Yamaha SHS10Keytar

The SHS 10 is a small 2+ octave clavitar [keytar] that is worn around the shoulder and played guitar-style.I picked mine up for nothing as it was slightly lacking in keys and would not power up,but I got it working well enough to find it was quite cheesy in its sound production and not really very well equipped,and there could be only one reason for their extortionate prices on Ebay - the provision of the MIDI out socket.

As with the Casio DG-20 - this extra facility means that although cheesy - the unit becomes a MIDI controller and does not need to make noises of its own. As it is lightweight and battery powered,it is incredibly useful (and perhaps cool-looking - especially in cherry red as opposed to the more common silver-grey) as a controller for more powerful synths.The handgrip sports a pitch bender,which as I found is not actually a high resolution version,but as you will find if you visit YOUTUBE,this little piece of (rather too expensive) hardware can make you sound like Jan Hammer if you have your MIDI lead connected to (rather more expensive) other synths.

The casing is plastic and apt to break,especially where the guitar strap button is - so often times the Ebay models are lacking this or the battery case. The whole unit is rather flimsy and it even seems that there are not separate keys but a whole moulded key section,which means if one key breaks - the whole lot needs replacing. As it happens my model also had a broken power switch,which I bypassed,so check for broken guitar strap assemblies,missing battery cases and broken power switches.I suspect also that the AC adaptor input socket might go easily,though one hopes that jigging around on stage might be a better idea with batteries installed.

SOUNDS

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RHYTHMS

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MIDI

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You can pay a sight more than I did for one of these,they can push £80 on a good day - way overpriced if you ask me - but much sought after.

Yamaha SHS200 Keytar

Much sturdier and maybe a tad classier - the SHS200 is the bigger brother (or sister) of the weeny 10 - these perhaps are actually WORTH £80 but tend to fetch much more,due to their rarity.

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