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)