This came up in another thread, but it might be an interesting topic... On a forum where we seem obsessed with what is the newest, latest, greatest, how about telling us about the instrument (it doesn't have to be a keyboard, anything will do) you have had the longest?

Mine would be my lovely Yamaha YSL-643 Bb/F trombone I bought when I was 18, and has been my only trombone ever since. That's about 40 years of near constant use!

Take THAT, G70! You've got a long way to go...

Mine has to be my current keyboard (Wersi Abacus) which I have had for around 10 years now. (With still nothing else currently available that would make me want to change it any time soon)

Bill

Casio VL-1. My first keyboard/calculator/synth. This started my gear lust which eventually led to my favorite instrument.

Fairlight CMI-III. This instrument changed my life and has been with me for nearly 30 years. Nothing else sounds like it even to this day. The sound is so large, unique, and organic it has to be heard in person to really understand its potential.

Wersi Abacus Duo Pro. The only arranger instrument I've kept more than a few years and by far the most advanced arranger made today. I never have to worry about buying the next best thing because so far no arranger has surpassed it yet.

I've got two pieces I've had for quite some time, and still use them fairly often.

31 years: Yamaha CS-01 Analog Monophonic Mini Synthesizer (with breath controller)...also have the matching mixer and headphone amp that came with it.

25 years: Yamaha TQ-5 FM Tone generator (with built in effects and sequencer).

Both instruments still work and look as new...had cases built for them.

I guess I should add my two Yamaha MS-60S powered 60-watt monitors, that are roughly 25 years old...still use them daily on my Tyros4, and they still sound and look as new (had cases made for them, too).

I suspect I will have my Tyros4 for quite some time...it has all I need.

Ian

PS...probably not relevant, but I still have my late Mum's well over 200 year old Ruggeri violin here with me, although I've never really learned how to play it very well. It's in incredibly fine condition and is in it's original case with original horse-hair bow. I've had it over 50 years.

For me it would have to be my Yamaha C3 6 foot grand piano. I've had it since 1985. It's an awesome instrument and a piano will always be my first love. But when it comes to making a living, I love the doors that arranger playing and singing open for me. I still marvel at the fact that after a 10 minute setup, I now have a full orchestra backing me up. And each time I make an upgrade, it just sounds better. And when I get home, the piano is always there. Music is a great world to get lost in.

Joe

none actually... I sell all my musical instrument investments usually in 1 or 2 years,... can't stand clutter.

Micromoog bought in 1975, so that'd be 38 years.

Holton Paul Whiteman model Trombone purchased in 1960 as the big bands were breaking up and players were returning to their respective home towns. Many of the ex big band players joined community bands to keep their chops up and made a lot of their spare instruments available to kids who played in the C. bands ... its been in storage for the past 40 years.
I also have my first accordion amp from the 60's, a Panaramic tube amp made for Titano by Estey/Magnatone.
Ciao,
Jerry

I still have a pair of Yamaha PSR-3000s, the oldest of which I purchased in 2004 when they first came out in the U.S..

I sold both of my guitars to Dan01 when he owned Keyboard City.

Gary

I have a Martin / Sigma Acoustic Guitar it was my first guitar my Grandmother gave me back in 1974 I was 11 years old it spent around 30 year in a case I put a pick up in it last year and it sounds great it is a full dred it was made in Japan under the period Martin was making guitars in Japan it is very similar. To the D 28 So it is 39 years old and looks like new except for the darking of the Finnish I take it out from time to time on Gigs .