YAMAHA 50th Anniversary

[crossyinoz]

For those that are interested, next year Yamaha mark 50 years of electone production, that started with the D1 spinet in 1959.</P>


My reckoning suggests that along with Allen they are the only electronic organ manufacturer still alive after 50 years under the same ownership, and not need to market rebadged OEM products to fill aniche or in fact survive.</P>


You can check out their 50th anniversary website:</P>


http://electone.jp/50th/index.html</P>


It's currently all in Japanese, but images of all the models are there, including the digital classical consoles that legal hassles prevented from being exported. No new models, YET!</P>


Kam-pai,</P>


Ian</P>

[Electone]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



There are many sound samples as well. Allows you to hear the progression of the Electone from a basic organ, to the digital orchestra it has become today. I found myself browsing through the 70's and 80's sections the most. For me, those decades were definitely the golden age for Yamaha.</P>
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[andyg]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



Hi Ian</p>

I think you're right about the 50 years thing. If Kawai get there in a few years time, they will be the second such company.
</p>

Now that's an interesting collection of photos. I love the 1960's spinets with the Thomas style radiating pedals, and 20 of them, too. Had to wait for the HS to get that number on a spinet again!</p>

However, I'm going into anorak mode now and going to say that they've got some of the photos and details wrong! For example, The B20 photo is a B4 and the date for the B20 goes at least as far back as 1973, not 1974 as they say. I can also remember selling the B30 series back in 1972/3 and they had smaller sized tone levers and stops going up to 2', even on the lower. Yamaha added the 'K' in BK in the early 70's to indicate the addition of auto-accompaniment, as in B4BR - BK4B. So how come their BK30 photo looks like another B4? In fact, I'm sure they've used the same photo more than once. There are also an some important missing instruments, too. Where's the first 3 manual spinet, the DK40, or the second, the D80? And why do some of the model numbers seem odd, like D90 instead of D85? I know the US numbering was unusual, I wonder if they had yet different numbers in Japan?
</p>

Their PR department has good intentions but they obviously need our help.[:)] You gonna tell them, or shall I?</p>

Andy
</p>

[Electone]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



The model numberinglisted is undoubtedly what was solely available in the Japanese market. I also noticed that my D-80 was missing, although it could have been branded D-90 in Japan.</P>
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[Guest]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



Hi Electone . I haven't been able to listen to the samples. All I get is Windows Media Player opening and an error window. Do you know what Plugin or application is needed please ?</P>


Many Thanks</P>


Len</P>

[Electone]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



I'm using Firefox as my browser and it opens up Windows Media Player as soon as I click on the little speaker icon on the webpage.</p>

Try right clicking on the speaker icon on the webpage, select settings and then select "allow".</p>

</p>

[Clavier]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary

Awesome! I love Electones! Anyone else think that the early ones have similar sound characteristics to the Hammond Novachord?

[afuller5]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



Electone,</p>

I think my favorite organ that I have played for any length of time is the Yamaha 415 (D-85 outside the United States). It dates to the late 1970s or early 1980s. However, I do not have as much experience with various organs as other members (for example, AndyG). I am only 39 and did not start playing the organ until 1982. I have played a Wurlitzer 4502 for about 11 years at my church. I have also played a Thomas Celebrity from the late 1960s. I briefly owned a Conn Rhapsody (tube model) with a Leslie. (A picture of a similar Rhapsody is here.) I have also played some Lowreys from various eras. Of all of these organs, the Yamaha is/was my favorite. I do not own the 415 any longer. However, I still play it because I sold it to an assisted living facility and play there weekly (and perhaps weakly sometimes I guess [:)]). I also play a 415 at my church now.</p>

Currently, I own a Roland AT-90. I like the Roland because of its classical and theatre voices/stops as well as the nice flutes. However, I do miss some of the nice analog sounds I can get from the Yamaha. I miss being able to mix flute voices and the analog reed and string stops. However, it is nice on the Roland to have the sampled orchestral voices; although, I don't think I use this part of the organ up to its potential since I think more along organ registration than orchestrally. So, in some ways, I prefer the Yamaha to the Roland.</p>

I also wished that I had the opportunity to play and/or own one of the console Yamahas that was a "big brother" of the 415/D-85.</p>

Later,</p>

Allen
</p>

[quote user="Electone"]</p>

. . . . I found myself browsing through the 70's and 80's sections the most. For me, those decades were definitely the golden age for Yamaha.</p>
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[crossyinoz]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary

[quote user="andyg"]


Hi Ian</P>


However, I'm going into anorak mode now and going to say that they've got some of the photos and details wrong! For example, The B20 photo is a B4 and the date for the B20 goes at least as far back as 1973, not 1974 as they say. I can also remember selling the B30 series back in 1972/3 and they had smaller sized tone levers and stops going up to 2', even on the lower. Yamaha added the 'K' in BK in the early 70's to indicate the addition of auto-accompaniment, as in B4BR - BK4B. So how come their BK30 photo looks like another B4? In fact, I'm sure they've used the same photo more than once. There are also an some important missing instruments, too. Where's the first 3 manual spinet, the DK40, or the second, the D80? And why do some of the model numbers seem odd, like D90 instead of D85? I know the US numbering was unusual, I wonder if they had yet different numbers in Japan?
</P>


Their PR department has good intentions but they obviously need our help.[:)] You gonna tell them, or shall I?[/quote]</P>


G'day Andy,</P>


Yeah, when I look again I agree, here's what I come up with:</P>
<UL>
<LI>B6 from 1966 is missing - you'll find it in my gallery, my late aunt must have purchased the only one!</LI>
<LI>B30 from 1974 is B2R</LI>
<LI>C30 from 1974 is B30</LI>
<LI>D90 from 1977 is D80</LI>
<LI>C100 = B35 = 205(USA)</LI>
<LI>C200 = B55 = 215(USA)</LI>
<LI>C300 = C35 = 305(USA)</LI>
<LI>C400 = C55 = 315(USA)</LI>
<LI>D700 = D65 = 405(USA)</LI>
<LI>D800 = D85 = 415(USA)</LI>
<LI>C301 = C405</LI>
<LI>C401 = C605</LI>
<LI>All the "HK" &amp; ELK" models are adjustable height units for music school use only.</LI>[/list]


Now far be it for you or I to question the expertise of a Japanese PR department - we both know very well what the consequences of that may be. Suffice it to say we both know they could use some help.</P>


Kam-pai,</P>


Ian</P>
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[andyg]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



Now far be it for you or I to question the expertise of a Japanese PR
department - we both know very well what the consequences of that may
be.
</p>

Indeed, Ian. Yamaha-San might not approve of being ticked off, but I'm gonna have a little 'fun' with Yamaha UK's tame Electone 'historian' over it....[6] And I might copy the errors over to a friend at Kawai Europe, see if he can have some too with his opposite number at Yamaha.</p>

Of course, should Kawai ever make it to 50 not-out in organ production, I'm sure the howlers will be even worse. [:$]</p>

Andy
</p>

[Guest]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary

I see that the 2000's stop in 06. Does that meant that Yamaha have stopped making organs even in Japan? If so too bad, and just what is it they are they celebrating?

[andyg]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



[quote user="everiman"]I see that the 2000's stop in 06. Does that meant that Yamaha have stopped making organs even in Japan? If so too bad, and just what is it they are they celebrating?
[/quote]</p>

When I last spoke to them a couple of months back, Stagea based models and the D-Deck were still in production. Home market only. What will happen in the current recession only time will tell, but I understand the home market is suffering already.</p>

So the 50th anniversary as Ian describes in his original post may well be the last.</p>

Andy
</p>

[afuller5]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



Ian,</p>

The D-800 on the Yamaha Electone 50th Anniversary site has a knee-lever. However, neither the model 415 nor D-85 have the knee-lever. Perhaps this feature of the D-800 was unique model to Japan.</p>

Later,</p>

Allen
</p>

[quote user="crossyinoz"]</p>

G'day Andy,</p>


Yeah, when I look again I agree, here's what I come up with:</p>
<ul>[*]B6 from 1966 is missing - you'll find it in my gallery, my late aunt must have purchased the only one![*]B30 from 1974 is B2R[*]C30 from 1974 is B30[*]D90 from 1977 is D80[*]C100 = B35 = 205(USA)[*]C200 = B55 = 215(USA)[*]C300 = C35 = 305(USA)[*]C400 = C55 = 315(USA)[*]D700 = D65 = 405(USA)[*]D800 = D85 = 415(USA)[*]C301 = C405[*]C401 = C605[*]All the "HK" &amp; ELK" models are adjustable height units for music school use only.[/list]


Now far be it for you or I to question the expertise of a Japanese PR department - we both know very well what the consequences of that may be. Suffice it to say we both know they could use some help.</p>


Kam-pai,</p>


Ian</p>
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[seamaster]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary



There are several major omissions. For example - unless I missed them - I couldn't see the MC range, that sold so well in the mid-eighties.</p>

[andyg]

Re: YAMAHA 50th Anniversary

The guy I spoke to at Yamaha UK thinks this may well be an unofficial ' Electone fan' site, as no information on it has been passed to him from Yamaha Japan. He should know, but only if they tell him! [:S]