The life span of digitals

[Jlovekeys@aol.com]

I believe the FM synthesis started with the DX series in 83 or 84. I would not
be surprised if the PF80 is also that old . Are you sure it was only one year
old when you bought it? Large keyboards that have been dropped or banged
around may indeed need repair. Though I much prefer pianos, I took a PF 80 in
partial trade for a used piano last year and it works perfectly. Just missing
a few tiny knobs. Maybe I just got lucky. It can still drive any midi module
with more modern samples.  If you want to pursue the repair of that keyboard,
the broken keys could be replaced for not a large expense.  Yamaha even has a
manual for the unit if needed. Just my experience.  The digitals still last
longer than most of the computers we are so fond of. Dare I say they do have a
place in the world, though surely not as prominent as the piano.  Jim Love,PTG
associate, Midland,Tx.                                                        
     
Robert Goodale wrote<<
I purchased a 1 year old Yamaha PF-80 from a friend back in 1989. I have
used it exclusively for MIDI input on my computer for composing. As a
"playing" piano I find it to be particularly un-enjoyable. Now 1998, it
is exactly 10 years old.

6 months after I purchased the instrument, (then 1-1/2 yrs old), FM
synthesis was widely becoming replaced with digital sampling technology.
I walked into a music store and played a newer model and suddenly
learned the meaning of "obsolete". What a difference 18 months makes!

A few months ago I noticed that some hunks of plasic had broken off of
the front of a couple of keys. I hypothesized that perhaps I had bumped
into it with something and thought nothing of it, (other than a chorus
of colorful metaphors). I disassembled the action, patched things up
with a little epoxy, and it seemed good as new. This evening I noticed
that another key has split directly in half. After closer examination I
have discovered the problem. The plastic used in the hollow-constructed
keys is becoming brittle with age and disintegrating, not unlike old
plasic action parts from the 1950's. There is clearly no economicly
practical repair. My PF-80 is fast approaching "dumpster stuffing". So
there you have it, ten Years. About as modern as a "pong" video game and
no-longer mechanically sound.

Rob Goodale, RPT>>