The CS-60 is a very scaled down light version of the CS-80. It's a classic and old polyphonic programmable analog synthesizer that has some potential. It does not sound as great as the CS-80 nor is it as programmable. You get a few preset sounds which are pretty useless and a mere 1 user patch. But there are just enough sliders, edit parameters and even an excellent Ring Modulator to get some interesting pads, drones, basses and other analog synth sounds. Oddly, sitting between the keyboard and those large Preset Switches is a long velvet ribbon controller which is pretty cool for doing wild pitch bends.

Due to its old age most CS-60s are in battered shape these days, difficult to service but in need of some. And they suffer common ailments of the analog domain - overheating, unstable tuning, it weighs a lot, etc... However the CS-60 is the cheapest way to get into some genuine CS-80 sounds of analog heaven with basic entry-level programming! It has been used by Air, Jean-Michel Jarre, Oshe and Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Mark Filoramo

December 30, 2009 @ 9:45 am

Page McConnell from Phish also plays the Yamaha CS60.

matt

September 21, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

nice machine , i think it comes very close to the cs80 on sound.Mines for sale as i need the money !

Null

September 16, 2009 @ 2:25 am

Don't forget Page McConnell! He's been rockin' the CS-60 for many years now. Actually, it's pretty amazing that he tours with the thing so constantly - I wonder if he travels with a backup or just a really good tech? But if you watch him play, you realize just how important the CS-60 sound is to Phish. Anytime they start to go ambient, listen to Page - when the CS-60 breaks out, it's a good signal we're about to get DEEEP!

Jay B

August 6, 2009 @ 4:15 pm

Richard Tandy of Electric Light Orchestra used a CS-60 on their Wembley concert in 1978. In the concert footage he can be spotted playing the sweet tones for the intro of "Telephone Line" amongst others.

John G

May 12, 2009 @ 4:59 pm

I've had mine over twenty years now and it's still going strong! Incredible machine, sounds like Keith Emerson's GX-1 when you play Fanfare for the Common Man on it!

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