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Yamaha S90XS-any feedback?


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First of all, let me say my search on this forum for a previous thread on the subject only returned 4 hits, none of which included a decent discussion.

 

So to set up my question, my Kurzweil PC88 is gettin' on 12 years old (or more?) but has served me well as my one and only gigging instrument. I live miles and miles (hours and hours) from any market for trying out new keyboards, so have had limited opportunities to check other keyboards as they come on the market.

 

I will say I loved the overall feel and most of the sounds of the Yamaha ES90 when I've tried it, the precursor to the new S90, but it seemed the organs were treated as an after thought...so I've carried on with my old Kurweil. But IT"S TIME for me to get serious and retire it.

 

Can I hear from others who have gigged with the S90? I'm a one keyboard man who plays dancehalls, community centers, farmers markets, outdoor festivals, weddings (try to avoid those) in a 4 piece band doing 50's, 60's, some 70' rock, soul, pop, country, etc. I have read Yamaha morphed the ES90 with the Motif XS, which sounds promising. I estimate 80% of my playing is the acoustic piano, followed by elec. piano, organ, and some horn sections.

 

I'm planning a road trip to the city for a test drive, but have only been able to check out some You-T:blah:ube demos so far and the rare on line forum discussion. Who's using this keyboard? Anyone want to rave on about it, or clue me in on the train wreck I'm heading for?

 

I'll shut up now.

 

Thanks-

Dave Ryan

middle of nowhere, Northern Ca.

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I have it. I love it. But here are some negatives you should consider before diving in:

 

1. It's fricken huge. Seriously. While it's the same size as the S90es, it's big. There's a lot of extra and really unneeded space on the left-hand side of the keyboard. They could chop quite a bit off of it. If size is an issue and you can live with 76 keys, I'd check out the S70xs...which is exactly the same down to the weighted keys, but in a smaller package.

 

2. The dreaded D1 harmonic on the new S6 piano sample. On all the pianos that feature that sample, you'll hear a ringing harmonic on the D1 key (including the sharp and flat. D1 being the D key two octaves below middle C). Some people...myself included...don't think it's a big deal, but others abhor it. Make sure you go and test out this keyboard BEFORE just blindly ordering it and hoping for the best. This only effects the S6 sample and the other grand piano on the board which is from the MOtif XS is fine.

 

But this only is an issue when playing solo piano really. When playing with a band, the D1 key problem doesn't even come up as you'll never hear that harmonic in the mix.

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I'm planning a road trip to the city for a test drive

 

Since you seem to hold onto your keyboards for a considerable amount of time, this makes a lot of sense. You really have to get your hands on things in order to make the type of decision to suit your own personal needs.

 

I would caution you in zeroing in on any one board. It's just like buying a car. Check them all out. If it were me making this purchase right now, I'd certainly be auditioning Yamaha's new CP5 (which should be in stores anytime now if not already) and since you are a Kurzweil guy the PC3/PC3x. But when you are in a demo room, you may fall in love with a Roland RD-700GX for all we know right now.

 

I love Yamaha's soundset but I'm not a fan of the package they put it in with the new "S" series. With the CP5 they've made an 88 that's the same length as the 76 key S70XS and considerably shorter than the S90XS. As a relentless gigger myself, it's length that matters more than weight when slogging my gear around.

 

Welcome to the forum BTW :)

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First of all, let me say my search on this forum for a previous thread on the subject only returned 4 hits, none of which included a decent discussion.


So to set up my question, my Kurzweil PC88 is gettin' on 12 years old (or more?) but has served me well as my one and only gigging instrument. I live miles and miles (hours and hours) from any market for trying out new keyboards, so have had limited opportunities to check other keyboards as they come on the market.


I will say I loved the overall feel and most of the sounds of the Yamaha ES90 when I've tried it, the precursor to the new S90, but it seemed the organs were treated as an after thought...so I've carried on with my old Kurweil. But IT"S TIME for me to get serious and retire it.


Can I hear from others who have gigged with the S90? I'm a one keyboard man who plays dancehalls, community centers, farmers markets, outdoor festivals, weddings (try to avoid those) in a 4 piece band doing 50's, 60's, some 70' rock, soul, pop, country, etc. I have read Yamaha morphed the ES90 with the Motif XS, which sounds promising. I estimate 80% of my playing is the acoustic piano, followed by elec. piano, organ, and some horn sections.


I'm planning a road trip to the city for a test drive, but have only been able to check out some You-T:blah:ube demos so far and the rare on line forum discussion. Who's using this keyboard? Anyone want to rave on about it, or clue me in on the train wreck I'm heading for?


I'll shut up now.


Thanks-

Dave Ryan

middle of nowhere, Northern Ca.

 

The S90XS includes many new sampled instruments, quasi super articulation voices...IF you do get one, make sure to get an overhead magnifying glass

to put over the screen. It's a joke.:thu:

 

I have an XS7 and would rather have that board.

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The S90XS includes many new sampled instruments, quasi super articulation voices...IF you do get one, make sure to get an overhead magnifying glass

to put over the screen. It's a joke.
:thu:

I have an XS7 and would rather have that board.

 

The small screen is a non-issue. I own it, use it everyday and it's never ever been an issue. All the major controls you need are on the board itself, so you don't need to be doing any deep menu diving to do anything of significance.

 

If you want to do some deep editing anyway, use the software...and again, this isn't a workstation anyway, like the XS7 is. It's a performance keyboard, built for that.

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The small screen is a non-issue. I own it, use it everyday and it's never ever been an issue. All the major controls you need are on the board itself, so you don't need to be doing any deep menu diving to do anything of significance.


If you want to do some deep editing anyway, use the software...and again, this isn't a workstation anyway, like the XS7 is. It's a performance keyboard, built for that.

 

 

I guess it would have to work out if I bought it, but I come from

owning a Fantom X, Triton X, and they have larger screens.

 

It's just perception.

I'm glad it works out for you.

I dig the board.

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I guess it would have to work out if I bought it, but I come from

owning a Fantom X, Triton X, and they have larger screens.


It's just perception.

I'm glad it works out for you.

I dig the board.

 

Yes, I can see that actually...coming from nice big screens like that down to that almost non-existant screen would be quite dramatic. And even the predecessor to the S90xs, the S90es, had a bigger screen. But the S90es was often criticized for the menu diving you had to go through just to get basic functions such as a simple split or a layering. I guess when Yamaha put those functions and other features as buttons on the xs, they didn't need the bigger screen. Cost savings perhaps? :idk: Such as it was cost effective for them to put the new 90xs into the same chassis that the old es was in.

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I'm ecstatic to come back less than 24 hours later and see these responses.

 

It's funny, mrcpro said "Since you seem to hold onto your keyboards for a considerable amount of time...". I've actually been shopping for about 5 years to get a new rig. Of course, as slow as I am to make a decision, new keyboards come and go while I'm hemmimg and hawing.

 

One day soon the Kurzweil is going to groan and roll over, and I'll be doomed, so I want to avoid that eventuality.

 

I have actually played the Rolands, Nords, I think Kawai(M5 or M8?-those are probably old tech. by now), the PC3. I just love the feel of the keys on the Yamaha and the sound of the pianos. I'm not familiar with the CP5. Is it a good stage piano with elec. pianos, organs, some horn patches, split capabilities, etc? I'll have to research that.

 

My Kurz is 55 lbs, plus a 25 lb. case, so I roll it around with a small dolly (hand truck for you manly types). I've been doing that for almost 13 years now, so I'm thinking (hoping) the S90 won't be much different. But that is definitely a consideration.

 

I like the advice on considering the XS70 (76 keys). I mean how much do I use those top or bottom 6 keys? Maybe I'll duct tape over those at this weekend's gigs for a test.

 

Another thing that has piqued my interest about this keyboard are the on-board recording capabilities, doing some composing, basically fiddling around with the cool possibilities. I mean if it now also has all the functionality of that other Yamaha keyboard (Motif? which really hasn't excited me that much on its own), I may be able to explore realms I haven't been able to before. It's just been me and my amp (well, and the band), no other synths, computer link, modules, recording gear, etc. I'm pretty low-tech. but not because of a disinterest. I think I have it in me to get pretty geeky. Even started looking into a Mac for foolin' with some home recording...

 

Eric, thanks for those links, I'll go check them out and Google the CP5.

 

Thanks all,

Dave

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