Yamaha • SY-1 / SY-2
Yamaha's first keyboard synthesizers, the SY-1 (pictured above) and SY-2 are monophonic single-VCO analog synthesizers with preset sounds and limited programmability. There are 28 not so great preset sounds which can be slightly edited using the 8 sliders to the right of the small 37-note keyboard. There's an analog low-pass / high pass resonant filter, analog VCA envelope and a slide effect. There is no sign of MIDI, CV or Gate control but the compact design and wood-case make this a fun synth to mess around with. Some crazy analog sounds can be formed. These are fun little synths with plenty of 'Vintage' status and fun live-performance-ability. The SY-2 has been used by Add N To (X).
I've been in the business of restoring older synthesizers and electric pianos since 1990 and since those days all synthesizers go up in value. These synthesizers were the first compact machines that Yamaha made for the mass market. It's funny how so many of these companies made their compact synthesizers in relation to the mini-Moogs. Most like Korg and Roland took a minute to catch a "hook" in the market but Yamaha was offering up things like touch sensitivity and more user controllable features than their brethren hadn't yet touched on. Of course, Yamaha had this technology developed back with their earlier combo organs.