Aphex Twin’s Yamaha GX-1 For Sale
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Richard James’ former Yamaha GX-1 is up for auction and includes speakers, programmers, bench and MIDI mod. Be still my beating heart!
Yamaha GX-1
The Yamaha GX-1 is an absolute legend. Released in 1975, the three-manual polyphonic monster was the predecessor of the CS-80 (indeed, Cherry Audio made a super emulation of the two together called GX-80) and a real highlight in synthesizer history.
Not many GX-1s were made. Estimates say less than 100. They were also incredibly expensive, not only because of all of the then very advanced synthesizer tech but also because a full set included two large speakers, a bench and organ-style pedals, and a programmer. Just how much? It was $60,000 upon launch, something more like $430,000 today.
So, fancy buying one for yourself?
Vemia, the online auction site run by Peter Forrest of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers books, has one up for sale. And you’ll never believe who used to own it.
Yamaha GX-1: MIDI and CV
This unit is being sold by Colin Fraser of SequentiX, maker of the Cirklon. Colin oversaw the complete restoration of the GX-1 and all of its accessories, and also added MIDI to all three manuals.
“After some painstaking work at the SequentiX studio, it is in full working order as envisaged by Yamaha all those years ago,” the listing says. “The two original programmers attach to the tone board (patch CV controller) for the solo keyboard. That board connects on an internal loop to the other manuals, so the programmers can be assigned to any manual for patch editing.”
There’s also added CV. The solo and pedal manuals have external CV input that Colin has been driving from Cirklon CV outputs. The rhythm machine section has new external trigger inputs, and they are being controlled by a Cirklon D-mux drum trigger module. Oh man.
Yamaha GX-1: Extras
The buyer of the GX-1 will receive a brochure from Colin detailing all of the extensive MIDI work done inside.
Colin has also made other extras available upon request, such as a new prototype controller and MIDI bass pedals. Of course, you could also get it as stock as possible.
Yamaha GX-1: Come to Daddy
So, as for that previous owner. According to the listing, Colin is not the first owner. He bought it from one Richard James, who purchased it from a Vemia auction a number of years ago. Richard was always rumored to have had a GX-1, along with pretty much every other synthesizer ever made.
And the person who sold it to Richard? Why, that would be Mickie Most, the famous producer of artists like Herman’s Hermits and Hot Chocolate.
Yamaha GX-1: Price and Availability
The starting bid on the GX-1 is £99950. The auction is scheduled to end on April 12. If you’re bidding on this, let us know in the comments.
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One response to “Aphex Twin’s Yamaha GX-1 For Sale”
I remember walking past one of these in a thrift store in the 90s. I knew it wasn’t all that because it had sliders and not knobs.