Yamaha GX1

Infobox_synthesizer


image_caption = Yamaha GX-1. Notice the "Electone" logo on the upper left hand side.
synth_name = Yamaha GX-1
synth_manufacturer = Yamaha
synthesis_type = Analog Subtractive
polyphony = polyphonic
8 voices
timbrality = 4
oscillator = 2 per voice
filter = 1 2-pole low-pass filter
attenuator = 2 envelope generators
lfo = 1
ext_control = None
memory =
fx =
dates = 1973 - 1977
price = $60,000
keyboard= 2 x 61-key, velocity, aftertouch
37-key, velocity, aftertouch
25 pedals

The Yamaha GX-1, along with its predecessor, the Electone GX-707, was an analog polyphonic synthesizer developed by Yamaha as a test bed for later consumer synths. The GX-1 had two full-sized velocity-sensitive manuals (5-octave 61-note keyboards), a shorter but full-width monophonic pressure-sensitive manual (3-octave 37-note keyboard), a 25-note pedalboard, a "relative" ribbon controller (zero modulation was wherever you placed your finger first. The modulation value rose and fell as you moved your finger left and right), two "swell" pedals and a springloaded knee controller. It had at least eight voices, plus one monophonic voice. Each poly voice had two analog voltage-controlled oscillators, a 2-pole low-pass filter, at least one (poly-mod) voltage-controlled low-frequency oscillator, and at least two envelope generators. The different keyboard's voices could be coupled together like an organ (there are "stop" pistons between manuals), so that sounds could be layered. The monophonic voice could also be layered onto the polyphonic voices, as the top note. The synth was programmed via a bunch of miniature sets of controls hidden in drawers and panels on the instrument. There were also rows of Yamaha 'drawbar' sliders and some buttons above the middle manual.

The GX-1 console weighs 300 kg. The pedalboard and stand add 87 kg, and each of its tube-powered speakers, four of which can be connected to the GX-1, weighs 141 kg (Which together, equals 528 kg, or 1,164 lb).

The GX-1 cost $60,000, and was premiered in the US in 1973 at the NAMM convention. The exact production number is unknown, but supposed to be less than 100, and at least 13 GX-1s are known to exist outside Japan. Presumably, the majority of GX-1s never left.

Some of the people to use it extensively were Keith Emerson, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin (who later sold his to Keith Emerson as a spare instrument), Stevie Wonder (who is said to have bought two, one of which is on display at Madame Tussaud's in Las Vegas), Benny Andersson of ABBA (This GX-1 is now located at Roth Händle studios in Stockholm), Hans Zimmer (who bought Keith Emerson's old GX-1) Rick van der Linden of Ekseption, and Richard D. James (Aphex Twin). Rick Wright of Pink Floyd allegedly owned one for a brief time, but it did not make an appearance on any recordings.

External links

* [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb00/articles/yamahagx1.htm Gordon Reid's story on how he encountered his very own GX-1.]
* [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar00/articles/yamahagx1.htm Gordon Reid's article on the workings of the GX-1.]
* [http://www.electone.com/museum/?i=61 The Electone Museum's GX-1 description, features and photos.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we55QQcsvY4 Keith Emerson playing the GX-1 in Fanfare for the common man video]