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 .

My 1964 Gibson ES-335 that I bought 35 years ago in 1978.

My voice!

Lots of oldies...A 50's B, a 60's C, a 49 M, a 1952 ES 295 (the Scotty Moore Guitar, a 59 Strat, and lots of other old Fenders and Gibsons.

Even my arrangers...I still play two MS 60 Soltons that were purchased in the early 90S.

Add DX-7's, Hohner Clavinova, old Whirlitzers.

Oldest is a mid 1800's Austrian Double Bass. Was given to me by Ray Brown. It's the most sentimental of my instruments.


Russ

Read my signature.....

Brian, I bought a Martin Sigma 12 string for one recording in the early 80's. Only used it the one time out, because I use an Ovation double-neck with a 6 and a 12 when I need acoustic. Last year, when bored, I put in a pick-up and use a Sans Amp pre-amp around home.

You're right: for the money, they are pretty neat guitars.

Of course, my problem is I love ALL guitars!


Russ

Korg MI synth 1991-2003, liked it very much,

Frank

I agree, I liked the M1 a lot and am sorry I sold it off. Sure it had a lo res digital grittiness to its sound but I think that gave it a great character that I miss.

This is one of the things that worries me from time to time at SZ... Do we often mistakenly move on to newer gear at the expense of gear we later recognize for its subtler qualities?

There is so much about moving from one arranger to the next that is far more a question of 'content' (newer styles and the odd sound) than with anything to do with, does it really help you to be a better player?

Groundbreaking new FEATURES are the only thing that can tempt me away from what I have, and even those, sometimes a decade later, I realize I didn't really use them as much as I might have expected, and what did I lose from moving?

There's a lot to be said for old school multi keyboard rigs an lo-fi sound. You got a bit of 'bite' you don't tend to get now unless the sample itself has attitude (something the majors still feel a but uncomfortable with) or you use a bunch of outboard. You also didn't have all your eggs in one basket, so to speak... If the sax on one keyboard didn't work, you had one in another that might. Or you could combine the two for a less homogenized layer sound.

Couple of old synths I really wish I hadn't let go were the Yamaha CS60 (smaller cousin to the behemoth CS80) and an old ARP Odyssey. Never played anything that could do the same tricks those could...

You are right Diki. But at the time you don't realize that the lo fi qualities and distortion characteristics are indeed desirable qualities. Like Joni sang "You don't know what you've got till it's gone".

Even though people dismiss the old Yamaha FM synths like the DX-7 because at that time they were weak at playing realistic sounds that samplers could nail much closer, when it came to non realistic sounds the expression and playability of many FM patches still can't be beat. And a little FX processing that they didn't have back then makes them shine.

Try a set of Cleartone Acoustic Strings very good I put them on my Taylor 814 and like them very much and they don't shred like Elxor do .

I bought new and still have:

1987 Kurzweil 1200 Pro 88 key synth/controller

1978 Harmony Sovereign Delux Jumbo guitar

1987 Hohner Chromatica 64 harmonica

Ian

I've had my Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone since I was about 15 (I bought it used sometime in the early 80's). It has a bit of road rash and is perhaps a little worse for wear, but it fits me like a glove (or maybe an old pair of underwear). I would be devastated if anything were to happen to it. It's like an old and dear friend.



I also have an antique guitar which I recently had restored to playable condition. It belonged to a lifelong friend of my father's. Dad bought it for $3.00 at his friends retirement auction sale when I was a kid, and it sat in the basement for a number of years until my mother threatened to throw it out if I didn't get it out of her way.



Check out the cool tuning peg.



Dan

Dan, My friend and sax player - from years gone by - has an old Selmer Mark VI that he sent off for some minor repairs as he was thinking of selling it. He discussed it the repair guy who got back to him and told him that his horn was worth about $40,000.00.
Ciao,
Jerry

Oldest is Roland XP-80 ROMpler. Next is Roland G-1000 arranger. Third is Roland JV-2080 module with 4 expansion boards. Purchased all 3 when they first came on the market. Use all 3 in studio several times a week. Can not imagine having to do without any of them. Right hand of G-1000 drives the JV-2080 for better sounding lead voices.

Regards,

Ted

I've heard that some of the early VI's (which mine isn't) can bring quite a sum, but $40,000?

I think some people have too much money if they can spend 40 grand on a saxophone.

Going on 8 months with the S-950

A new record?!

It is amazing Diki,...I'm proud of myself!..

I have been using a Technics KN2000 for more than 20 years. It is a workhorse for me and has help up well for my needs. I use the arranger in the classroom and one man gigs, but not usually with the band. It sounds very good as a "regular" board. I have a second one as well as a 3000. My original one has been the Energizer Bunny.

I am considering the recently issued 61 key MOXF - the MOX with the added Motif XF sounds and the beefed up 128 polyphony. It's not an arranger, of course, but I think it would serve my sound needs with the band very well. It's only 15 lbs, too!