I've said it before & I'll say it again, why do these sell for so much !!??

Pulled from this auction.



In this post, I questioned why what is essentially a toy version of a DX can command so much demand and prices loftier than that of it's full size brother, the DX27.

In the comments of that post, it was pointed out to me that a combination of cuteness and the fact that some people covet it because if it's effectiveness in the Talkbox genre meant that these things are well sought after.





This link is interesting too.

But £155 and still 2 days to go ?!?!?! And it's broken too !!!

The seller lives about 30 miles from me. I might just pay a visit and see if I can make a little on the side !!! LOL

Update: Final selling price of £160 ! If only all toys made that much !! ;o)

Spot The Difference

Ok, this one baffles me.

Here is an auction on eBay for a Yamaha DX100...



This currently (26/11/06 08:57) sits at £91 with the reserve still not met and has seen 7 bids and still has over 5 days to go.

Now, the puzzling thing is that the Yamaha DX27 is identical in every way except it has a full size 61 not keyboard and comes in a heavy and sturdy metal case. Internally these synths are identical. If you open one up, the PCB's all carry the DX27/DX100 logo. The DX100 has a 49 note mini keyboard, is able to be battery powered and has a couple of guitar strap lugs. I'm not sure about the size of the jacks at the rear.

So, why do DX27's always sell for a lot less ??

Here's and example on eBay of a DX27, currently sitting at 99p with no bids and just a little longer left to go....



Am I alone in thinking that there is something amiss here ?

Now, I'm not motivated by the fact I own a DX27. I don't want to sell it, but I can't understand the allure of a toy version of a synth over it's easier to use big brother. Given, the DX27/100 were hardly the pinnacle of Yamaha's DX range, but it amazes me that the DX100 can command similar prices to a fullblown DX7 !!

My theory is that the DX100 has the "cute" factor and it also appears in many artists gear list, therefore giving it a certain desirability to fanboys and hero worshippers. Most of those artists probably got given a DX100 by mummy or daddy as a Xmas present when they were kids, or they picked one up at a car boot sale, sampled the Solid Bass preset and then tossed it aside.

The DX27/DX100 is a great little 4 Operator FM synth. It's no DX7, but it has a character and can add an edge to a track. And right now, you can get the DX27 very cheap, so it seems ;o)

If you have one of these keyboards, check out the Yamaha 4 Op Factory Patches Archive.
Oh, and while we're here, here's a TV commercial for the DX100 I found at Shepitology....



:o)