The S-80 done better!
Written: Jan 10 '05 (Updated Jan 10 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great sounds, flexible and easy to navigate.
Cons: Not many, no sustain pedal included. Brass Sounds could be better.
The Bottom Line: Just a great keyboard and stage piano with other sounds for the money.
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| outkaster's Full Review: Yamaha S90 Synthesizer |
Yamaha is back in the Synth game and has produced another fine instrument the S-90 on the coat tails of the S-80 with great results. I paid $1600.00 for this keyboard. I was a little tentative at first because I liked the S-80 so much before. Once I played it I was convinced. Actually compared to the S-80 this is a little more user friendly. In the S-90 you do not have the pages of menus of effects and what not that plagued the S-80. They have them right in a separate set of controls on the right of the keyboard which is nice. The layout otherwise is pretty similar to the S-80 minus those annoying plastic knobs. The action is a tad different than on the S-80. I personally liked the S-80’s action a little more but can easily work with the S-90. I am classically trained so this is a big deal. The S-90 has an action that is the same no matter where you are on the keyboard. People like the P250 but this is a different board.
Most people probably have heard about the S-90 sound set being the same as the original Motif series so there are not many surprises here. You have the addition of the triple strike piano sample. Most people have complained about noise within their units but it seems to be isolated cases that people made more of than was necessary while playing this patch. Certain units contained the problem and Yamaha offered to replace them. I love the pianos, organs are decent, and the Clav sounds are wicked. You can really have fun with the performance modes. I like the one mode called “Hop it”. I miss some of the internal sounds though from the S-80 like "RT Rhodes". The patch "Sweetness" on the S-90 comes in a close second and is similar. The brass sounds are a little weak compared to Korg's sounds. They have a conservatory flavor to them. I play Reggae so I need brass that is more modern or close to the M and T series sounds. I have not worried about aftertouch and a lot effects so far.
The S-90 still accepts the PGL boards which was cool. I took the one I had out of the S-80 (PGL-150PF) and loaded it into the S-90 first thing. The process you use to do this is actually easier than on the S-80 to load the card in. You still can accept Smart Media cards. Yamaha makes very Road worthy stuff. I think some of the manufactures could learn a few things from them. That is why I still picked this over the Triton or Fantom series. I did not need a full blown workstation. This will also fit into most 88-key gig bags but I have a custom anvil case for it if I gig out of town.
I would definitely replace this if stolen just because it is lighter than the S-80 and still the same quality. I got it for such a steal as it was. This is a great stage instrument and worth the money.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
outkaster
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Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 2 members
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