible en las tiendas de música.
@ElectonePlayer Yes, the EX-42 is quite a piece of music engineering! Cheers
Many thanks, cheers
Hi Miguel I need some help; EX 42 has something like fuss box on the bottom back that contains 4 fusses, and on the side there is something like a detachable" key " with three pins that attaches it to some type of three hole outlet and this one has something like voltage indicators,which number of voltage should the key be inserted?
Many many years ago I used to sell electronic instruments including Yamaha organs, and I remember when the first digital instruments started appearing (I suppose the HX/FX series in the case of Yamaha Electone), no one wanted to buy the older analogue style instruments and you had to practically give them away - I kick myself these days for not squirreling a few of these beauties away for posterity. Same happened with synths, I remember trying to get rid of the old used Moogs for £99. If only we knew!
Yeap, those analog beauties are worth a lot these days... Yes, the FX series marked the end of Yamaha's amazing early analog line... Cheers
Simple additive analog synthesis... combining the right harmonics and envelope curve to obtain a bell-like sound
@decatlon14 The Good Night Bossa Nova is actually available for downloading now in high resolution audio at my website miguelkertsmanmusic. Cheers!
@UTubeIsTrackingYou Indeed! The GX was a great (and most cumbersome) synth prototype and a pre-CS-80 research project for Yamaha... We will be posting a three part demo on the EX-1 very soon. Cheers
Hey, we both have EX-2's! Cool.
Folks, keep me posted if a GX-1 pops up for sale. I don't play but collect.
What's the point if you dont play them. Let people who know how to play keys buy they you moron.
But where is the GX-1?
Just kidding, thank you for posting!
- Brother Ron
What is that equipment spinning in the background?
Rotary loudspeakers, similar to the Leslie speaker.
@vaderabraham1 Hi Herbert, many thanks for the note. Yes indeed, the Yamaha Electones are unique and special instruments. I've played the D-80 and D-85 several times -- love those instruments. You've got a great collection, enjoy! Cheers
@FlametopFred Fantastic... thanks! Cheers
Claude Dupras. Raindrops keep falling on my head" performed on the EX42. His Yamaha Electone Comp winning performance in 1972? Does anyone have a recording of this?
ruclips.net/video/GD6WwuQ8Neg/видео.html
What? Beatles and EX-21 ... which film ? Let it Be ? Probably something that EMI Studios (Abbey Road) had ?
Wow!
More or less what i am asking is are the Electone generators/oscilators votlage-controlled.. i have mine apart here & the service manual & the boards all read VCO & VCF respectively, however is it truly as simply as i think to power-up the individual boards, mount jacks & presto! -- i sit here thinking it HAS to be more complex? i know they work all-together, but i am hoping it is easier than I am dreading :'D simply put, to make the generators/oscillators Voltage-controleld (if they are not)
Why the hell are we, even today, not able to get that sideways key bend? It would add so much expressiveness. I'd change normal aftertouch to that any day if it would be what it takes. :)
you can, but it's expensive.
Simple but ingenious technology... a photoelectric sensor underneath the keys sensing changes and modifying voltage / sound parameters... too expensive of a construct for today's light plastic keyboard controllers or digital boxes...
Excellent video. Creepy Leslies!
Conn organs too had the "Celeste" feature in the attempt to emulate a theatre pipe organ. Nothing more than a simple chorus generator. If one were to take, say a Mini-Moog or other mono-synth with at least three oscillators keeping the main on pitch and adjusting osc. 2 slightly above and osc. slightly below will find a most lovely and sometimes powerful sound, depending on the waveform/s.
Could you tell us if this model is as heavy weight wise as a Hammond B3 or C3?
That bell generator from 7:20 - 7:40 sounds like FM synthesis.
I used to think that if I were a working musician in the early 70s, the YC30 or 40 would’ve been my tool. Not su sure now.
Yes, it is heavy, especially when adding the two large tone cabinets. Over 600 Lbs... The bells of course are not FM generated... pure analog. The EX42 preceded the GX1 which sprouted great Yamaha analog synths such as SY1/2, CS60/80, etc. The YC45D is pretty much a much smaller, portable combo version of the EX42 (not as many features and registers.) The Hammonds are always the Hammonds... B3s, C3s (basically the same intrument in different casings) you've gotta love them -- awesome, legendary instruments
I miss BIG EXPENSIVE PRE-DIGITAL ORGANS (I used to sell them)! Yamaha made some incredible instruments before everything went totally digital. I’ve probably got every plugin under the sun but nothing can come close to the big sound produced by those buggers!
Definitely... soft synths can give you an approximation of the sound but those simply won't sound like the real deal! Real acoustic waves transduced from electricity out of cool loudspeakers!!
Do you have any idea what one in working condition is worth today? My uncle has one he got for free
+alexhippie2 no idea... the range can be wide depending on condition, and if the person really understands the amazingly rare and great instrument he or she may be getting
+Miguel Kertsman my uncle has one that someone gave him for free, most of it works, he has both rotating speakers, as far as I know the only thing that doesn't work is the knee thing
+alexhippie2 That's awesome, the knee lever can control certain features, for instance, reverb in and out, but is not a critical part of the instrument
It depends a lot on how the seller values it. One important thing to remember is that it is NOT - I repeat NOT - a GX-1. It is basically advanced home organ technology in a fancy case. But fancy cases can mean a lot when it comes to putting a value on things. I can't help thinking of the Wersi Delta DX-500T in acrylic case. It was sold for an enormous amount of money, and rumour has it that it now recides in Daft Punk's ivory tower.
The GX-1 was released about the same time as the EX-42. In fact they shared the brochure's cover. I don't get all the fuss about the GX -- a massive synthesizer prototype dressed as a stage Electone (same fiber glass case and metal coated pedals approach as with the EX-42) for R&D which would yield the SY and CS synth series. Bulky, unreliable, clumsy. I had one offered to me from Japan back in 2012 and frankly I took a pass. The price was actually reasonable and it was in excellent condition.The reason for the hype on the GX is the fact Led Zep, ELP, ABBA and a couple of other major 70's acts used it, but not for long given its impracticality. That is not to say the GX iisn't awesome, it is. The EX-42 is essentially an organ with some very basic synth features. Also bulky, massive and hard to take on stage. However, it provides for a more practical "rounder" playing experience. Also, more reliable. Both machines are fantastic and VERY different -- like comparing apples and oranges. Therefore, those comparisons do not make any sense. The synths released out of the GX-1's R&D especially the CS-80 were fantastic. Again, the EX is essentially an organ and not a poly synth. @@organfairy
The Pre Historic Analog Tyros Technic
What is that cabinet with the rotating speakers
Search on Leslie speaker. This is a variation on it.
Yamaha's R60-B -- with rotating horns following a cylindrical pattern
I'm shocked it didn't have a theremin built-in, too
Portamento strip is the same thing, if combined with the volume pedal.
@@PointyTailofSatan thanks
You have all the cool toys don't you. Can I come over and play? Can you get all those great funky s organ sounds that the YC series had? The draw bars look similar I thought it might be indicative.
+Paul TheSkeptic The Yamaha YC45D had a lot in common with the EX42 -- essentially the same tone generator in a smaller scale. Thanks for checking out the video.
Had a chance to buy a YC45D some years back for under $1000 .. prob shoulda!
They sound great.
Nice vid. cheers
I love the YC series.
Hey Paul, thanks for stopping by. Actually, the YC combo organs, especially the YC-45D has a lot of the same features as the EX-42 -- like an Ex in the box... yes, same tone generator, "drawbar" keys, portamento strip, etc. awesome machine... have fun with it! Cheers
Miguel Kertsman I don't own one but I sure wish I did. Thanks though. Cheers.
@FlametopFred Indeed... musical instrument design nirvana!
@Alexanification Thank you. Oh yes, those loudspeakers are like no others!
I want one X_X
Just saw an EX 2 go for 200$ on ebay. Power supply issue probably an easy fix. Was pickup only (go figure) , if I lived In Cali I would have it!
The EX 42 and the EX 2 are two very, very different instruments... cheers
What is the difference between the GX 1 and the 42?
Merle Doughty The EX42 is a fantastic "Electone", Yamaha's legendary electronic organ line, including a couple of synth features such as broad-band noise generation, portamento, as well as a touch sensitive solo keyboard. It is an incredibly sophisticated, especially for its time! The EX42 was the top model in its time and remains hard to beat to this day when it comes to sound. And beautiful sounding machine. The GX1 was a bulky and rather impractical synthesizer prototype shaped like an electronic organ (Electone) featuring the early PASS synthesis technology which would migrate to legendary Yamaha synths such as the CS-80 and later Electone models: E70, etc. It has a couple of organ features as well, but mostly it is a very cool early analog polyphonic synthesizer shaped like a large Electone. Both are great. I have passed on a GX-1 which was available in Japan a coiple of years ago. Too cumbersome and hard to maintain. The EX42 is more manageable and the sound is just amazing. There is a portable derivative of the EX42 called the YC45D. However the 45D does not come with the two rotary speaker cabinets. Thanks for asking, cheers
Correction, I got my dates incorrectly... the GX1 still used Yamaha's original potted analog filters, and the PASS technology appeared in the market a bit later in around '77 / 78. Other than that, the evolution of those instruments is accurate as described in the previous reply
The nova is exactly the same on my contempo 80.
Yeah but can it do bossa nova accompaniment?
Yes... very cool when you mix that with live drums
ruclips.net/video/QdfqD2gtEZE/видео.html
I have a EX42
What is that Leslie speaker thing?
I see it's shown later on. Cool!!!
Cool, thanks!
this is the older brother of the cs 80 !!!
Following the EX42 release in 1970 Yamaha developed the GX707 (aka GX1) as a massively bulky test bed prototype for its analog synthesis technology. Out of that research came the small SY series synths, and in the late 70's the CS series synths: CS 5, 15, 30, 30L (monophonic) and CS 50,60, and 80 (polyphonic). So, you could say the EX42 was an older cousin of the GX1 --> (the EX 42 already included features such as touch sensitivity, the portamento felt strip, pre-set potted filters, etc which were part of the GX's DNA) --> which was the CS 80's Mom or Dad.
@@MiguelKertsman hi Miguel, at 5:30 the toe pistons are excellent 👍 was this the only electone that had those?
@discofever2000 Thanks!
Never mind i get it awesome
Thanks for stopping by -- yes, the cabinets sound fantastic
Yamaha in those days built a a great organ, but the technology has moved on with micro chips and computer technology, that allows you you to get a massive choice of organs, all in one instrument.
Thanks for stopping by. Indeed... vast amounts of sounds and possibilities on the more recent digital and soft instruments. Must say however, they don't feel nor sound quite the same. Which is totally fine! Very much depends on what one is looking for... I've used many digital and soft synths / keyboards on records and soundtracks throught he years. 1. going through endless menus got really tiresome, as 2. making music in front of a screen as well... then again, a matter of what one needs and wants. Nothing like tubes, circuits and drives projecting those sounds into actual space, with a little hum and all if need be :-) Thanks again. Cheers
Yamaha é Yamaha o resto é cópia!!!