$3,200 · Yamaha DX5 Vintage FM Synthesizer

I have here the synth that is a huge collector's item. It's from the mid 80's and in very nice shape with solid mahogany side panels also from the 80's, original user manual that I have kept all along, possibly original power cable (it's the one I got with it), 4 DX cartridges. (2 DX 5 Rom cartridges, 1 DX7 Rom and 1 DX Ram cartridges). Plus original side panels. Here's some great info on it: Yamaha's DX5 slots in somewhere between their legendary DX7 and flagship DX1 synthesizers. Under the hood the DX5 is almost identical to the DX1 except the DX5 has done away with the heavy wood-paneling and has a less fancy keyboard (no more polyphonic aftertouch) and is more affordable. With its dual 6-operator FM synth engines the DX5 is like having two DX7 synthesizers in one, and then some! The DX5 has 64 performance memories which can be loaded or saved to cartridge, while the DX7 has only one manual performance memory. Although the DX5 is a digital synthesizer, its sounds are unique and fresh with an analog/digital hybrid feel. Programming however, is not at all like analog synth programming. All DX series synths use Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis and all are rather difficult to program or, at least, difficult to understand what to program. The DX5 is no exception to this rule except that its layout, parameter buttons and displays are much better than typical DX synths. For performances, the DX5 shares the DX1's bitimbric ability to play two patches from memory (Channel A and B) with the keyboard in layer or split mode and the polyphony reduced from 32 to 16 voices. That's a very cool ability for an old synth, especially a DX type synth. Imagine playing bass in one hand and some other wacky sounds in the other hand. The DX5 remains a very high quality vintage instrument. $3200 OBO